Instructor in NOVA, Mike V in Oakton VA?

[bonvivantva]

Hey guys. I've been playing since about 04. I started golf in college when a buddy wanted to go drink some beers and get outside. I used to bat left in teeball, so I figured I'd find some left handed clubs. That did not work out, so I switched to right and started having a little more success. In around 08, I started getting a little more serious about golf when I started getting invited to golf trips. Now I go to the range weekly and play as much as I can (couple times a month), but I've been a 21ish handicap forever and I've never broken 90.

 

This is my current swing:

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1798071/made-a-breakthrough-need-advice-on-consistency-videos/p1?new=1

 

I got lessons at Oak Marr right out of college and I can't say they helped at all. The guy did his best to fix my path but I just don't think I understood the golf swing well enough to improve at that time. Pair that with some not great short game advice, and I was pretty turned off of lessons. I was going to business school at the Arlington Campus at George Mason and they had a golftec at the sport and health across the street. I bought a 10 pack of lessons, but I only got through 5 or 6 before my instructor quit. I tried to reschedule with a new instructor, but they didn't have a time that fit my school schedule. By the time that semester ended, golftec had closed at that location. So long story short, I've spend a lot of money on lessons to little benefit. I've really invested a lot of time and money into improving on the range by myself, but that hasn't worked either. Can anyone recommend an instructor? I've thought about golftec in Tysons despite my previous experience. I've also read about Mike V at Oakton, and though I've never seen him there, I have overheard some lessons on the range by other instructors and I was not impressed. Any suggestions would really help. The closer to Falls Church the better. Thanks guys!

[davep043]

A good friend has had his son learning from Chuck Will, who works at a driving range on Route 28 just north of Dulles Airport. The young man is now playing college golf, and plays off something like a +5 or +6 handicap. His dad, my friend, is a scratch golfer himself, so his recommendation carries a good bit of weight with me. I know Dulles is a bit of a hike from Falls Church, but it might be worth looking at. https://www.chuckwillpga.com/

[GoGoErky]

There a several at 1757 in Ashburn that are good. Not familiar with any others in that area and I’ve hear nothing but horror stories from anyone who did golftec lessons

[bonvivantva]

Yeah, I'm hesitant about Golftec as well. I also haven't liked what I've seen at Oak Marr, but they very well may have some decent instructors I don't know about. The internet shows some indoor places in Annandale and Fairfax that could work, and they have OK reviews. Anybody take lessons they'd recommend in any of those areas? Pinecrest is also convenient to me.

[burnsniper]

I would just use the Golf Digest list of Top Teachers:

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.golfdigest.com/story/best-teachers-state-ranking/amp

 

I know several teachers on the VA list and with the exception of a couple of additions that are needed (Jack Prater at Roanoke CC for example), I think it is legit.

[dcmidnight]

I've been working with Erika Larkin out at Creighton Farms for the last four years or so - cant say enough good things about her.

 

Not sure where you are or how far you will drive though.

[bonvivantva]

> @burnsniper said:

> I would just use the Golf Digest list of Top Teachers:

>

> https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.golfdigest.com/story/best-teachers-state-ranking/amp

>

> I know several teachers on the VA list and with the exception of a couple of additions that are needed (Jack Prater at Roanoke CC for example), I think it is legit.

 

I just contacted the only instructor close to me. Last time I looked, there weren't any close. Thanks for the link!

[bonvivantva]

> @dcmidnight said:

> I've been working with Erika Larkin out at Creighton Farms for the last four years or so - cant say enough good things about her.

>

> Not sure where you are or how far you will drive though.

 

I would have never considered that location just browsing, but after googling Creighton, I noticed it's less than 10 minutes from where my daughter takes horseback riding lessons...

[bonvivantva]

The DC metro area just seem to have the instructors you'd expect a major metro area to have. Certainly the demand must be there. I have a couple instructors to look into now, but any further suggestions close to Falls Church would still be appreciated. Thanks!

[dcmidnight]

> @bonvivantva said:

> > @dcmidnight said:

> > I've been working with Erika Larkin out at Creighton Farms for the last four years or so - cant say enough good things about her.

> >

> > Not sure where you are or how far you will drive though.

>

> I would have never considered that location just browsing, but after googling Creighton, I noticed it's less than 10 minutes from where my daughter takes horseback riding lessons...

 

 

No problem. I've lived here for ~25 years now and I always have to ask when someone looks for a recommendation of...whatever in "Northern VA" because that covers a *really* wide area LOL.

[bonvivantva]

Aldie is about 45 minutes from me during the week outside of rush hour. Not feasible alone, but since I'm often already out there it could work. Thanks again, I'll look into Ms. Larkin.

[davep043]

> @bonvivantva said:

> Aldie is about 45 minutes from me during the week outside of rush hour. Not feasible alone, but since I'm often already out there it could work. Thanks again, I'll look into Ms. Larkin.

 

I believe she is also the only certified Aimpoint instructor in the DC metro area. Reading greens is a separate concern from your current swing improvement, but Aimpoint has been helpful to me, I recommend that you take a clinic when it fits your time and budget.

 

I also see that she does video lessons too. Considering the distance to Gainesville, you might really benefit from a mix of in-person and video lessons.

[XHoop24]

Erika is a great recommendation. I took one lesson from her and if it wasn't so far from me, I would have enjoyed continuing to work with her. I have a few recs in MD if you are are interested. Feel free to DM me if you want those.

[timjay]

I live in NW DC but close to the MoCo line. Looking for a good golf instructor in the area. I’m willing to travel a bit. @XHoop24 - I am new to the forum and haven’t posted enough to leave you a DM. Thanks

[XHoop24]

@timjay - There are a lot of good instructors in the area...and I've been around long enough to take lessons from a lot of them. Erica is really good and I would have continued to work with her if she wasn't so far away. In MD, I really like DAMON LUCAS who works at Turf Valley and Lake Presidential. He really knows the golf swing but keeps the fix simple for the golfer. If you want a technical break down, Wayne Defrancesco is great and has a lot of youtube videos up if you want to get a sense of how he teaches. I worked with him for a long time and he took my from a 20 HC to 10. He moved from a couple of DC area clubs to Baltimore so not that close anymore. Jim Estes at Olney Golf Park is really good at teaching you how to play the game. He's really great to get a short game/putting lesson from at their short game area.

 

In the NoVa area, I'm currently working with Jon Eisman. Super nice guy who I messed well with right off the bat. He has a couple of instructors working for him who also seem great and are slightly lower rates. Covid has put a big stop on my golf lessons/game right now, but I can't wait to get back to lessons with him when this is over.

[XHoop24]

Also - you can drop by in the NoVa/DC thread. A few of the guys there are taking lessons with Nicholas E. Keefer at Cattail and really like him.

[Miker20890]

Reviving an old thread. 
 

is Erika Larkin worth the extra $100 a lesson compared to the raspberry falls academy instructors?

[dcmidnight]

1 hour ago, Miker20890 said:

Reviving an old thread. 
 

is Erika Larkin worth the extra $100 a lesson compared to the raspberry falls academy instructors?

 

Never been there so I dont know but I still work with Erika if that says anything.

Edited December 6, 2023 by dcmidnight