Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common questions about coaching at Swanston Golf Academy.

Getting started

Where should I start if I’m new?
If you’re unsure where you fit, the New Client Assessment is the clearest starting point. It helps identify what matters most and what the right next step looks like.

👉 Book a New Client Assessment

Do I need to be a Swanston Golf Club member?
No. Coaching at Swanston Golf Academy is open to everyone.

Do you coach complete beginners?
Yes. We work with complete beginners through structured pathways designed to build confidence and understanding from the start.

Booking & lessons

How do I book a lesson?
Lessons are booked online directly with your chosen coach. Links are provided on the relevant pages.

Do I need to book multiple lessons at once?
No. There’s no requirement to commit upfront. Next steps are discussed once there’s clarity.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Each coach’s cancellation policy is shown clearly at the point of booking.

Coaching approach

Do you offer one-off lessons?
Some golfers choose single sessions, but coaching at Swanston is designed around structure and progression rather than isolated fixes.

Will I get drills to practise?
Only where they support understanding. The focus is clarity first, then practice with purpose.

Do you use technology in lessons?
Yes. We use TrackMan, Swing Catalyst, and HackMotion where appropriate — always explained simply and used to support learning.

Juniors & families

Do you coach juniors?
Yes. We offer structured junior programmes and girls-only coaching with clear safeguarding standards.

Do juniors need an assessment first?
In most cases, yes — particularly before joining structured programmes. It helps place juniors appropriately.

Do children need their own clubs?
Not initially. Guidance is provided once a place is confirmed.

Programmes & waitlists

Why do some programmes have waitlists?
To keep coaching structured and group sizes appropriate. Waitlists allow fair, calm access when places open.

Does joining a waitlist guarantee a place?
No. It ensures early notification when availability changes.

Gift vouchers

Do you offer gift vouchers?
Yes. Gift vouchers can be purchased online and are delivered instantly by email.

👉 View Gift Vouchers

Who are gift vouchers suitable for?
They’re suitable for juniors, adults, beginners, and experienced golfers.

Location & facilities

Where do lessons take place?
All coaching takes place at Swanston Golf Academy, based at Swanston Golf Club in Edinburgh.

Is parking available?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available.

Next steps

If you still have questions, you’re welcome to get in touch.

👉 Contact the Academy

If you’re ready to begin properly, start with clarity.

👉 Book a New Client Assessment

Swanston Golf Academy Master Plan

The Master Plan (2026–2028)

A clear direction for modern golf coaching at Swanston.

Golf is changing.
How people learn is changing.
What golfers expect from coaching is changing.

At Swanston Golf Academy, we’re building a coaching system designed for how golfers actually improve today — not how the game used to work.

This page sets out the direction we’re committed to over the next three years.

Why we exist

Our purpose is simple:

Make great golf coaching accessible.

Not just to the confident.
Not just to the talented.
Not just to those who already feel like they belong.

Beginner, junior, returning golfer, or developing player — everyone deserves:

  • clarity

  • structure

  • modern tools

  • a visible pathway to progress

That belief guides every decision we make.

Why Swanston

Swanston sits at the front door of the game.

We’re:

  • a public-facing range

  • part of a community club

  • surrounded by beginners walking past every day

  • home to one of the region’s largest junior coaching bases

If this works here, it works anywhere.

Done properly, Swanston becomes a place where:

  • beginners feel safe to start

  • juniors see a future

  • parents understand the journey

  • progress is visible

  • coaching feels modern and human

  • golf stops feeling intimidating

What we’re building

1. A clear coaching system

Everything we do is built around one simple structure:

Assessment → Plan → Progress

No guesswork.
No random resets.
No confusion about what matters most.

Every golfer knows:

  • what they’re working on

  • why it matters

  • how progress is measured

2. CoachNow as the digital home

CoachNow becomes the centre of the learning experience.

It brings together:

  • lesson videos

  • progress timelines

  • communication

  • practice tasks

  • bookings

This creates continuity — not just sessions.

Golfers don’t wonder “what should I practise?”
They can see it.

3. Clear pathways into the game

Golf should feel achievable early.

Play 9 – Score 36 becomes the primary beginner pathway:

  • early success

  • clear goals

  • visible progress

  • confidence from day one

For juniors, this same structure creates:

  • measurable levels

  • visible milestones

  • clarity for parents

  • motivation for players

Progress becomes understandable.

4. Modern operations that remove friction

Behind the scenes, we’re simplifying:

  • booking systems

  • calendars

  • communication

  • admin

Access isn’t only about price.
It’s about removing unnecessary friction.

5. Technology that actually helps

Technology should clarify, not confuse.

We use:

  • TrackMan to explain ball flight and decision-making

  • Swing Catalyst to make pressure, balance, and contact visible

  • HackMotion to make wrist control practical

World-class tools, explained simply.

6. Smarter practice

Practice should never be guesswork.

Every golfer is guided to understand:

  • what to practise

  • why it matters

  • how it links to performance

Over time, golfers become self-sufficient, not dependent.

7. Learning beyond the lesson

We’re building a learning ecosystem through:

  • written Academy notes

  • video education

  • beginner series

  • junior development content

  • long-form explanations

Education becomes accessible anywhere — not just during sessions.

Our standards

Every system we build must:

  • make coaching clearer

  • create visible pathways

  • reduce confusion

  • support long-term improvement

Every decision is filtered through one question:

Does this help more people access golfing excellence?

If it doesn’t, we don’t build it.

What this means for golfers

If you train at Swanston, you can expect:

  • clarity from the start

  • structure instead of guesswork

  • progress you can see

  • coaching that respects your time

  • an environment built for learning

Not intensity.
Consistency.

This is a commitment

This Master Plan is a commitment:

  • to our players

  • to our coaches

  • to the future of golf coaching

A commitment to:

  • build modern pathways

  • remove intimidation

  • use innovation in service of people

  • help every player access golfing excellence

Stay close

If you’d like to follow how this plan unfolds, you can join our Academy notes.

They’re short, thoughtful, and written from inside the Academy.

👉 Join the Swanston Notes

If you’re ready to begin your own journey, the right place to start is clarity.

👉 Book a New Client Assessment