What are the benefits of group coaching?

For those who want to start taking lessons but feel individual ones may be too intimidating, group coaching is the right fit.

For many new golfers, the idea of standing solo on the tee with a coach watching every move can be a daunting prospect.

That’s where group coaching comes in and according to PGA Professional Adrienne Engleman, it might just be the perfect way to start.

Engleman shares her views on the benefits of group coaching over individual lessons.

How can learning in a group rather than individually help to reduce performance anxiety for some golfers?

Learning in a group rather than individually can help to reduce performance anxiety for some golfers, as being around other like-minded golfers who are also learning - whether that be learning how to play golf or learning how to improve at golf - can not only generate a close bond amongst the group, but it can also result in a more encouraging and less daunting learning environment.

However, it's worth noting that group learning isn't appropriate for all, as some golfers flourish to a greater extent with one-to-one sessions. Therefore, finding the right environment to best suit a golfer's preferred learning style is key, and not only for reducing performance anxiety, but also for overall improvement - and, more so, for principally enjoying the experience of learning all about the wonderful, albeit extensive, game of golf!

Group sessions can not only provide an encouraging learning environment - lessening the anxiety that is sometimes linked to individual learning - but group sessions can also foster a 'togetherness', making the experience generally more high-spirited and enjoyable.

How does the pressure-free nature of group lessons help students to learn?

Whilst group coaching can offer a somewhat 'laid-back' environment, it isn't by definition 'a pressure free environment'. However, the collective atmosphere can lessen the pressure for many.

Group coaching can help people learn better via an amalgamation of making new friends - all of whom have the shared goal of learning how to play golf or how to improve at golf - along with experiencing an often more enjoyable and captivating experience.

How would you compare the structure of group coaching programmes with individual lessons?

In general terms, individual lessons are usually more structured than group coaching programmes, as they are very much personalised and built around that golfer's specific requirements. However, group coaching programmes frequently possess a predetermined course too - such as short game sessions, long game sessions, on-course sessions, etc.

Whilst both forms of coaching provide enlightening and rewarding insights, individual lessons can present a more structured process to learning and improving at golf - yet, primarily, group coaching programmes can offer a more collective approach, and can also provide a wonderfully friendly learning experience too, both on and off the golf course.

Which type of golfer do you think benefits most from group coaching?

I think group coaching mostly benefits novice golfers - and/or those wanting a more relaxed environment when learning and improving at golf. However, group coaching can still vastly benefit more established golfers too, as the opportunity to learn from watching other golfers and the sharing of their own experiences can not only be incredibly useful to one and all, but the additional camaraderie that group coaching produces can be priceless.

What are the specific benefits of group coaching when compared with individual lessons?

I think other benefits to group coaching over individual lessons include cost-efficiency, as group coaching sessions are often more budget-friendly than individual lessons, which in turn makes group coaching more accessible to a diverse reach of potential and budding golfers. In addition, group coaching offers an immediate 'buddying up' system, whereby the participants from the very outset have an array of 'golfing mates' to choose from, enabling them all to organise the likes of practise sessions together, along with arranging rounds of golf together too.

Indeed, I know of an abundance of 'golf buddies' who have attended my group coaching sessions over the years who are now not only playing golf together, but who are also socialising outside of golf together too - and so many of them have since become "friends for life"!