Ten rules to follow while learning golf

Much has been written about the relationship between Nick Faldo and his former teacher, David Leadbetter. Under Leadbetter's guidance, Faldo turned himself from a pretty good player into a great player. In the process, Leadbetter — quite rightly — received a lot of praise and attention. More recently, Tiger Woods switched teachers and retooled his game. After Woods won the 2005 Masters and British Open, his teacher Hank Haney got some of the credit.

Ultimately, however, the teacher is only as good as the pupil. Faldo, with his extraordinary dedication and total belief in what he was told, may have been the best pupil in the history of golf. And Tiger is nothing less than the best — and most focused — golfer of our time.

When you take lessons, you need to keep the faith. There's no point in going to someone you don't believe in. If you find yourself doubting what you're being told, you're wasting everybody's time. Change instructors if that happens — that is, if your instructor doesn't tell you to go elsewhere first.

Here are ten rules to follow while learning golf:

Find a good teacher and stick with that person. Follow a timetable. Discipline yourself to work on what you've been told. Concentrate. Learn from your mistakes. You'll make them, so you may as well make them work for you. Relax. Take your time, and you'll learn and play better. Practice the shots you find most difficult. Have goals. Remember: Golf is a target game. Stay positive. Golf is hard enough. A bad attitude only hurts you. Stop practicing when you get tired. That's when sloppy habits begin. Evaluate yourself after each lesson: Are you making progress?