There are approximately 40,000 people that took money for golf lessons in the USA last year.
In my opinion, there are probably less than 50
really good teachers.
No kidding.
So, for someone looking to be around the game, help golfers, and make some money without having a real boss, you'd think that this was a no brainer.
"You'll never make any money unless your 'Daddy' 'owns' the Driving Range" —Don Villavaso
Don is right of course. He always is.
Your "Daddy" is someone who WANTS you to succeed. Or NEEDS you to. Or, actually IS your Pop.
"Owns," as in—runs. Or has the deed in the ice box.
You see, in the Golf Instruction business, there is one very LARGE problem.
You need a place to do it.
I have ben teaching for 26 years now, and I fancy myself to be pretty good at it. On a bad day, I am safely inside that that "fiddy," according to anyone who knows anything, and doesn't have a horse in the race, or doesn't "dope the chalk" trying for a fix.
So?
Guess what?
I am
STILL in the facility hunting business. I am as "facility independent" as anyone in golf instruction history outside of George Low, but I still am far from not looking for an upgrade.
The internet is really my facility, but at the end of the day, I still have to give the live lessons somewhere.
You could be the best dressed, best looking guy in the restaurant, but you are eating with a magazine as your date without a girl who says yes.
Mike Finney's nephew, Pete, was one of the top 5 teachers in the Shreveport area a few years ago. He had learned from Mike, myself, Ben, Tom, and Chris, and being a really good player as well, was on his way to level 3...when...
The range was sold, and he was looking for anyplace in the area to continue his practice.
No thanks, Pete. You out-taught us, made more money than us without working half the hours, etc. and we are going to let you die on the vine.
Pete plays poker for a living now.
Seriously.
So, you want to be a Golf Teacher.
Cool.
Where is #1 with a bullet.
After that, getting some supply is a strong second.
Lessons don't grow on trees at every golf facility. A busy range's lessons often go to whoever "owns the phones" or pays off the cashier.
Busy Country Clubs are full of Mrs. Fabershams, but...you have to spend 50 hours a week "guarding Titleists" before you can give lesson one.
You could have put David Leadbetter in the witness protection program in Louisville 10 years ago, without a place to teach, and he might be the manager of a Subway right now, or he wasn't still still parking carts, he be further from the cover of Golf Digest than I am from the cover of GQ. By a lot.
Still wanna teach?
A distant third is what to teach. Followed closely by how much to charge, and what kind of equipment you are going to utilize.
At the end of the day though, can you TEACH? Jim Kobylinski is a natural teacher. I was as well. There are guys and gals that know some pretty good stuff, but can't teach a fish to swim downstream.
It is a very rewarding profession. They slice and you fix? They smile, high-five, tip, and do backflips.
Nobody doing that for the Allstate salesman.
I love what I do.
If I wasn't wearing myself out flying all over dodge trying to become the Paula Dean of golf, I'd never have a bad day.
One of these days I am going into the "teacher training" business, but that won't be until I at least pass the Starland Vocal Band on the way to Elvis.
Josh, I'll help anyway I can. Call me anytime.
BriManz - 60 pounds and 5 Golf Digest covers from the cover of GQ.
