We live in a world that seems to endlessly demand instant gratification.  And yet there is almost universal acknowledgement that our most gratifying achievements are those that have taken time to realise.

The desire for instant gratification is supported by knowing that the most commonly read sections of golf magazines are the tips sections.  The second most commonly read sections are the equipment sections, where reviews and advertising promise an instantaneous gain in distance from the tee.

If the promise of every tip or every new piece of equipment actually delivered, everyone would be a scratch golfer hitting at 300 metres and never missing a fairway.

Learning golf for a beginning player can seem quite daunting, just as learning a musical instrument, a new language or driving a manual car were when you made your first attempt.  The recipe for improvement in any one of these things is quite simple: understand the fundamentals and practice them repeatedly and consistently.  As time passes, you will probably be surprised to realise how quickly your skill level has risen.

When you go to a gym you’ll get the best results by following a programme set out specifically for you by your strength and conditioning coach.  Likewise, your golf will improve when you follow a practice plan in addition to taking regular coaching sessions.  Your practice plan should follow the Rule of Thirds, which means dividing your practice time between your long game, short game and putting.  You also need to devote time to technical development, adding variety to your practice and using competitive drills.

By taking a systematic approach to your golf development, you’ll find that your skill level and enjoyment from the game will improve.  Other people will soon be asking how you improved so much so quickly.