Don’t be too proud to take a golf lesson. I’m not!

That’s what Jack Nicklaus said years ago. And with a total of 118 tournament wins around the world including 18 majors, I say we should all trust him.

Whether you’re an expert or thinking about swinging a golf club for the first time, instruction should be a part of your improvement strategy. Golf can be pretty aggravating at times. The fact is every golfer has hit a good shot at one point in their lives, which is why they fell in love with the game in the first place. I still remember very vividly the first good golf shot I hit when I started playing and I bet you can, too. But for some mysterious reason we just can’t repeat that same swing over and over.

Most golfers, including me, have had the same handicap for many years. Although playing and practicing often is needed to improve your game, adding golf lessons to the mix is crucial to become a better player.

We’ve all seen people, after a bad golf round, run to the golf shop and try every putter or newest driver. Some take off to the practice area looking for the next best way to hold the putter or test every tip they can remember in this month’s Golf Digest. Magazines are great for temporary fixes, but nothing can replace the knowledge and insight a live lesson can give you.

Luckily, Mississippi is full of certified PGA professionals who can put you on the right path. Your best friend may think he knows about the golf swing, but walk away and seek the help of a pro that understands how to structure your progress. This will help you reach your potential and make the game more enjoyable.

Private lessons in the area usually range between $40 and $80 per session and can be much cheaper if purchased as a package. What’s interesting is that very few people in Mississippi take golf lessons on a regular basis. Most people will spend $400 on a new driver but won’t spend money for a supervised practice session to learn how to use that driver properly. Understanding the fundamentals of the golf swing and building a strong foundation with the help of a certified professional will help you improve at a much faster rate.

Golf will take you a lifetime to master so make it easy on yourself by calling your local pro today. If the best golfers in the world take lessons to improve their game, maybe we should, too. Go to www.pga.com to get a list of the certified golf professionals in your area and enjoy playing better golf.

Pier Roy is a golf professional in Jackson. He can be reached at pier.roy@golfevolution.com