There is a happy medium between getting what you pay for and doing what you can afford. There are many qualified instructors out there. I am bias – PGA Professionals are the experts. However, some of the nation’s top instructors are not PGA. In my opinion, the most crucial thing is to get proper instruction – not just a buddy with a low-ish handicap index. And work with someone you “get” – when you understand what they are expressing, you have the best chance for success.