Questions & Answers Responses from PGA/LPGA Teachers on FINDaLESSON.com                                                                                  << BACK From Briana, golfer: Hello, I am a 13 year old girl going into high school. My mom would like me to get involved in the school's golf team because there aren't a lot of people who go out for golf. Thus, I would have a shot at receiving scholarship money. The problem is, I need to learn the basics of golf and maybe some tips. If you would be willing enough to e-mail me back, I would GREATLY appreciate it! PGA/LPGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL RESPONSES: California "I think it is a great idea for you to try out for golf.  I also think you will find the interest level in Jr Golf these days is quite high and very competitive. If you are serious about getting good it will take some time and lots of practice. The first thing to do is to get clubs that are the  right size. Find a golf pro to help measure you for clubs. If you have more questions e-mail me directly and I will reply. Good Luck." - Mike Davis, Teaching Professional Florida "Briana, call around to find a local golf course to be a Junior member and a PGA pro who you like and can help you with the basics to improve your game." - Sean Gorgone, Teaching Professional Florida "Get the book "Understanding the Golf Swing" by Manuel de la Torre. Easiest to read and learn by. Then find a professional that teaches his method." - Pat Kimball, Teaching Professional Georgia "Briana: I've got some advice for you in taking up the game of golf. First, find a teacher. In doing this you must make sure you are very clear about your goals, and committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve those goals. Also, be sure that your teacher is someone with whom you feel comfortable, and who is a reputable instructor. Second, take pride in your short game. It's BY FAR the most important part of the game. I cannot stress this enough. Sure, your golf swing needs the proper attention, but a fundamentally sound short game, added to your own imagination and skill developed through practice, will carry you a long way. My last piece of advice is don't ever do it for anyone else. I love the game of golf and I hope you come to love it as much as I do, but if you don't, it doesn't make you a bad person. Too many kids play to please other people, and in the end they resent those people and the game, and I would hate for that to happen to you. But if you want it, go after it with all you have, and the game will reward you in direct proportion to the amount of love and hard work you put into it. Good Luck."  - Derek O'Rourke, Teaching Professional Maryland "Briana: If you are serious about learning to play the game with the intensions of playing at a college level, you should call one of you local PGA Professionals in the Fresno area and take a lesson from them. It would be well worth your while to take a least a few lessons to learn the basics. Like how to grip the club, how to stand over the ball and so on. Good luck with your game."  - Owen Dawson, Teaching Professional Minnesota "My suggestion would be to contact the local PGA Section and find out who in your area is offering instruction. If you can, find someone who is offering a junior golf program. There you will learn the basics of the game from how to swing the club to playing different shots. Good luck and welcome to the game." - Peter Krause, Teaching Professional South Carolina "Hello Briana: I teach at a junior golf academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Our academy is in touch with many college coaches on a daily basis, speaking to them on behalf of our students. As we talk to coaches, we have found that that they do ask about good women players. And your mom is right, there are probably more opportunities for college golf scholarships for ladies then there are men. However, they do not come as easy as you think. You are absolutely correct by wanting to learn good basics. A good set-up routine of basics (grip, alignment, stance, and posture) will allow you to make a more successful swing movement. You should find a good coach right now to help you learn proper basics and good course management skills. When looking for a coach, make sure that person has a good knowledge of the game, and has a track record with helping junior golfers earn college grant-in-aid packages. If you can't find a good coach where you are, you might consider attending our academy on a full or part-time basis. You can learn more about our academy at www.ijga.com. You will need to be playing well (80 or below) on a consistent basis at good tournaments by the time you are a junior in high school. College coaches are always looking one year ahead in their recruiting efforts, at the minimum. By establishing a reputation as a good player and an excellent student as a sophomore and junior, it makes the recruiting process easier for you, your coach, and your family.  By playing well then, it will also be easier to pick a school which you want to attend, versus picking a school that might be okay academically, but not exactly the school you wanted. I wish you good luck in learning and enjoying the game of golf. If there is anything I could ever do for you to help you achieve your goal, please let me know." - John Hughes, Teaching Professional