Gary Kent Golf School of Toronto

[sigh...]

Anyone tried Gary Kent Golf School of Toronto before? I am new to golf and I am looking for some beginner lessons, are they any good?

[chinokid]

I took a set of group beginner lessons there (believe it was 5 one hour lessons). I wouldn't recommend it because there's very little time that the instructor watches you since there are maybe 6-8 other people. Other than that the lessons were very organized and you're taught everything on the addendum. I took some semi-private lessons with a friend at markham golf dome and found that much more helpful. They have promotions from time to time or you can just talk to one of the instructors there and they'll give you a deal

[grappos13]

i did gary kent in like 2006 when i was starting golf.. wasnt the best since there were like 8-10 ppl in it for the 5 lessons at an hour each...

a couple months ago, for the same price, i did 5 lessons at an hour each at markham golf dome and it was for 4 ppl only, so a lot more time from the instructor...ended up costing $125 a person... which was REALLY reasonable consdiering we got unlimited range time in the dome after our lesson was done.. so we would go for the lesson for an hour, then stay at the range for like an hour or 1.5 hours after.... if u consider that a jumbo bucket is like $13 more places.. and we hit probably 2 jumbos in that time, really we r only paying $5 per lesson for the person to help us

and heck.. at golfdome itself its like $35 for 2 hours of golf.. which is MORE expensive than our lessons turned out to be

[Rikardo]

I'm currently taking the beginner course (just finished 4 out of 5 classes) at Gary Kent Golf School. There's only 5 people in my group. I had never hit a golf ball (using golf clubs) before taking the class and I find it very good for a beginner (although I tend to pick up sports quickly). The hour goes by fast, but I find the instructor does pay enough attention to each person to give pointers/correct improper technique. No problems answering any questions you have either. You get to hit unlimited balls during that hour. For $130 for 5 x 1-hour lessons and unlimited balls, I found it good for a beginner. I felt I got my money's worth.

[moommen]

I took group lessons with Gary Kent, and didn't find him that helpful with my swing. He was my second of three instructors and when compared to my latest instructor Paul Davies, at the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre, he isn't that good.

I would definitely recommend checking out Richmond Hill and see if you can take either a winter group clinic (MAX 4students : 1 instructor) or if you need immediate help see if they have any packages available.

What I found most useful was the fact that Shawn Clement, the head instructor at RH, has a lot of Youtube videos. So if there is something that you were working in class and didn't quite fully comprehend it at the time, you could always go online and figure things out.

I found Gary to be more of a band-aid fix with less emphasis on the cause and effect of my swing flaws.

hope this helps.

**check out Shawns videos. Youtube: "clemshaw". Start with lessons, that way you are free of any ingrained bad habits.

[Borbor]

I took group lessons with Gary Kent, and didn't find him that helpful with my swing. He was my second of three instructors and when compared to my latest instructor Paul Davies, at the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre, he isn't that good.

I would definitely recommend checking out Richmond Hill and see if you can take either a winter group clinic (MAX 4students : 1 instructor) or if you need immediate help see if they have any packages available.

What I found most useful was the fact that Shawn Clement, the head instructor at RH, has a lot of Youtube videos. So if there is something that you were working in class and didn't quite fully comprehend it at the time, you could always go online and figure things out.

I found Gary to be more of a band-aid fix with less emphasis on the cause and effect of my swing flaws.

hope this helps.

**check out Shawns videos. Youtube: "clemshaw". Start with lessons, that way you are free of any ingrained bad habits.

plus one on this.

I started watching Shawn's videos, then took the odd lesson with him lat last season, to enrolling in his winter clinic and went from shooting in the mid 90s in casual rounds of golf with friends last season to shooting low 80s in individual stroke play competition this year.

[zedison]

I took some semi-private lessons (1 on 3) with Gary last summer at Scarborough Family Golf, and I found it helpful. Before the lessons, I'd been to the range maybe 10 times in my life, and everything I learned was tips from buddies, so I found Gary's pointers to be quite helpful--especially the video analysis. His class is not the cheapest, and he has a lot to say (non-golf topics), but when it comes down it, I felt that he really knew the game inside-out and he was able to tailor the lessons and teach it to us effectively.

I'm starting classes with Graham Ure at Markham Golf Dome this weekend, so maybe after the first lesson, I'll have a better idea/comparison of how Gary stacks up.

[garykentgolf]

I took a set of group beginner lessons there (believe it was 5 one hour lessons). I wouldn't recommend it because there's very little time that the instructor watches you since there are maybe 6-8 other people. Other than that the lessons were very organized and you're taught everything on the addendum. I took some semi-private lessons with a friend at markham golf dome and found that much more helpful. They have promotions from time to time or you can just talk to one of the instructors there and they'll give you a deal

Hi ChinokidIn response to your post:
Sorry to hear of your dissatisfaction. But I think you may find the answer to where it went wrong is in your email. You signed up for a clinic expecting to get individual attention. You said for yourself, you got more attention doing a semiprivate lesson somewhere else. Of course! You would hope! That’s 2 people per instructor!
It’s too bad you didn’t give us a chance to make it better for yourself, by bringing it too our attention. We could have easily put you in a Semi private program with more personalized attention.

Which program should I take? Private or Groups? If you need to improve your golf quickly, private lessons are the way to go! That's the Fast Track! to success. Flexible booking times, with constant instruction on building good habits. If you want to go at it slowly, working on little bits each week. No deadlines to meet. Group clinics are a great way to go. Yours truly Gary Kent

[garykentgolf]

i did gary kent in like 2006 when i was starting golf.. wasnt the best since there were like 8-10 ppl in it for the 5 lessons at an hour each...

a couple months ago, for the same price, i did 5 lessons at an hour each at markham golf dome and it was for 4 ppl only, so a lot more time from the instructor...ended up costing $125 a person... which was REALLY reasonable consdiering we got unlimited range time in the dome after our lesson was done.. so we would go for the lesson for an hour, then stay at the range for like an hour or 1.5 hours after.... if u consider that a jumbo bucket is like $13 more places.. and we hit probably 2 jumbos in that time, really we r only paying $5 per lesson for the person to help us

and heck.. at golfdome itself its like $35 for 2 hours of golf.. which is MORE expensive than our lessons turned out to be

Hi Grapos13
In response to your post:
Our clinics offer something no one else does! Makeup lessons in case you have to miss a class. You may have 8 people in a class one time in your 5 weeks but you may also have only 4 people in the class because of some of the students’ work commitments. Last time we had 10 people in a class was 1997 when Tiger came out.
The clinics at the Dome are 4 weeks; ours are 5 weeks for the same price. Students have always been welcome to stay and hit balls after our lessons since 1992. We give the golfers so many balls during the class, they are just plain worn out after the hour! Yours truly Gary kent

[garykentgolf]

I took some semi-private lessons (1 on 3) with Gary last summer at Scarborough Family Golf, and I found it helpful. Before the lessons, I'd been to the range maybe 10 times in my life, and everything I learned was tips from buddies, so I found Gary's pointers to be quite helpful--especially the video analysis. His class is not the cheapest, and he has a lot to say (non-golf topics), but when it comes down it, I felt that he really knew the game inside-out and he was able to tailor the lessons and teach it to us effectively.

I'm starting classes with Graham Ure at Markham Golf Dome this weekend, so maybe after the first lesson, I'll have a better idea/comparison of how Gary stacks up.

Hi Zedison
Thanks for your thoughts here. I remember you did quite well learning the swing! I really enjoy using the slow motion video playback for students. They get a lot out of it. Speeds up improvement 10 times.
As far as the “non golf topics”. In business it’s called building a rapport with the customer. It’s part of making the student feel comfortable and at ease. Learning at any level can’t be done effectively if the person is tense and scared. Yours truly Gary Kent

[garykentgolf]

I'm currently taking the beginner course (just finished 4 out of 5 classes) at Gary Kent Golf School. There's only 5 people in my group. I had never hit a golf ball (using golf clubs) before taking the class and I find it very good for a beginner (although I tend to pick up sports quickly). The hour goes by fast, but I find the instructor does pay enough attention to each person to give pointers/correct improper technique. No problems answering any questions you have either. You get to hit unlimited balls during that hour. For $130 for 5 x 1-hour lessons and unlimited balls, I found it good for a beginner. I felt I got my money's worth.

Hi Rikardo
Thanks for the nice comments here! You are correct with every point you're making!
Yours truly Gary Kent

[garykentgolf]

I took group lessons with Gary Kent, and didn't find him that helpful with my swing. He was my second of three instructors and when compared to my latest instructor Paul Davies, at the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre, he isn't that good.

I would definitely recommend checking out Richmond Hill and see if you can take either a winter group clinic (MAX 4students : 1 instructor) or if you need immediate help see if they have any packages available.

What I found most useful was the fact that Shawn Clement, the head instructor at RH, has a lot of Youtube videos. So if there is something that you were working in class and didn't quite fully comprehend it at the time, you could always go online and figure things out.

I found Gary to be more of a band-aid fix with less emphasis on the cause and effect of my swing flaws.

hope this helps.

**check out Shawns videos. Youtube: "clemshaw". Start with lessons, that way you are free of any ingrained bad habits.

Hi Moomen
In response to your post:
Please describe to myself and the readers what you are talking about here, “band-aid fix with less emphasis on the cause and effect of my swing flaws.” and how fixing something in someone's swing is a bad thing!
Yes I do have You Tube, Twitter, Facebook. Yours truly Gary Kent

[grappos13]

Hi Grapos13
In response to your post:
Our clinics offer something no one else does! Makeup lessons in case you have to miss a class. You may have 8 people in a class one time in your 5 weeks but you may also have only 4 people in the class because of some of the students’ work commitments. Last time we had 10 people in a class was 1997 when Tiger came out.
The clinics at the Dome are 4 weeks; ours are 5 weeks for the same price. Students have always been welcome to stay and hit balls after our lessons since 1992. We give the golfers so many balls during the class, they are just plain worn out after the hour!

Hi Gary,

Glad to see you have joined Redflagdeals. It is a great community and thrives on people giving their own opinions and observations. Almost all discussion topics are welcome.

In reply to your reply to my post,

1) My clinic at Markham Golf Dome was 5 weeks, not 4 as you said it was.
2) We had to cancel our lesson the night before, about 12 hours before the schedule lesson and they had no problem rescheduling another one for us, we did not lose out on a lesson.
3) There was definitely 8 people every week when I took the class in 2006, there was a family of four, a married couple, myself and my brother. It may have not been 10 actually signed up for that class, I did not mean to insinuate that.
4) Yes, there could be enough balls within the one hour. I believe we each got a Jumbo Ball. However, once the lesson was done, say that I finished my balls 5 minutes after, i would not be able to get more balls, as I could at the Markham Golf Dome.

Overall, I would agree with others that Gary Kent School is great for beginners. I was a beginner back then and it did help me. I just felt that I was getting double the time and attention from the instructor at Golf Dome, and that is mainly do to the fact that it was only 4 people, not 8. And for the same money, it was worth it to me. I took time off from golf for 3 years so that refresher at Golf Dome was more than enough for me.

Sorry if I have offended you in anyway, that was not what it was meant to be. I just replied to someone's post regarding my own experiences. As for deleting my old post, most forums, you do not have to go back and delete posts.

[garykentgolf]

Anyone tried Gary Kent Golf School of Toronto before? I am new to golf and I am looking for some beginner lessons, are they any good?

Hi Sigh...
In response to you or anyone else asking about Beginner golf lessons.
Beginner Lessons and Clinics are for those who are just getting started and would like to get a good taste of what golf is all about. Some of these golfers have never touched a club before and some have played for a short while, learning on their own with no formal training. These players want to learn enough to not be embarrassed at the company tournament or with friends.

Frequently Asked Question:Which program should I take? Private or Groups? If you need to improve your golf quickly, private lessons are the way to go! That's the Fast Track! to success. Flexible booking times, with constant instruction on building good habits. If you want to go at it slowly, working on little bits each week. No deadlines to meet. Group clinics are a great way to go.
http://garykentgolf.com/beginnergolf.aspx for more info. Yours truly Gary Kent

[Feebz13]

[QUOTE=garykentgolf;14188162][COLOR="red"]Hi Sigh...
In response to you or anyone else asking about Beginner golf lessons.
Beginner Lessons and Clinics are for those who are just getting started and would like to get a good taste of what golf is all about. Some of these golfers have never touched a club before and some have played for a short while, learning on their own with no formal training. These players want to learn enough to not be embarrassed at the company tournament or with friends.

Totally agree, I took beginner lessons with you Gary before I'd even picked up a club. The clinic covered basics like putting etiquitte, fixing divots, grip, basic swing. It was exactly what I needed...after the clinic I realized I actually liked golf and Gary was a great ambassador to the game.

I too have to put my kudos to the staff at Richmond Hill. Shawn Clement took my game to another level. He digs into the rabbit hole and really breaks down the swing. Very easy to understand. Granted, they're much more expensive than Gary's clinics.

Nothing against Gary's clinics. They're great value, and Gary's a great funny guy and CPGA. He can play. I've also seen Gary do private lessons and the guys he was teaching had beautiful swings.


Welcome to RFD Gary.