Taking lessons is something that all golfers should do, at least occasionally. If Tiger Woods needs a swing doctor, then the rest of us can probably use the help too.

Finding a pro can be as simple as a trip to your local golf course or driving range. But, much like buying a suit off the rack, for the best results you really need to find someone tailored to you. There are lots of factors to consider.

Personality

It’s important to work with a pro who matches your own personality and makes you feel comfortable. If you find yourself in a situation where you just aren’t connecting well, you need to start searching for another pro. Lessons are costly and you should be taking as much from them as you can. There too many fish in the sea to stay with a teacher who you don’t feel totally comfortable with.

Style

One of the most important aspects is the teaching style. For instance, does the pro teach a system or does he/she try and make the most of what the student brings to the table? Butch Harmon is well known for not believing in teaching a system or a single set of fundamentals to all players, and he’s recognized as the top teacher in the world. I tend to favor that approach.

At the same time, maybe you want to learn a specific set of fundamentals, like the Stack and Tilt, for instance. If your current teacher won’t or can’t teach it, then find someone who can and will. Ultimately you’re responsible for your own development. While you need to be able to absorb and process what the teacher is trying to provide, you also need to understand what direction you want to go.

Goals

It’s important to find a teacher who acknowledges and helps you work toward your goals. This is something that should be hammered out in the first lesson.

If your intent is to take a single lesson and get a few tweaks to help you out in the near-term, then a teacher trying to tear down and rebuild your swing is unacceptable. Conversely, if your desire is to become a golf pro, then you need to find a teacher who will do everything possible to help you reach that goal.

When you visit a teacher for the first time (preferably before scheduling a lesson, if possible), spend a few minutes discussing what you hope to achieve. If the teacher is not receptive to you, then you have to cut the relationship off right there. You and you alone are the author of your own goals and dreams. Your teacher is part of your supporting cast and must help you work toward those goals.

Experience

You should always consider the experience a teacher has. Did he ever play tournament golf? How long has she been a professional? How long has she been teaching?

This is not to say that you should discount younger teachers. After all, everyone starts somewhere. There are some really good young teachers out there without a ton of experience, but who have a great knack for the game and for teaching it.

In general though, someone who is a little more experienced has that much more seasoning and knowledge to help you be the best you can be, especially if you’re a beginner.

Credentials

When selecting a teacher, you might want to inquire about whether he belongs to any professional golf organizations, such as the PGA. The PGA of America is the leading golf professional organization present in the United States. It has various programs to train professionals and teachers. A certified PGA teaching professional will have gone through a top notch program including an apprenticeship where she will have learned how to teach the game.

There are certainly many good teachers who aren’t PGA professionals out there, so it’s not the end of the world if you find a teacher you like but who isn’t a PGA professional. The bottom line is: buyer beware. Without some sort of affiliation, then you don’t have a lot to consider when making your decision. This also doesn’t mean that there are no bad PGA-certified teachers. It’s certainly something to consider, though.

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Ultimately, the selection of a pro is something that falls on your shoulders. You might have to try on a few before you find the best fit. That’s OK.

Lay out all your goals and expectations up front and if your pro isn’t the person for the job, then just move on. He’ll understand.

There are too many people who say, “I took lessons a couple of years ago, but…” Following the “but…” comes a list of reasons why they stopped. Many times that list of reasons would shrink if time was spent finding the right pro.

Do your homework and find a good match and you’ll be happy you took the time. Your game and the enjoyment you get out of learning and playing will make it all worth while.

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