Learn Golf with Opie
⭑5.0 (12)
😊96
💰$56 weekly lessons
I began playing golf after working at a summer camp in the late 90’s. I signed up to coach basketball, but the Bulls were in the Finals again, so by the time I got to camp, the only sport left to coach was golf, and I had zero playing or coaching experience in that sport. I had been an athlete all my life and a coach for almost a decade by that point, so I figured, “How hard can it be?” I found out quickly it was very hard. I spent that summer learning the game from 10 year olds. Going to the local course in rural Pennsylvania, sun getting low as we’re out there laughing and having a blast, usually at my expense. I vividly remember my mind being blown at the concept of hitting down, to make the ball go up. Fascinating! I got hooked, came home after camp, jumped into any and everything golf; Tiger Woods, Dave Pelz, Rick Smith, David Ledbetter, Golf Channel, etc., etc. I got pretty good quickly, played all over the place, signed up to attend a golf instructor school, and the rest is history. I’ve given lessons coast to coast, including Maui, Scottsdale, NYC, San Diego and even Tijuana. I have a deep knowledge of the game and a sincere passion to help anyone learn the game I have come to love so much. My independent teaching company is called, Foreplay Golf- Get It In The Hole… I was injured for a few years and unable to teach or even play but I’m feeling even better than before and I’m ready to start giving lessons again. Thank you very much for your help.
Levels taught: Beginners, Intermediates, Experts
Teaches: Adults, Seniors
😊96 Happy student score
✏️Provides lesson summaries
🏅Mini-Tour Competitor
📝USGTF Certified
🎓25 years coaching
🔥54 Lessons
⭐️I’ve given over 5,000 successful lessons in my teaching career. From young to not as young, and every playing level imaginable. I’m also an avid player who has had some success in small tournaments, but nothing to brag about. I understand the game, the swing and how to teach anyone from tee to green. I also make learning fun, which is just as important as knowing how to teach. I really look forward to hearing from you soon!
As a player, I'm rated:
⛳️ 6Handicap
Reviews
Total reviews12
Average rating
5.0
Anthony M.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 9
Very friendly, easy to understand instruction.
Casmere P.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 8
Opie is very professional, punctual and patient. He taught me the basics on the first lesson which included the proper grip, form and swing. He’s cool and took time for me to learn. I’d definitely do more lessons with him.
Kelley J.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 6
I had my first lesson with Coach Opie, and I can already hit a golf ball!! It was so fun. He takes his time, explains and coaches really well, and cheered me on. It was great! Highly recommend. I really feel like I’ll be able to play golf after a few more lessons with Coach.
Sandy S.Verified ✓
Lessons taken: 1
Great first lesson with Opie. He worked with me on my grip countless times and kept reassuring me that I would get it. Being new to this is extremely stressful and having a positive reinforcement that has a wealth of knowledge is a huge plus.
Jared
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 1
Jared arrived on time, with a great attitude, ready to work on some things. We talked briefly about what he felt was his biggest inconsistency, and he told me that was contact. I decided to start with the very basics, so we went to a spot next to a practice green to take a look at his grip and set up. We chipped to a pin a few yards away, and it was important for Jared to understand the various things we were working on at the same time he was actually attempting to make contact with the ball, so we went slowly. By the end of the lesson, Jared had begun to make a lot more solid contact with the ball. His grip and set up were much improved as well. We spent a few extra minutes on the putting green to end the lesson and had so much fun, I lost track of time. It was a phenomenal start, for certain. I hope Jared enjoyed his lesson, and I look forward to hearing from him again soon for lesson #2.
Until then, remember to bend your knees 😉
Locations
These are the locations I've set as being able to provide lessons:3 courses available
JR South Bay Golf
3631 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA, 91902-1129
1948.6 miles awayOutdoors
Coronado Golf Course
2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, CA 92118, USA
1954 miles awayOutdoors
Want a lesson at your home or a different location? We can help.
Availability
These are the times I've set as being available for lessons.sundays
8 AM - 9 PM
mondays
9:30 AM - 2 PM
tuesdays
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
wednesdays
9:30 AM - 2 PM
thursdays
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
fridays
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
saturdays
8 AM - 9 PM
Beginner training plan
Your first lessonHello and thank you for your interest in learning to play golf! No matter your skill level, I’ll always start with the basics, which are the foundation of any good swing. Not everyone will need more than a few lessons, but all players should have at least one or two when you begin playing, or as you begin to notice inconsistency in your game. Otherwise, it’s harder to break bad habits and fix much if you really don’t understand your swing in the first place. Grip, alignment, stance, posture and tempo. It all starts there. We’ll work on the short game after that; chipping, pitching and putting. Some people get the concepts immediately, some don’t. The number of lessons you’ll need depends on your ability to not only understand and apply the instructions given, but your ability to also dedicate the necessary time to practice- and practice correctly.
Lesson 11+At this point, if you’re not comfortable with any specific part of your game, we’ll focus on that. Otherwise, if you’re still needing some help, we’ll work on fades and draws, high and low shots, course management and escaping trouble. After that, we’ll communicate and decide what to do from there. No matter what, you’re hopefully going to fall in love with the game like I have and have fun playing. That’s what matters most. It’s a very difficult game, but lessons help make it a little easier. Thank you!!
Lesson 4-10Now, we can start to learn the fun stuff, like the driver or fairway woods/hybrids. Sand play will be taught as well. These clubs require a few changes to the set up and swing, so until a student has shown progress with the shorter clubs/swing, there’s no real reason to move on to these, but by now, no most students should be able to learn these clubs while still learning other aspects of the game. By now, we should also be able to start playing lessons, which means we’ll go to the course and play as we learn. There’s no better place to learn the game than on an actual course.
Lesson 2-3We’ll spend some time making sure the first lesson has sunk in; it takes some students another first lesson as a second lesson. If we feel confident enough, we’ll work on a longer swing- 8-9 iron for example. We’ll end the lesson going back to chipping and pitching, because those are so important to learn.
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonWhat do you want to work on? Fades and draws? High and low? How to spin the ball? Still have the yips on the green? Slicing like crazy? Can’t get out of the rough? The woods? The sand? All three? Want to play in tournaments and need to know what to expect?
Lesson 4-10If you get this far then maybe you weren’t as advanced as you thought?
Lesson 2-3Once we pinpoint your primary inconsistencies, we’ll only need one or two lessons in order for proper routine to be set in motion. At that point, you’re welcome to book a lesson in a week or two as a refresher. By the way, do you stretch? How’s your flexibility? Diet? Fitness routine? All of that is important, especially the older we get.
Youth players
Working with kidsKids are easy to teach, typically, if there’s a genuine interest in learning, combined with having fun. Some kids just don’t want to learn, and I don’t want to waste a parents money. I’ll be able to tell quickly if a younger student is going to be ready to learn the game within the first lesson.
Working with teenagersDepending on their skill level, interest, natural ability and the fit of their equipment, teenagers are always interesting to teach. I look forward to the opportunity of helping them discover a new skill they didn’t know they could acquire, or a swing key/drill they hadn’t thought of before. They’re also beginning to understand the mental/physical fitness required to excel at golf, so I enjoy helping them achieve new levels of success through strength/flexibility/proper nutrition training in addition to golf.
What you need to bringDepending on the skill level, bring any club you feel you’d like to work on specific to the least consistent part of your game. Typically, if you’re a beginner, or want to get to the root of what’s going on if you’ve played for a while, you’ll bring a putter, sand wedge/approach/pitching wedge and 7 or 8 iron. Any longer clubs will only be for players who are consistent enough to hit the shorter clubs starting out and want to work on more advanced swing issues, respectfully.
What I can bringI bring practice balls for short game drills, targets and alignment aids, video capabilities and speakers for music at an appropriate sound level if the student prefers. If students need clubs, I will not be able to provide them, I apologize. However, they can usually be rented at my teaching locations.
Frequently asked questions
Cancellation Policy
We totally understand that life can be unpredictable and plans might change. That's
why we've got your back with our flexible cancellation policy, designed to give you
peace of mind when booking private sports lessons with our awesome local instructors!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
OH
Golf with Opie Hicks⭑ 5.0 (12 reviews)