Florida golf schools: how to compare them before you book
A golf school vacation can be the best money you ever spend on your game, or a very expensive range session. Here's how to tell the difference before you book.
Why we wrote this
Our founder, John Hughes, spent more than 10 years as National Director of Instruction for Golf Digest Schools, overseeing 13 resort locations and the coaches who taught at them. He's seen golf schools from the inside: what makes golfers come home better, and what sends them home with a sunburn and the same slice.
Most golfers compare Florida golf schools by price and location. Those matter. But they don't tell you whether you'll actually improve. These seven questions do.
The checklist: seven questions to ask any Florida golf school
How many golfers per coach, and is it guaranteed?
Look for three to one or better. A school that advertises small groups but doesn't guarantee a ratio can put eight golfers in front of one coach on a busy day.
How many hours of actual coaching?
Count the hours a coach is working with you, not the hours you're on property. Welcome breakfasts, long lunches and "free practice" add up fast.
How much time is on the golf course?
Golf is more than learning to hit a ball. It's learning how to play too. The range is where you learn how to make a better golf swing. Coaching on the course is where you learn to make better decisions with the skills you already have, so you play to your potential: which club to hit, where to aim, when to take your medicine and when to go for it. A good school puts you on the course with a coach, ideally every day.
Who will actually coach you, and how long have they been coaching full-time?
A famous name on the brochure doesn't mean that person is on the tee with you. Ask who the coaches are, whether they're PGA professionals, whether they all teach the same system, and how many years they've been coaching full-time. There's no shortcut for experience. A golf coach who has dedicated a career to coaching amateur golfers brings far more value than an assistant pulled out of the pro shop for the day.
How many golfers are in the whole school?
Even with a good ratio, a golf school that has 9 or more people in it can create a very generic improvement environment, with less customization and more time management. Coaches spend their energy moving groups between stations and keeping the schedule on time, instead of solving your swing. Ask how the school is organized, how much one-on-one attention you'll actually get, and whether the plan is built around you or around the group.
What happens after you go home?
Most golfers lose half of what they learned within weeks. Look for follow-up: video check-ins, a practice plan, a way to reach your coach.
What's included in the price?
Lunch, range balls, green fees, video, a written plan? Ask for the full list, and ask what's extra.
Do the math: price per coached hour
Almost no one does this math before booking a golf school. They should. Divide the tuition by the hours of actual coaching, then look at how many golfers share each coach. It's the fairest way to compare two Florida golf schools, and it changes everything.
A $1,500 school with six hours of coaching at eight golfers per coach costs $250 per coached hour, and you're sharing your coach with seven other golfers. A $2,000 school with 14 hours at three golfers per coach costs about $143 per coached hour, with a far bigger share of your coach's attention.
Read that again. The "cheaper" school costs more for every hour of coaching you actually get, and you get a fraction of the attention. Cheaper isn't always best. In golf schools, it rarely is. The real question isn't what the school costs. It's what you get for every dollar, and whether you come home a better golfer.
School A
$1,500
$250 per coached hour
School B
$2,000
$143 per coached hour
When to go
November through April is prime golf school season in Florida: cooler mornings, lower humidity and the best course conditions. It's also when schools fill fastest, so book early. Summer schools can be a great value, with early starts to beat the afternoon heat and storms.
How the Instant Golf Improvement school measures up
| Question | What to look for | IGI two-day golf school |
|---|---|---|
| Golfers per coach | Three to one or better, guaranteed | Three to one, guaranteed |
| Hours of coaching | As many coached hours as possible | 14 hours over two days |
| On-course coaching | Every day | Nine holes with a coach each afternoon |
| Who coaches | Experienced, full-time PGA professionals, one system | Certified IGI coaches, PGA professionals trained in the six-pillar system |
| School size | Small, organized around you | Nine golfers, coached in three groups of three, each with its own coach all day |
| Follow-up | Ongoing | Unlimited follow-up after the school |
| What's included | Clear and complete | Coaching, on-course time and lunch both days |
Every IGI school is held at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, about 30 minutes from Orlando International Airport.
Give a golf school
Shopping for a golfer? An IGI golf school gift certificate covers a full seat at any school, and the golfer picks the dates.
Not ready to travel?
Start with a free swing analysis. Record your swing, send it in, and a certified IGI coach will tell you the first thing to fix.
About Instant Golf Improvement
Instant Golf Improvement was founded by John Hughes, a PGA Master Professional of Instruction and one of fewer than 500 PGA of America Master Professionals. In other words, one of the top 1.5% of golf professionals in America. John has coached golfers for 30+ years and has spent more than 25 years running golf schools. Every IGI school is built on his book, Instant Golf Improvement: The 6 Pillars to Golf Success, and coached by certified IGI coaches trained in that system.
Questions golfers ask
Is a golf school better than private lessons?
For a fast, focused jump in your game, often yes. You get days of coaching back to back, with on-course time, instead of an hour a week.
Are golf schools for beginners too?
Yes. A good school, with a small ratio, coaches every golfer at their own level.
Do I need to stay at the resort?
Not for an IGI school. You can stay at the resort or nearby.
What should I bring?
Your clubs, golf shoes, a glove or two, sunscreen and a hat, plus your last few scores if you have them.
Ready to compare Florida golf schools?
Take the checklist with you when you shop. And when you're ready to see how the Instant Golf Improvement school stacks up, check the dates. Florida golf schools fill fastest in winter.