If the winter blues have set in, get on the green.

Indoor golf lessons with a PGA professional will be offered through Ames Parks and Recreation beginning in February at the All Star Sports Academy, 57044 241st St.

Six classes are offered with PGA instructor Robert Shahidi – two available for juniors (7 to 14-year-olds) and four for adults (15-year-olds and older). Six one-hour lessons are offered on Monday and Thursday evenings, Feb. 6 to March 2. The fee is $70 for residents and $85 for nonresidents. Each class is limited to eight individuals.

The sports facility boasts 7,500 square feet of turf grass, Nerf golf balls for beginners and nets to prevent the balls from flying everywhere. Shahidi, who has been in the golf business for nearly 20 years, currently oversees all Parks and Recreation programs while promoting golf in Ames and coaching two amateur golfers.

“To have access to someone with his level of expertise is outstanding,” said former Cyclone offensive lineman Ben Bruns.

Bruns, all-American athlete, and voice of the Cyclone Radio Network’s pregame and postgame football coverage, took lessons with Shahidi last winter to build consistency on his swing. He then took private lessons with the instructor during the summer.

Bruns had past golf experience, but lessons are offered at all experience levels. Shahidi encourages beginners to learn the sport.

He said there are more beginners than experienced players, adding his gratitude for the indication of the sport’s growing popularity.

Beginner lessons focus on the basics of golf. Shahidi said he covers proper techniques for grip, stance and swing. Videos and demonstrations are also used in the lessons because many people are visual learners, Shahidi said.

Shahidi and other instructors encourage players to ask questions, even if they think the questions aren’t important at the time, he said.

“There are no dumb questions,” he said. “We get to laughing and have a lot of fun with it.”

Shahidi emphasized the fun atmosphere the instructors try to create, and said the lessons should not be intimidating to beginners or others.

“Winter is a good time to start, and it’s not as intimidating,” he said.

Having lessons in the winter prepares players before the season actually begins in spring, he added. He said the classes cover how to present yourself at the golf course, what it means to have a tee time and how to call for a tee time in addition to other concerns players may have.

The intermediate and experienced lessons also cover the fundamentals of the game, but include advanced strategies, including how to hit certain shots, playing situations and course management.

The academy was designed to provide golfers and baseball and softball players a facility to practice year-round. The building is equipped with batting cages, pitching machines, indoor mounds, room for tee work and throwing.

An Ames native, Shahidi was a high school state champion in golf before going on to play golf in college.

“Ames is the perfect place for beginners,” he said.

He said that the city offers various opportunities for all golf players, with the advantages of the indoor facility, Veenker Memorial Golf Course on campus and Homewood Municipal Golf Course, 401 20th St., a public 9-hole course.

Group or individual lessons with PGA professional Chris Seaboch are also available at Veenker, located on Stange Road. Individual lessons vary in cost, but group lessons are $65 per student.

Reservations may be made in person or over the telephone by calling 294-6727. Each instructor has an appointment book at the Veenker Clubhouse for arranging lessons.

Seaboch, who has been in the golf business for 12 years, stressed their No. 1 goal is making golf as fun as possible.

Further opportunities at Veenker include season passes and league play, and construction on a heated indoor driving range will be complete and available for limited public use next year.

The Oaks Golf Course, 630 W. 190th St., also offers a 9-hole course, and Ames Golf and Country Club, 5752 George Washington Carver Ave., offers golf to members.

Students and faculty can call Ames Parks and Recreation at 239-5350 to register for golf lessons.

Registration ends Wednesday.