A good lesson!

technodub

Just after gettin back into playing full time and really glad to be back after a ten year break Finished up playing off ten and got myself back down to 12 recently in my society but looking to get new irons and a lesson to fine tune my game. Anybody suggest a good pro for a lesson? Looking for some good value too as money is tight and wouldnt mind a putting lesson either. Im based in the dublin so if at all possible somewere close! Cheers for any help in advance

worm_tongue

Can recommend Barry Power, was in much the same boat as you. Returning to golf after a period of time having played to single figures in the past. In addition, you get a dvd with commentary of the lesson. Not sure if he does putting lessons.

technodub

were abouts is he based? I really need a putting lesson

Dr_Colossus

Barry Power is based in Swords I believe. Have read very mixed reviews about him here therefore avoided him and went to Kevin Foy in Stepaside driving range for my last lesson. Found him good although thought it was a bit Irish that when I turned up for the lesson knowing it was going to be €35 for a half hour I was told I better go buy balls from the driving range, would have thought they'd be included given the price. For my next lesson I'm thinking of trying David Lavelle in the Spawell driving range who's also got very good reviews and advertised at €30 for a half hour with balls included.
Not sure if either of them do specific putting lessons, don't remember seeing any practice green in Stepaside. Spawell has a small indoor putting matt that looks well worn and an outdoor short game area so presume they could do something there. I'd say a club pro with a chipping and putting green would be your best options for a short game lesson. I've read good reviews regarding Raymie Burns at South County Golf Club regarding lessons so perhaps try there.
For the short game and specifically putting I'd recommend getting hold of Phil Mickelson's DVD, The Art of the Short Game. Very informative and gives good practice drills to improve your putting a chipping. I think the short game is really about touch and feel which can only be got through practice once you have a basic technique.

(No affiliation with any golfing professional or venue mentioned above, just passing on information I read while researching professionals in the Dublin area)

technodub

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Barry Power is based in Swords I believe. Have read very mixed reviews about him here therefore avoided him and went to Kevin Foy in Stepaside driving range for my last lesson. Found him good although thought it was a bit Irish that when I turned up for the lesson knowing it was going to be €35 for a half hour I was told I better go buy balls from the driving range, would have thought they'd be included given the price. For my next lesson I'm thinking of trying David Lavelle in the Spawell driving range who's also got very good reviews and advertised at €30 for a half hour with balls included.
Not sure if either of them do specific putting lessons, don't remember seeing any practice green in Stepaside. Spawell has a small indoor putting matt that looks well worn and an outdoor short game area so presume they could do something there. I'd say a club pro with a chipping and putting green would be your best options for a short game lesson. I've read good reviews regarding Raymie Burns at South County Golf Club regarding lessons so perhaps try there.
For the short game and specifically putting I'd recommend getting hold of Phil Mickelson's DVD, The Art of the Short Game. Very informative and gives good practice drills to improve your putting a chipping. I think the short game is really about touch and feel which can only be got through practice once you have a basic technique.

(No affiliation with any golfing professional or venue mentioned above, just passing on information I read while researching professionals in the Dublin area)

Cheers mate i live in sandyford so stepaside would be close but that sounds expensive considerin the balls aint include Really wouldnt fancy a puttin lesson in the spawell! I played i kileen castle awhile back and there opening a kind of golf school with great facilitys witha guy called dave pelz i think? He has some serious credentials but im sure it would cost an arm a leg and maybe the price of a nice putter

Dr_Colossus

Have heard of Dave Pelz alright and thought I read something here about some academy he runs in Carton House, maybe it was Kileen Castle or he's going holding them there also. My basic understanding was that the academy was a course thought my professionals based on his principals of teaching the short game rather than specific lessons with the man himself but I could be way off on that.
Phil Mickelson talks about Dave Pelz in his DVDs and how they've worked together on developing technique so he certainly does have some impressive credentials. Certainly worth having a look at those DVDs to start with, I doubt they're up on youtube but have seen them on torrent downloads.

k.p.h

Hard to download the Mickelson Dvd but a lot of the Dvd knocking around online youtube/ google video. Its very good. Their are lots of different angles on the short game. Mark Roe is another guy who is becoming more popular.

Found it funny the way ye called him some Dave Pelz lad since he is so well known in the US, obviously not Ireland I have mentioned him to lots of people who didn't know who he is either. And he still managed to open the school here. His books are easily available with a torrent.

Dave Pelz Short Game Bible and also Dave Pelz Putting Bible.

Impossible to read them without taking something useful from them.

Also worth a google is Dave Stockton. Another putting guru. I use his methods and I think they are brilliant. His methods combined with Bob Rotellas Putting out of your Mind book are a great place to start IMO.