The Best Teacher in Calgary

MaybeImLeftHanded · February 26, 2012

Looking to go low

I'm a 10 HC looking to get to scratch this year. I've never had lessons but I want to start playing competitive armature golf. I'm going to be taking this seriously and have dedicated my time this year to golf. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Thrillhouse · February 26, 2012

Those are some lofty goals! Anyway between me and isaacbm on this site we know pretty much everybody around here, there are plenty of good instructors around who charge all sorts of different prices so to start it would be good to know what you are looking for. What type of swing are you looking to learn? What do you value in a teacher? Do you want someone who has played at a high level or do you want the guy who gives the most lessons in a year? What are you looking to spend per lesson?

MaybeImLeftHanded · February 26, 2012

Many thanks for the reply, and here are the answers to your questions:

I'm looking for a very repeatable, simple golf swing. As I've never really had lessons (well one when I was a 20 HC) I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for here. I'm very open minded.

As for what I value in a teacher: Someone who will be a team with me that will push me to get better. If they've played at a high level that's great but I'm really looking for someone who's taken a player like me (10hc) and brought them to scratch. I'd be looking to take bi-weekly lessons I think and was hoping to keep the lesson cost around $50-$70 give or take.

I really want someone who isn't going to take this as just another lesson, but a driven professional that will help me take my game to another level.

I'm 34 as well so I don't know if that would factor into any recommendations you'd have.

If I didn't answer you clearly or you need more info please fire away and thanks again for the help!

isaacbm · February 27, 2012

Call Jason Haley at the RCGA golf center. He is around your age, very positive, knows a lot about golf fitness and the golf swing and is generally a good guy that is really easy to get along with. He also has taught a lot of juniors that have improved by 10 shots over a reasonable amount of time.

I'm not sure what he charges but I'm sure you can work something out with him for a series of lessons. Just go in and talk to him and see what you think. There's no harm in meeting someone and getting your own feel for a person.

Another guy at the RCGA is Todd Halpin. Hell of a player (has many course records) and has a good knowledge of the golf swing. Easy personality.

There are a few other guys there that I would steer clear of though....

PM me if you want more info.

MaybeImLeftHanded · February 27, 2012

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330320936' post='4385743']
Call Jason Haley at the RCGA golf center. He is around your age, very positive, knows a lot about golf fitness and the golf swing and is generally a good guy that is really easy to get along with. He also has taught a lot of juniors that have improved by 10 shots over a reasonable amount of time.

I'm not sure what he charges but I'm sure you can work something out with him for a series of lessons. Just go in and talk to him and see what you think. There's no harm in meeting someone and getting your own feel for a person.

Another guy at the RCGA is Todd Halpin. Hell of a player (has many course records) and has a good knowledge of the golf swing. Easy personality.

There are a few other guys there that I would steer clear of though....

PM me if you want more info.
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply, I was actually checking out Jason and Todd on their site today. I'll PM you if I have any questions, cheers

Thrillhouse · February 27, 2012

[quote name='Golfwarrior' timestamp='1330323042' post='4385917']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330320936' post='4385743']
Call Jason Haley at the RCGA golf center. He is around your age, very positive, knows a lot about golf fitness and the golf swing and is generally a good guy that is really easy to get along with. He also has taught a lot of juniors that have improved by 10 shots over a reasonable amount of time.

I'm not sure what he charges but I'm sure you can work something out with him for a series of lessons. Just go in and talk to him and see what you think. There's no harm in meeting someone and getting your own feel for a person.

Another guy at the RCGA is Todd Halpin. Hell of a player (has many course records) and has a good knowledge of the golf swing. Easy personality.

There are a few other guys there that I would steer clear of though....

PM me if you want more info.
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply, I was actually checking out Jason and Todd on their site today. I'll PM you if I have any questions, cheers
[/quote]

^There you have it! Both good guys and a good direction to go in. If you need anything else just pm one of us and we'll do our best to sort you out.

MaybeImLeftHanded · February 27, 2012

Thx vm I will for certin. My keybord jut crped out nd only few of the button r working lol, you guy rock!

98brg2d · May 28, 2012

I want to bump this get some more info along the same lines as Golfwarrior. I am a 21.5 right now and am slipping (did get to 18 two years ago, while shooting several 12-16 handicap factor rounds). I hit the ball low and it is getting lower but my iron total distances aren't changing (actually increasing but my drives are shorter from less carry if the grass is long but I can still get it out 240 or more if the fairways are short or hard but nothing over 260 anymore). I want to get back to hitting the ball higher (and straighter). I did all the measurements tests in the Golf magazine instruction set and it said I should be a high track, rotary, edit: don't remember the weight shift part, drop into the slot type player which is what has worked for me in the past when I have played my best. I would like to learn from somebody that can help me figure out the best type of swing for my body and physical limitations (bad left knee, bad right wrist, poor flexibility, all at 30 years old) so I can get better and continue to play throughout my life. My goal for this year is to get back into the teens (hopefully mid or lower) and not have as many blow up rounds (it sucks going from 18-19 hcf to 36+ the next week).

I am also very interested in working with someone that uses trackman, any specific recommendations (with or without trackman)? Who uses trackman in Calgary?

Thanks in advance.

MaybeImLeftHanded · May 28, 2012

Not sure who uses trackman here. I ended up going with a low tech guy who's new to the city and his rates are reasonable. Most guys here charge in the $120-140 range it seems. Issacbm and Thrillhouse will point you in the right direction if you pm them.

Thrillhouse · May 29, 2012

Ted and Dave's custom golf at the rcga centre has track man but I believe they use it for fitting. You can call and ask though. Two excellent teachers there are Paul Horton and Todd halpen. Todd is an excellent player too, he's played two Canadian opens in recent years. Golfwarrior's guy Tom is a buddy of mine and isaacbm's, he's an awesome guy, great teacher, and a very good player as well. Golfwarrior can tell you how to get a hold of him if you want, he's the guy around here I would pick. There are other good teachers around if none of these tickle your fancy.

MaybeImLeftHanded · May 29, 2012

Also I changed my goal to two years fyi :good:

Habitual Flipper · June 27, 2023

On 5/28/2012 at 7:19 PM, Thrillhouse said:

Ted and Dave's custom golf at the rcga centre has track man but I believe they use it for fitting. You can call and ask though. Two excellent teachers there are Paul Horton and Todd halpen. Todd is an excellent player too, he's played two Canadian opens in recent years. Golfwarrior's guy Tom is a buddy of mine and isaacbm's, he's an awesome guy, great teacher, and a very good player as well. Golfwarrior can tell you how to get a hold of him if you want, he's the guy around here I would pick. There are other good teachers around if none of these tickle your fancy.

Reviving an old thread here, figured I'd try this before starting a new one.

Has anyone had any more experience with Paul Horton? I took an aimpoint class with him recently and am considering starting a swing coach program with him. I haven't been satisfied with the swing coaches around Calgary to date so am hoping that he will be a better fit.

pgatw · June 27, 2023

3 hours ago, Habitual Flipper said:

Reviving an old thread here, figured I'd try this before starting a new one.

Has anyone had any more experience with Paul Horton? I took an aimpoint class with him recently and am considering starting a swing coach program with him. I haven't been satisfied with the swing coaches around Calgary to date so am hoping that he will be a better fit.

I know Paul quite well. He is an excellent coach. Well worth giving Paul a try.