The old adage that practice makes perfect has stood the test of time because to a large extent it's true – if you want to get good at something you need to do it. A lot!

But when it comes to the game of golf, all the practice in the world won't make a difference if there are fundamental flaws in your game. This is why if you're at all serious about improving your performance in the golf course, you'd be well advised to seek the counsel of a golf trainer.

A golf trainer offers you an objective eye and the benefit of years of professional knowledge – they can pick up faults in your game that you weren't even aware existed.

After a session with a trainer, the chances are that you'll come away astounded by just how many things you're doing wrong. A lot of these problems will be relatively easy to fix, and rather than trying to change all your mistakes at once a good trainer will work with you to solve each problem individually until it's eliminated from your game – then move on to the next.

So what should you look for in a golf trainer? Well, first of all, you need to find someone who knows the game inside out. This usually means finding a trainer with years of experience, either as a professional player or professional coach. Ideally you want to hire a trainer with a PGA qualification, or with experience of training some of today's top players.Trainers tend to devote themselves to remedying a fault in specific aspects of your game, so if after an initial consultation it turns out your swing's caput and your putting is pathetic, it may be advisable to seek the advice of two different trainers whose expertise lies in those areas.

Regardless of your age or the level you play at, the input of a trainer is always beneficial, but the knowledge and expertise a golf trainer can impart is particularly valuable in the development of young players.

Yes, Tiger Woods started hitting balls with his father at the age of two, but he was no prodigy – his initial competency just meant that it wasn't long before he was being trained by some of the best in the business, taking his game to a level far in advance of that of his peers.

The more professional coaching a young person receives, the greater is their chances of being able to play golf at the highest level. If your child already has a decent level of ability, then tutelage from golf trainer can bring on their game immeasurably. A golf trainer can give young players the knowledge and skills needed to make golf a realistic option as a professional career.

Of course, not every player is going to make it to the pinnacle of the game, but a good golf trainer will certainly make their chances of success a whole lot higher.

So maybe it's time they changed that old adage to something a little more honest – practice makes good, coaching makes perfect.