Have you ever wished that you could take that range game to the tee? Most golfers have said this on the course at one time or another ."boy, I was hitting it great on the range". Here in lies the benefit of a playing lesson. So many times the range lesson of putting, chipping, pitching, irons or woods can not be transferred when the variables of the course come into play. The improvement may have been made on the range in the lesson but when the course enters the picture we tend to return to our nemesis problems, humans are creatures of habit and without proper guidance usually our bad habits are what will rear its ugly head.

Retraining what we do and see not only on the range but also on the course is what will ultimately make us better golfers. Golf is one of the only sports where the practice area is different than the course you will be playing on. In basketball the court stays the same with 10 foot baskets for practice or game, a regulation baseball field has 90 feet between bases and is always the same design, in foot ball the field stays the same (maybe the turf changes but the field will always be 100 yards with a field goal at both ends), and a tennis court is always the same (maybe clay or grass or concrete but the size and net are always the same) A golf course not only changes from course to course but also from hole to hole. When you go onto the course you are now faced with sand traps, out of bounds, water, trees, doglegs, uneven lies, rough, fairways and greens that can be different from one course to another, so that range game of a good lie, a straight shot and no obstacles is sometimes challenging to bring to the course.

While in a playing lesson not only do you have the opportunity of a golf professional to be with you for about 9 holes instructing you in course management, difficult lies, and proper club selection but also helping you with your focus and the mental part of the game. This is where we see many of the course problems arising. The downward spiral can start when the confidence goes out the window from a bad shot. It is important to learn how to stop the downward spiral and regroup. At the end of the round and the lesson the professional should give you a game assessment and explain ways that will help you to improve, become more consistent and in turn help you to shoot lower scores. This is also a great way for your golf professional to see where your true weaknesses are and create a lesson program that will benefit you the most. Treat yourself and your game to "A Day with the Pro" and see how a playing lesson can really help all of those range lessons come together.

See you on the Tee, Michele Conte, Director of Instruction Conte's Palm-Aire Golf Academy Top 50 LPGA Teaching Professional.

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