anyone play golf?

[dragon-av]

Started learnign to play golf with a mate a couple of weeks/months ago now had 5 lessons i think and getting a bit bored of the driving range tried a pitch and putt but get bored and the condition is poor (council run found a jonny on what i think was the fairway last night!)

So how do i progress to the next level, PGA teacher man is all very nice but unless your paying him he doesn't impart much and with the current climate i have time to practise but not enough funds to pay him for that amount of time!

Anyone else learning or learnt? Any top tips or advise?

 

[Oli]

Go to some decent courses and play rounds, make sure you check the dress codes, and if your slow let people play through you when they catch you up on the tee, When i started I always played private courses where the missus dad was a member, no one minds a beginner as long as you wave them through instead of holding faster players behing you up.

Oh and take plenty of balls.

Play the same course over and over when your first starting out, you will get used to the distances of clubs and get to know the course, if you start out playing all over the place on courses you dont know your making it hard and wont be able to judge your distancing and get used to the right choice of club as well.

 

[dragon-av]

Wher ei am having lessons is actually an private 18 hole club and i have asked "when would i be able to go" for a round and the response was "we'll see" I am sur ethe pro forgets who he is teaching sometimes and says things like "have been doing the exercises?" What exercises? He didn't giv eme any nice guy but seems to half a lot of students (good thing i suppose)

 

[ian.settle1]

Wher ei am having lessons is actually an private 18 hole club and i have asked "when would i be able to go" for a round and the response was "we'll see" I am sur ethe pro forgets who he is teaching sometimes and says things like "have been doing the exercises?" What exercises? He didn't giv eme any nice guy but seems to half a lot of students (good thing i suppose)

While your paying him for lessons then he will keep saying that, you go off and start playing then he will lose that money he is getting from you if you don't go back.

 

[dragon-av]

Good point, I dont really fancy trying to play a round on my own so whats the solution.

 

[Dannyg83]

Arite dragon . i enjoy a game of golf but it can be very frustrating when starting out and its definetly a case of practice makes perfect . I would say once you learn the basics your ready to get out on the course and you will find techniques to suit yourself as you improve

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I ve played for about 8 years, now at 23 ish handicap.
I had a couple of lessons to get the basics sorted out, after all its only a game of bat and ball when all said and done. Once i had been tweaked and could swing, stand and hold the club properly i went off and played a few rounds, as the pro said to me "you can hit balls all day long on the range, but theres no substitutions for course practice" every shot you play on a course is different. Once it all started to come together i went back for another lesson where he built on my improvements. I still have one or two a year, but when i start going a bit haywire i go back to the stance, grip and swing he first taught me for a few shots and it never fails. The other thing he told me was to leave the drivers etc at home, as you wont get good with these until you are OK with the irons, i now use all clubs but the hybrids are brilliant, i have a 23degree TaylorMade burner rescue wood, it replaces long (3,4,5 irons) and is very easy to use.

Good Luck.

 

[dragon-av]

Thanks I have the last of my series of 6 lessons next week (one the course) and have ordered a half set of clubs + a couple extra from the shop so i can get out on the course, I have gone for a 5,7,9, PW,SW putter and a Hybrid + wood cant remeber the numbers but will find out when they arrive! Hoping to get round a few pay and play courses in the next month before the weather turns nasty and then use the range over the winter evenings to start in earnest next spring and hopefully be able to play a reasonable level and get a handicap. There are a few "nice" courses i want to be able to play next summer like this one Nefyn Golf Club :: SPLASH :: Clwb Golff Nefyn a'r Cylch

The whole set of clubs is costing me about the same as your rescue club! But i hope to be able to add the better clubs as i progress.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Hi Dragon,

If you shop around and aren`t bothered about having this years clubs then there are some cracking bargains out there especially on the web.

I paid £49.99 for my rescue wood from Directgolf.co.uk in Huddersfield, its a 2007 model, but who gives a s***, i can hit it over 200yds. I could have bought the 2009 model for about £100 more but i wont be able to hit it further.

I got my Callaway Hawkeye irons full set secondhand for £200 off a mate who paid £900 for them about 6 years ago, i`ve had them 2 years, i had them regripped and fitted for a bout £40 at American Golf Discount.

Once you get going you will soon outgrow cheaper bats and balls, but theres no need to spend fortunes for good kit.

Get some 2 fore 1 vouchers as well from their website, you`ll save a fortune.

All the best......Howard

 

[dragon-av]

Thanks I ordered a half set of clubs + some extra bits from the Pro Shop where i am having lessons for £150 to get me going (I had a nicer bag and putter) I ordered a pair of last years footjoy shoes for a decent saving. I look at golf bidder and some other secondhand options but i have no idea what I am buying so stuck with the suggested ones from the pro. Just want to get out there and have a go now, Clubs should be with me later this week, hoping for more decent weather so i can give them a knock...