Why every amateur golfer should take a golf lesson – just ask Alisdair Thompson
Many amateur golfers think they can improve through trial and error, but one golfer’s experience proves how transformative a single lesson can be.
Alisdair Thompson had never taken a golf lesson before. In fact, just a few years ago, he wasn’t even interested in playing golf. But after winning the PGA Play competition, he found himself at The Belfry in the PING Suite with PGA Professional Ben Silver. What happened next changed his entire approach to the game.
“If you asked me in May 2020, I would have laughed and said I’d never play golf. It’s an old man’s sport, boring and too slow,” Alisdair admitted.
“But I was a dad with nothing to do and my friends asked me if I’d like to go out and play. I had never been to a driving range, never hit a ball, went and played a difficult course in that area and was desperate to go back.”
After that casual round, Alisdair was hooked, but even then, he was sceptical about lessons. It wasn’t until he won the PGA Play competition that secured an hour with a PGA Professional at the Midlands facility that he even considered having one.
“Even then I thought, ‘Great, I have a lesson, but I might not use what I’m shown,’” he explained.
But after just one session, his perspective changed completely. Alisdair quickly realised the value of committing to improving his game with a trusted coach. Ben worked with Alisdair to understand his game, where he struggled, where he excelled and ultimately what he wanted to get out of the lesson. After a conversation and a few balls hit, the pair got to work to improve Alisdair’s tee-game.
“It has genuinely blown my mind,” he said. “If I didn’t win this competition, I probably wouldn’t have got a lesson, but this might be the best thing that’s happened to my game.”
Many amateurs worry lessons will overcomplicate things, but good instruction from a PGA Professional simplifies the game. They can break down the swing into manageable elements, removing the guesswork from improvement and making swing changes as effective and efficient as possible—all while keeping the game fun.
Alisdair’s journey to The Belfry was a long one, travelling down to the midlands from his native Scotland. But the value he gained from an hour with Ben made the trip worthwhile. He left his lesson with a new commitment to improving his game.
“I’m now going to do at least one driving range session per week to work on what I learned,” he said.
A golf lesson doesn’t just provide information—it gives you a structured plan for improvement. Even small changes can dramatically improve consistency and confidence. It also offers you the chance to build a rapport with your coach, allowing them to understand your game and ways of learning even further.
Alisdair’s experience leads to one simple piece of advice to his fellow amateur golfers.
“My next thing is going to be finding out when I can come back. I’ll need to look at booking lessons going forward. To anyone considering it, 100% get a lesson. I just can’t believe how simple it’s been made to feel.”
Across Great Britain and Ireland, there are thousands of PGA Professionals available to help golfers of all levels improve their game. Using PGA Play, you can simply enter your postcode and find the right PGA Professional near you to help improve your game.
For those unsure, take it from Alisdair: one session can make all the difference. Whether you want to correct a slice, gain distance, or just enjoy the game more, a lesson could be the best investment you ever make.
To watch the full interview with Alisdair, click the link below:
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