Despite a fair amount of golf over the winter, my swing had developed a few squeaks, so I took it to The Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott in Orlando in mid April. Looking for an oil change, I got an overhaul.

I took the 3-day course with a group of eight men and women from various parts of the country including Chicago, upstate New York and Ohio. They included a commodities trader, an insurance adjuster and a government worker. Strangers at the start, we formed a close bond during our fun, but sometimes intense work together, making parting at the end a genuinely sorrowful affair.

Our course included three half days of instruction and an afternoon playing the course in teams with our two enthusiastic instructors, both named Dave. The afternoons off gave us time to relax, practice or play either the Ron Garl-designed 9-holer or the 18-hole International Golf Club right across the street.

The course covered all aspects, from the long to the short game. A fair amount of time, thankfully, was devoted to chipping and putting, my nemeses, but the full swing also got a lot of attention.

The state-of-the-art video program allowed us to stop action and check our positions at various points in the swing. In my case, I take the club back too far inside and have to reroute it to get back to the ball, frequently going over the top and pull hooking as a result. My instructor worked with me to take the club back, always keeping the clubhead in front of my chest. It was a major change that I won't correct overnight. I committed myself to this change, as painful as it was, and also was prepared to work with a pro at home if necessary. I knew that without follow up, the investment of time and money at this, or any other golf school, would be wasted.

The complex has 35 well-groomed acres of practice grounds that also includes a splendid clubhouse with pro shop; Nick's Grill, a fine restaurant and bar where we had breakfast and lunch; storage facilities; and a club fitting shop.

The Faldo Golf Institute, which opened in early 1997, is located at Marriott's Grande Vista on International Drive, one of the most attractive boulevards in Orlando. A Marriott Vacation Club International resort, its largest to date, the Grande Vista includes a health club, outdoor pool, and elegant time-share units situated near the site's lake and around the 9-hole course.

The units were very comfortable and featured kitchenettes and good sized living rooms and bedrooms overlooking the practice area or course. The piece de resistance were the Jacuzzi baths. I used mine every night to soak sore muscles.

The resort has opened some 300 units, and another 700 are being built. As of late April 1999, you could hear the sound of hammers and saws throughout the property.

The resort's decision to affiliate itself with a golf school in general and with Nick Faldo in particular was in response to vacation trend data which show that people go on vacation to relax, be with family and pursue their hobbies, of which the most popular is golf, explains Ed Utz, Marriott Golf's director of marketing.

"In our planning for the resort, we wanted to put together a vacation experience that encompassed all three objectives," he says, adding that the trend toward offering specific hobbies, like golf, has given rise to the concept of the theme resort. According to Utz, in creating Marriott's Grande Vista and associating it with Nick Faldo, Marriott decisionmakers wanted to create a specific golf atmosphere. Utz explains: "As we were making our decisions about what kind of resort we wanted at Grande Vista, Faldo had just formed The Faldo Golf Institute. Faldo, as you know, is dedicated to the golf swing and is a tireless worker devoted to practice. His personality was consistent with our aim which was to offer a truly valuable educational experience for golfers."

Utz also explained that time-share destinations are growing enormously popular for both renters and owners. Time-shares are very flexible with regard to people's travel schedules. They can be rented for very short or extended time periods. Secondly, time share units offer great value to owners not only because of the likelihood that their own units will have a high occupancy rate but because the exchange element allows owners to dramatically reduce their travel expenses to other destinations offering similar units. And, Utz emphasizes, there is now a very large worldwide exchange system in place which has greatly expanded the time-share market.

With exceptional practice facilities; friendly, knowledgeable instructors; and a broad curriculum encompassing all aspects of the game and various length courses for golfers of all ages and skill levels, The Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott and Grande Vista is well worth looking into.

For more information call 1-888-GO-FALDO.