Virginia Golfer March / April 2015 | Page 36

TheVirginia Explorer AFTER A LONG AND ESPECIALLY SNOWY WINTER, spring—and all it signifies about renewal—has finally sprung. No doubt the longer days, warmer temperatures, and watching the Masters has you excited about the new golf season. Now is the time to really get into the swing of things by attending one of the following golf schools. Butch Harmon has worked with all caliber of golfers, from tour players to students with a high handicap. 34 BUTCH HARMON SCHOOL OF GOLF Henderson, Nev. The world’s No. 1 instructor just doesn’t put his name on the school; he’ll actually be there to teach you, too. In addition to instruction with Butch and his staff, the three-day school includes computerized video analysis, clubfitting and 27-hole playing lessons with his staff at Rio Secco Golf Club and Cascata Golf Course, plus breakfast and lunch with Harmon. The sessions also feature on-course interaction and a clinic ($5,900 and includes four nights at Caesars Palace; www.butchharmon.com/ the-experience/school-packages.html). V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH/A PRIL 2015 34_VSGA_MarApr15.indd 34 PINEHURST GOLF ACADEMY Village of Pinehurst, N.C. With its six-day Weekday School, Pinehurst, the site of last year’s men’s and women’s U.S. Opens, offers one of the most comprehensive programs in the country that includes five rounds of golf, four days of instruction, five nights of accommodations and all meals. There’s even a closing-night banquet with the instructors, who are led by Eric Alpenfels, one of the best in the game ($2,183– $3,652 depending on hotel and occupancy; www.pinehurst.com/golf/pinehurst-golfacademy/our-schools/weekday-school/). PEBBLE BEACH GOLF ACADEMY Pebble Beach, Calif. Previously, the practice facility at the nation’s premier golf resort didn’t match the on-course experience, but that all changed last year with the opening of a new range and 3,000-square- w w w. v s g a . o r g 3/18/15 10:21 AM RIGHT: TOM G. O’NEAL; MIDDLE: JIM M c LEAN GOLF SCHOOL; TOP RIGHT: LEADBETTER GOLF ACADEMY; DAVE PELZ GOLF SCHOOLS Golfers seeking lower scores this season can get a head start by refining their mechanics and building a knowledge base in a game-improvement setting | by TOM CUNNEFF TOP: PINEHURST GOLF ACADEMY; MATTHEW LEWIS/GETTY IMAGES Prep School