As a recreational golfer, you might harbor ambitions of making it to a scratch handicap one day. This is undoubtedly a heady aspiration, but you can achieve it if you work hard and have a natural skill set to help you succeed.
In this article, we take a look at the Scratch Golf Academy and take a deep dive into what it’s all about. We also provide you with an insight into whether or not it’s likely to help you improve your golf game.
By the end of this piece, you will have all the information you need to decide whether or not to join the Scratch Golf Academy as you attempt to reduce your handicap this coming season.
What is the Scratch Golf Academy?
The Scratch Golf Academy is an online golf training course that you can sign up for to improve various aspects of your game. Sessions are delivered through the SGA app, and you can choose from an extensive library of more than 245 premium, on-demand videos to work on your game.
Watch as Adam Bazalgette explains what the SGA is all about in this introductory video:
You can also benefit from live sessions with SGA instructors and communicate with coaches and other course participants on the app. For many golfers, SGA represents an excellent opportunity to access golf instruction without going down the conventional route of working directly with a PGA-approved coach.
This is beneficial because you can access SGA lessons anywhere at any time, and you don’t need to arrange specific lessons at a golf venue near you. It’s also relatively affordable when compared to sessions with golf coaches and is a great way to improve certain aspects of your game.
Overall, if you’re looking to improve your game and don’t want to commit to face-to-face lessons with a coach, signing up for the Scratch Golf Academy is a viable alternative.
Is the Scratch Golf Academy Any Good?
Yes, the Scratch Golf Academy is 100% legit. It is run by Adam Bazalgette (more on him later), who is a three-time PGA teacher of the year. The content on SGA is rich and varied and provides you with instructions on how to improve so many different aspects of your game.
You can download and work through videos that help you with your long and short game and everything in between. There are videos about how to get out of sand traps and also how to enhance your game management credentials. In other words, SGA has covered all bases.
We also love the fact that SGA is 100% online, meaning you can access your account no matter where you are. This means you can access the SGA app when you’re out on the range and take on board the tips and recommendations of your instructors before trying them out in real-time.
As far as online golf programs are concerned, we’re extremely impressed with the quality of SGA, and there’s no doubt that it is likely to benefit golfers at all levels of the game.
What Do They Teach at the Scratch Golf Academy?
SGA focuses on a range of different teachings and is split into segments. All members can choose from 25 courses that comprise 246 videos in total. These sections range from chipping to swing workouts and cover practically every aspect of the game you can think of.
The instructional videos on SGA are designed to be accessible and actionable for golfers at all levels and provide you with tips that you can easily implement in your own game.
There is even a personalized swing feedback feature, where you can receive a step-by-step explanation of how to improve your swing.
Another feature of SGA’s teaching is the live instructional videos that members can access. Adam hosts these videos live and answers any questions that members have about specific aspects of their game.
Once receiving the feedback from members, Adam takes them through various drills that they can work out on the range, which is a great way of solving specific swing issues. Ultimately, it’s fair to describe the teaching materials on SGA as comprehensive, and there are so many aspects of your game you can work on.
How Much Does Scratch Golf Academy Cost?
At the time of writing, an annual membership for Scratch Golf Academy costs $199.99. This is the price when you pay annually, but you can also opt for a rolling monthly membership, which costs $24.99 per month.
However, there are some differences between the two membership packages to be aware of. When you pay monthly, you can only access 19 of the 25 courses, and you are limited to 193 videos instead of the full complement of 246.
Other than that, both memberships provide you with access to all the other features that SGA provides, including discounts on equipment, live training sessions, and personalized swing clinics online.
When you consider the cost of face-to-face lessons with a PGA-approved golf coach, the price of Scratch Golf Academy is reasonable. The fact that you have unrestricted access throughout the month or year also means you can return to the content at any time, which is perfect for evaluating your progress.
Where is Scratch Golf Academy Located?
Scratch Golf Academy is 100% online for members. However, the company is based out of Naples, Florida, which is where Adam Bazalgette and other instructors upload most of the content from.
We’re really impressed by the online nature of the SGA videos, as it means you can access world-class golf coaching, no matter where in the country you live. This is perfect for those of you that live a long way from Florida, as you can still benefit from Adam’s insight and instruction.
As mentioned throughout, the fact that the SGA lessons are 100% online means that you can take the lessons with you to the range or practice ground. You’re not at all restricted, and provided you have an internet connection on your smartphone, you can access SGA via the app.
So, although SGA is based in Florida, it’s available to players throughout the United States and further afield, and you can access all of the content online.
What About Scratch Golf Academy on YouTube?
If you’re not ready to sign up for a paid membership of the academy, you can follow Scratch Golf Academy on YouTube and benefit from some of the videos shared for free. The team at SGA drops new videos every week, providing you with tips on how to improve your game.
In fact, there are more than 490,000 followers of SGA on YouTube, illustrating just how popular the channel is on the platform.
Given that there are so many golf coaches operating on YouTube and other social media platforms, the fact that you can access SGA’s content for free is an offer that’s too good to turn down.
So, if you’re currently on the fence about whether or not to sign up for SGA, follow them on YouTube and check out their content.
If you think it’s helpful and insightful, you can sign up for a monthly or annual membership to benefit from the full spectrum of lessons taught by Adam and his team.
Who is Adam Bazalgette?
Adam Bazalgette is an award-winning golf coach who has been recognized for his quality approach to golf instruction. He has been voted as the teacher of the year three times by the Southwest Florida PGA – in 1998, 2008, and 2018.
Throughout his career, he has worked with players on the PGA and LPGA Tours and has also helped NCAA players with their games. All in all, Adam has delivered more than 40,000 golf lessons in his 33-year career and is regarded as one of the best golf coaches around.
He is also the founder of Scratch Golf Academy and is responsible for the vast majority of the content uploaded to the course portal. While there are some lessons taught by guest instructors, most of the content is a result of Adam’s successful approach to golf instruction over the years.
So, if you’re keen to have lessons from one of the best in the business, an online membership at SGA could be just what you’re looking for.
Conclusion
The Scratch Golf Academy is a long-standing and highly sought-after online golf coaching program. Led by the talented and renowned PGA coach Adam Bazalgette, members can access a huge library of videos and instructional material.
The fact that SGA is 100% online means that you can work on your golf game no matter where you are, making it accessible to players throughout the United States.
Overall, if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to access high-level golf lessons, we can’t recommend the Scratch Golf Academy highly enough.