Finding a Pro in Midwest

[Paxton]

Hey, Could anyone recommend me a quality pro in the Midwest who could get me to the next level? I'm wanting to play college golf and feel I could use an extra boost with some lessons. My avg. is 79-80 somewhere in there. I hope to avg. a 75 by next fall.

[Kyle]

Paxton, we're up here in Seattle Washington, so the best I can offer you is this link to the PGA's Find An Instructor service. Fill out some simple information and they should steer you in the right direction, or at least get your search started. Where exactly are you in the Midwest? Hope this helps and good luck.

[Paxton]

I live in Iowa. I've heard great things about a guy by the name of James Sieckmann, but I also wanted to find out if there are others.

[Kyle]

To go along with the PGA Find An Instructor link above, I was able to wrangle up this link as well. Good luck with your search, man.

[Tom]

Paxton,

I have never been to Iowa so I have no help in selecting an instructor, but I can tell you that setting a goal like you have is a step in the right direction in terms of getting better.

The only way to get better is to compete and see where your game stacks up against players that are better than you are. You will get better just by being around that atmosphere and playing for something tangible, like a bus trip.

My toughest rounds were not even the tournaments against other schools, it was the qualifying to GET to the tournaments that molded my golf career.

Keep after it and play well!

[Kyle]

Golf Digest just ran this piece that names the three best instructors in Iowa as:

1. John Bermel; Pheasant Ridge G. Cse., Cedar Falls; 319-266-8266
2. Larry Gladson; Elmcrest C.C., Cedar Rapids; 319-363-7980
3. Curt Schnell; Okoboji View G. Cse., Spirit Lake ; 712-337-3372

[Tom]

Kyle,

That issue is a great one too.

I liked the article that Pavin did on playing difficult golf courses.

[Gus]

Most importantly than a ranking by Golf Digest, make sure you go and talk to these guys first. make sure you feel comfortable talking to them. They will be giving you instruction and you better be able to be on the same page as they are. if you two cannot communicate, you will have wasted your money. Also, remember that they are going to change your swing. they will try to make it look correct. you may have bad results initially, but eventually (if you stick with it) youw ill start to hit the ball correctly. DO NOT slip back into your old swing just because you may be making better contact at the moment. It will get better. "It is always darkest, just before the light."

[Tom]

Is there any update on this Paxton? Did you find a pro that can help you get better at this silly game!