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they have some practice sessions in between," he said, noting an hour on the range a couple of times a week that includes putting, hitting wedges and short irons "keeps things fresh." "If you're just going round to round without any practice in between you're going to see some shades of brilliance but there's always going to be those holes, 'Well, if I didn't have that seven, or that six on my card my score would have been great today.' Well, that's because you didn't practice enough and that's how you get better because I think all of us have self-doubt over shots, I don't care what level you're at." Brett Meabon, the PGA director of golf at Shadow Ridge, said more and more people are realizing golf schools, and the Faldo Golf Insitute in particular, are good for their game and the numbers verify that. "From the golf school itself, we put through around 250 students per year (in Palm Desert) with a maximum of four students per instructor, so it is a pretty high volume," he commented about the popularity of this particular school. Overall, for their shorter lessons, the FGI serves about 1,500 golfers per year. Teaching at the Faldo Golf Institute is kept fresh as the instructors continually stay on top of the changes in the game. As well, they are re-certified each year by spending time with Faldo in Florida. "We have a curriculum and it's his philosophy," Ellis continues picking up the topic about Faldo's teaching of his teachers. "We all know how to teach so it's not like 'when you're teaching you should do this.' We talk about different techniques that are out there. We talk Faldo language. We stick with his program." Ellis expanded on other programs the Faldo Golf Institute offers, noting they have one hour and three hour sessions in the morning or afternoon focusing on either the short game or the full swing. "Our short game lessons are 45 minutes each on putting, chipping and sand and then full swing is by itself." The practice areas at the Florida and California properties are second to none, Shadow Ridge's lead instructor pointed out. "Marriott had the foresight to know they were going to have a wonderful golf school and they wanted to have great teaching venues," Ellis said of the practice areas' designs. The multi-day schools work well for buddy trips or couples interested in improving their games and wanting to be fully immersed in instruction, Ellis noted. For those wanting to learn but are not quite ready to spend that amount of time doing so, there are also one-hour drop-in classes each weekday evening at the range dealing with various aspects of the game. A big part of the school scenario is the fact the tuition fees cover not only the instruction and golf but your room cost as well as breakfast and lunch at Nick Faldo's Bar and Grille each day of the school. As well, there's the Clubfitter's Workshop included in the cost and after your stay is concluded, access to the online Alumni Clubhouse, providing students with tips and drills. "We have a great promotion with the free lodging for two or three days and a discounted rate for rooms if you wish to stay longer," Ellis explained of the enrollment special. "It's such a bargain. If you do some shopping, for the product we offer, that's why we're busy. We offer a great product from the time of your arrival to your departure. This is the whole package – all the bells and whistles." For more information, visit gofaldo.com or call 888-463-2536. About the writer: Gord Montgomery is the sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He has written for Inside Golf for the past four years with the majority of his coverage in north and central Alberta. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. 36 2012 PALM SPRINGS UPDATE IMAGE CREDIT GORD MONTGOMERY IMAGE CREDIT GORD MONTGOMERY