Starting Golf?
Discussion
I'm after a bit of advice, I've always enjoyed watching golf so I know the in's & out's but would now like to start playing.
I know that I will like it and understand that practise makes perfect, can anyone recommend a starter set of clubs, something that won't need replacing after 6 months?
Is is best to get a lesson weekly and practise on the driving range or course?
Any other advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
I know that I will like it and understand that practise makes perfect, can anyone recommend a starter set of clubs, something that won't need replacing after 6 months?
Is is best to get a lesson weekly and practise on the driving range or course?
Any other advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
What age are you? I started when I was very young and never had any lessons other than what my dad told me. Thing is I have loads of bad habits but Ive had the time to get rid of them and play around them. If youre a bit older then you wont have the time and its easy to get VERY frustrated with golf when it isnt going well! Id approach your local driving range initially to get you to a level where you can hit the ball accurately. If you look at your local club many of the players will be retired people who have only taken up the game recently and have swings tailored to their limited range of movement and they will never be able to gain a swing thats as easthetically pleasing as a pros but some of them can still give the ball a bloody good whacking!
Buying clubs is a very personal thing, its best if you know what youre doing before buying them. Once youve had even a few lessons you'll start to know what you want from the clubs and can give them a proper try when you come to make the decision, your local driving range or pro at your local club will no doubt have a range of clubs for beginners to use initially. Theres nothing worse than some bloke who turns up with all the latest flash kit and then hacks their way around the course holding everyone up!
Best of luck with it though, its a fantastic game and even when it goes badly theres a pub right next to the 18th hole!
Buying clubs is a very personal thing, its best if you know what youre doing before buying them. Once youve had even a few lessons you'll start to know what you want from the clubs and can give them a proper try when you come to make the decision, your local driving range or pro at your local club will no doubt have a range of clubs for beginners to use initially. Theres nothing worse than some bloke who turns up with all the latest flash kit and then hacks their way around the course holding everyone up!
Best of luck with it though, its a fantastic game and even when it goes badly theres a pub right next to the 18th hole!
Get some lessons before you do anything else and learn the basics from a good Pro such as grip, stance and swing.
Use a Club like a 6 Iron to practice your swing between lessons.
After 1/2 dozen lessons you should be making good progress.
Then ask the Pro for advice regarding Clubs/Equipment and they should be able to help.
I did the above on the advice of my neighbours father who plays off 3 and personally I think it was the best approach. He put me in touch with a good Pro on a nice course and it worked for me.
He taught me the basics, video'd my swing and really helped me to improve.
I'd also recommend going back for a couple of lessons every 6 months or so as a good Pro will pick up on little "bad habits" that creep into your play that will impact your performance unless corrected.
My problem now is finding time to play.
When I took golf up I was working away in Edinburgh and used the driving range at the airport every night, then travelled back to the Midlands for weekends/lessons at the Shirley Golf Course.
Now, because I'm working all over the Country I am just not getting time to play/practice and have not swung a Club for 6 months so I will probably have to start again.
It's a game that requires alot of dedication/time/practice.
Use a Club like a 6 Iron to practice your swing between lessons.
After 1/2 dozen lessons you should be making good progress.
Then ask the Pro for advice regarding Clubs/Equipment and they should be able to help.
I did the above on the advice of my neighbours father who plays off 3 and personally I think it was the best approach. He put me in touch with a good Pro on a nice course and it worked for me.
He taught me the basics, video'd my swing and really helped me to improve.
I'd also recommend going back for a couple of lessons every 6 months or so as a good Pro will pick up on little "bad habits" that creep into your play that will impact your performance unless corrected.
My problem now is finding time to play.
When I took golf up I was working away in Edinburgh and used the driving range at the airport every night, then travelled back to the Midlands for weekends/lessons at the Shirley Golf Course.
Now, because I'm working all over the Country I am just not getting time to play/practice and have not swung a Club for 6 months so I will probably have to start again.
It's a game that requires alot of dedication/time/practice.
Edited by Gimlet on Wednesday 24th October 08:25
Speaking as one who has just started (age 26) to try to play...
Get a couple of irons, go down the range and have a knock...see what you think of it. Get a lesson or 3 from the pro there (absolute basics). Back to the range. Borrow / hire a set of clubs and play a round or two, and then back to the pro for a couple more lessons - and then back to the range / course.
By this point you should know how much time / money you can commit to it...and you'll be in a much better position to go shopping - OR you'll decide you hate golf, and you've "saved" a couple of hundred quid by not buying lots of clubs!
It's good fun though, if somewhat frustratin!
Get a couple of irons, go down the range and have a knock...see what you think of it. Get a lesson or 3 from the pro there (absolute basics). Back to the range. Borrow / hire a set of clubs and play a round or two, and then back to the pro for a couple more lessons - and then back to the range / course.
By this point you should know how much time / money you can commit to it...and you'll be in a much better position to go shopping - OR you'll decide you hate golf, and you've "saved" a couple of hundred quid by not buying lots of clubs!
It's good fun though, if somewhat frustratin!
As above really - get some lessons first and worry about the clubs etc second. Start off with the high irons and just concentrate on timing and feeling comfortable. Don't worry about distance as that will come - just get the basics right and everything else will follow.
When thinking about clubs it can be good to look at the second hand sets at big golf stores etc. You'll need cavity backs and some used sets for £50 to £100 can be much better quality than these starter sets etc that i've seen advertised.
When thinking about clubs it can be good to look at the second hand sets at big golf stores etc. You'll need cavity backs and some used sets for £50 to £100 can be much better quality than these starter sets etc that i've seen advertised.
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