Rotordog
My experience has shown me that some low-time pilots really don't know how to make a true confined-area approach. Oh, they know the theories, and can do a passable steep approach to an airport. But ask them to go out and actually put the bird into a small site with obstacles around, maybe not great forced-landing areas on the way in *and* a crosswind to boot and...well...sometimes their improvisational skills leave something to be desired.
I couldn`t agree more Rotordog. However in the UK the CAA in their wisdom won`t allow you to conduct any "off airfield" training during your PPL. Students never therefore get to fly proper confined area ops during their course (unless the airfield has one).
Most of the time it has to be simulated by the instructor (ie:imagine a big tree
in front of the landing site). Which to me doesn`t make sense, as when they get their shiny new PPL they can go off and land in their back garden(size and location permitting)