How Much are Golf Lessons? (Average Costs, What to Expect, Are They Worth it?)

I still remember my first golf lesson. After playing golf for several years as a junior, I knew I was on my way to making a career out of the game, and I would need a little help with that.

The lesson went by too quickly, and I remember finally getting some answers that I needed about my game.

Since then, I’ve taken a few more lessons, but most importantly, I’ve taught thousands of lessons.

I can tell you the pros and cons of taking a golf lesson (yes, there are cons) and how much you can expect to pay for a lesson.

Golf lessons are an investment, and before you dive here, make sure you are supplied with all the facts.

How Much do Golf Lessons Cost in the USA?

The price of golf lessons in the United States averages between $80 and $120 for a one hour lesson.

You may be wondering how this is possible because, at your local golf course, it’s $250 for a one hour lesson. That’s entirely possible, but it’s still not the norm.

Golf lesson costs are greatly impacted by factors including where the lessons are and who is teaching them.

Some instructors are just out of PGA school, and they may be learning at the same time you are; these lessons are cheaper.

As golf professionals build up their customer base, there is only so much time in their day for lessons. When the supply and demand factor kicks in, expect higher pricing.

With online golf lessons becoming quite popular many people are searching for solutions online that will save them money on lessons.

However, local professionals will still argue that in-person instruction is different when it comes to instant feedback. (And it is!)

The Cost of Golf Lessons: What Affects the Price?

To truly understand the average cost of a golf lesson and why it is priced the way it is, you have to break down the different factors that influence the cost.

Lesson Length

The half-hour golf lesson is a great choice if you need a quick refresher or help with a specific problem.

The one hour lesson gives the instructor more time to teach you a new skill and make real changes in your game.

One hour lessons are sometimes double the price of a half hour lesson. Other times the hour lesson may be a slight discount on two half hour lessons.

If you pay $50 for a half hour, the price could be $90 for an hour.

I think for most golfers ready to take their game to the next level, the one hour lesson is well worth the money spent; half hour may leave you looking for more information.

Instructors Experience

Golf instructors are very helpful people.

Have you ever had a slice problem, or worse, the shanks, and been ready to quit the game?

We have all been there.

With the right instructor, you could be fixed up and ready to go within minutes. To some struggling golfers, this feels almost like magic!

Golf instructors have wide backgrounds of experience from just a few years of PGA study to Golf Digest or Golf top 100 teachers in America.

If your local professional has been all over the world studying the game, expect to pay a bit more.

Like you find in most things in life, this could be a situation where “you get what you pay for”.

Area of the Country

Golf is a big deal in areas like South Florida, Arizona, New York Metropolitan area, and even Chicago.

When you are in these areas of the country where there are many golf courses, and millions of golfers, golf lessons tend to get a little more expensive.

For those that live in an area where golf is not quite as popular, you may find that golf lesson costs are just a little lower in price.

Type of Lesson

Private golf instruction is the most expensive, whereas group golf instruction becomes more affordable.

If you are taking a clinic with 8 other people, your pricing may only be $25 for an hour as opposed to $100 for an individual lesson.

Seems like a great deal, right?

Yes and no.

Group lessons serve a purpose, and they are important in the game. You can meet other golfers, get some quick tips, and save money.

However, if you are really trying to narrow down the specifics of a problem you have in your game, you need the undivided attention of your instructor.

Technology Incorporated Into Lesson

Golf technology is huge and incredibly helpful when taking a lesson.

Golf lessons that have technology incorporated into them can cost quite a bit more.

If you are hitting golf balls and using things like Trackman or Swing Catalyst, the instructor is collecting quite a bit of data. This data can be used to help your game.

The instructor paid for all of this expensive technology, so your higher-priced lessons reflect that.

Package Deal

Package deals for golf lessons are a great way to save money.

Sometimes if you pay upfront for 6 one hour lessons, you will get one free.

Every golf instructor sets up different package deals, and they are quite affordable when you plan on taking several golf lessons over the course of a season.

If your local professional does not have a package deal advertised, ask them what the options are, and they may put something together for you.

Time of Year

Lastly, there are some areas of the country that offer an off-season discount on lessons.

If you are willing to be out there when the grass conditions aren’t perfect or the temperatures are a little less than perfect, the instructor is typically willing to give you a slight discount.

What are Hidden Golf Lesson Costs to Look Out For?

Most golf lessons are pretty straightforward regarding the total advertised cost.

The only hidden costs you could run into are:

• Range balls: at public driving ranges, the instructor sometimes requires you to buy golf balls for the lesson.
• Video Recording Fee: if you want videos of your lesson sent to you, there is sometimes a fee associated with it.
• Gate Fee: some private country clubs are behind a gate, and you will need to pay to get through the gate; most courses will simply need proof of the lesson with a receipt, and you may be refunded your gate fee.

What to Expect Out of Golf Lessons?

I’ve taken golf lessons that have felt almost magical because of the difference they made in my game and others that felt like a waste of my time.

Sometimes to get the most out of a golf lesson, you have to know what to expect.

One or Two Changes

I would not expect instructors to make a dozen changes to your swing during a lesson.

Nor should you want this!

A golf lesson will usually consist of one or two fixes or changes, which is plenty to take your golf game to the next level.

If you change too much at once, it’s hard to still play golf and enjoy it.

Some Difficulty in the Middle of the Lesson

At some point in your lesson, you may struggle a bit. Chances are the instructor will have you doing something that is different, and it may cause you to hit some bad shots.

Don’t be alarmed.

In golf, you have to get worse before you can get better. This concept can be a tough one to wrap your head around, but it’s important.

If a golf instructor changes something in your swing that doesn’t feel right or causes some issues, don’t be afraid to go with it during the course of the lesson.

Professionals know what they are doing and will help work it out.

An Improvement Plan/Course of Action

At the end of your golf lesson, you should be given a recap of everything you learned and then a way to practice and improve before your next lesson.

Some golf instructors will write down some quick points that you can focus on and give them to you to take with you.

I think the closure of a golf lesson is perhaps one of the most important aspects. You should have a clear direction as to what you need to practice and where your golf game is headed.

How Many Golf Lessons Should I Take?

Golf lessons are not something you need every day.

Ok, if you are a professional and you have a swing coach, you may get some tips every day.

For an amateur, this would be too much.

Most golfers can benefit from two golf lessons a month. Taking two golf lessons and combining that with practice and play is a really powerful formula when trying to become a better player.

For golfers that don’t have a chance to practice all that often and work on the specifics of what was learned in the lesson, try taking a once-a-month lesson.

I had many students that came for their lesson once every week.

Some of these students improved very quickly.

However, they were the ones that spent some time practicing in between.

If you take a lesson once a week and don’t put any time into practice, it’s really hard to see an improvement.

Is it Worth Paying for Golf Lessons?

Golf lessons can be a great way to improve your game at a quicker pace.

However, they are not the only solution to becoming a better player.

To be honest, I consider myself a mostly self-taught golfer.

As great as golf lessons were, I felt the need to have more information at all times. I became a student of the game and worked on different solutions to make sure I always had the information I needed.

Golf technology is making it even easier to understand the game of golf and get better without taking golf lessons.

HackMotion is like a personal golf coach specifically tailored to the needs of your golf game.

For the same price that HackMotion is offered, you would only be able to take a few lessons. If you like gadgets, technology, data, and information HackMotion is, without a doubt, a solution for your golf game.

Most importantly HackMotion is one of the only golf training aids and devices that give you instant real-time audio feedback.

Most training tools, including golf instructors, give you timely feedback, but not in the middle of your golf swing.

If golf lessons aren’t your thing, and you want a solution that grows with you to ensure your clubface is always square at impact, HackMotion is a great choice.

In addition, you won’t have to worry about your current handicap level to get started with HackMotion this is a tool that works for any player.

Final Thoughts

Golf lessons are an investment in your game.

We know golf is not the cheapest sport, and you need to spend some money to get great at golf.

Always make sure you are considering the role of technology and gadgets in your quest to get better; for some, this is a better solution than golf lessons.