In golf, there are two categories of players - the golf pros and the golf amateurs. Fortunately for all, the line between these two categories does meet at some point.

There are many people who are of the opinion that golf is a leisurely game. Its purpose is for recreation, thus hiring a golf professional to teach you how to play defeats the purpose of the game and drains it of any real enjoyment.

However, although there are close to 30 million golfers in the States alone most of them have never had or will never get to break a score of 100. Many of these golfers complain not only of a less than satisfactory game, but also of the aches and pains that they feel after a game of golf.

Being able to play golf like a pro through one's own practice may work out for some golfers, even if it is not as effective as having the assistance of someone more professional to help you with the game. Furthermore, being able to play golf well and being able to enjoy playing golf can maximize on the satisfaction and pleasure that the game promises.

Deciding on whether or not assistance from a pro is needed is as important as choosing the right golf equipment. You would need to first identify and prioritize your goals, decide on the level of commitment that you are prepared to give, as well as the amount of money that you can afford to invest in the game. The following are some pointers that you would find helpful with regards to enlisting the help of a pro.

- Having a coach or a pro to assist you could help in zeroing in onto your specific weaknesses. Once your weaknesses have been identified, your coach could give several targeted exercises to help you to correct your weaknesses. With a coach by your side, this will be monitored to see if you're doing things right.

- A golf coach could also help with getting rid of bad golfing habits which normally result in injuries like the golfer's elbow which can be very painful. Your coach will also be able to guide you through a proper warm-up routine. This is one of the greatest advantages of having the help of a professional, as it helps you not just with the way you play but also by avoiding injuries and unnecessary aches and pains.

- Discuss with your prospective coach and get their opinion on teaching and playing the game. A good coach or golf pro will readily tell you that the best way is to build up on the basics of playing golf and to avoid the short cuts and latest fads. If someone tells you the latter will get faster results, keep in mind that although this is true, as soon as you stop working with them your golf performance will drop back to where you were before. Thus, it is best to stick with the tried and tested basic rules of playing golf, which could take longer to master but will guarantee a better performance.

- The average rate for a personal lesson with a golf pro could be about $75 per an hour's lesson. However, remember that prices may vary with the different pros that you will be working with, or with the different golf school or club.

- Should the rates for a personal one-on-one lesson be too high or expensive, you may choose to go for a lesson with a group of other golfers. This way expenses can be shared. Please remember though, not to have more than 4 people to a golf pro. This lets you have attention as good as a personal one-on-one lesson but with less expenses. A golf pro coaching for an hour for a group of 4 golfers would cost somewhere around $120.

- A vital thing to keep in mind is that when working with a pro, it means going for quality rather than quantity. This is after all why you hired them in the first place. Since there is a limited number of lessons, work hard to ensure that you achieve your goal of being an excellent golfer at a few techniques, rather than knowing many techniques but being the master of none.

- A professional coach will instruct you on the techniques to a better game on your own in the future without his supervision. The main purpose is of course so that you can become a better golfer on your own. This includes not only playing with the right techniques but also having a good warm-up and stretching routine.

And finally, even after you have completed all your lessons and after some improvements in your game, you should still go back to see your coach maybe once a year. This will enable him to check up on your golf game and to see if there are any other techniques or aspects that you still need to work on. There will always be room for improvement, more so if you want to play a better game of golf.

About the author: Juzaily Ramli and his friend Tommy Lehmann are golf enthusiasts and proud owners of golf school website. You'll discover how you too can increase your distance and lower your golf score with golf training.