Chris Hutchinson is a PGA of America Certified Professional in Teaching & Coaching and Golf Operations at Tavistock Country Club in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Chris Hutchinson on the importance of considering going to 45-minute lessons:

As a teaching professional, I have adopted 45-minute lessons as the standard format for individual instruction. This time frame allows golfers to stay focused and physically engaged without hitting the point of diminishing returns that often comes with full-hour sessions. It also gives me a buffer between lessons to stay on schedule, handle unexpected delays, and provide extra support when needed—all without disrupting the flow of the day. The 45-minute format has proven to be the most efficient and effective for both learning and operations.

Chris Hutchinson on the business impact of considering going to 45-minute lessons:

I’ve found that 45-minute lessons strike the ideal balance between focus, effectiveness, and flexibility. I believe there is a diminishing return beyond that point; similar to writing an essay in school with a word requirement and adding a bunch of “fluff” at the end. In my experience, quality tends to decline past the 45-minute mark, as students begin to experience fatigue, and both concentration and physical performance begin to wane. The 45-minute time frame allows for a productive session where key concepts can be introduced, practiced, and reinforced without overwhelming the student. Additionally, scheduling in 45-minute blocks provides a natural buffer between lessons. This ensures I can maintain punctuality, regroup between sessions, and accommodate occasional overruns or individual follow-up questions without negatives impacting the next student’s experience. Ultimately, 45-minute sessions help me deliver consistently high-quality instruction while respecting the student’s attention span and my professional time management. I’ve given thousands of lessons and can count on one hand where I had overlapping or conflicting sessions. Conversely, I have constantly seen over the years where instructors bookend hour-long sessions and can never catch back up when one session runs over or a student arrives a couple minutes late. That’s a place where no one wants to be.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email chutchinson@tavistockcc.com.