Any golfers out there?


northern tiger

northern tiger

Active Member
Do you have any tips for a person interested in learning the sport. Should a person take lessons or receive tips from a friend who plays the game. It's an expensive sport so I'm trying to take some shortcuts on determining if I should pursue it. The closest I've come to playing is miniature golf and I know that doesn't count.
 
Man I just got off the course. We left the workhouse at 2:00 for a 3:00pm tee time. I suggest you take some inexpensive lessons. Listen a lot and practice everything they tell you. Once you start crushing the ball off the Tee you will be hooked. You can play in expensively down south because there are so many courses. We played a foursome at a $45 dollar course for $25 a head. Found the deal online on the courses website. Just shop around for the best rates. Always shop around for your golf gear and accesories.

Pratice, practice and develop a good shot term memory. A bad whole must be forgotten quikly. There was another thread started about this topic so I know there are a lot of golfers here. Great game. Also pick up some golf magazines and watch the golf channel on Mondays for great tips.
 



Order this book, "How To Play Your Best Golf All the Time" by Tommy Armour. You have to go to a Borders or somewhere like that to special order it because its rarely on the shelves anymore. You might be able to get it on line. It cost $12.00 and in all the years that I've "been hacking," its the best $12.00 I've spent.

He goes step by step, even explaining things like the grip, the club path on the swing plane, the proper swing technique, how to stand, and has good illustrations to show what he's talking about. The stuff on the swing is excellent. As a result of reading this book (and practicing what's in it), I finally "know my swing" and can immediately tell what is wrong when the ball doesn't go where it should and correct it.

He explains things simply and, most of all, what he says makes sense.

Regards.
 
Lessons are good, but I would suggest going to a driving range first, and learning at least the basics of hitting the ball on your own. It's a lot cheaper than getting lessons right from the start. Once you figure out a swing that will work for you, go for lessons and get any kinks worked out.
 
chrisd said:
Lessons are good, but I would suggest going to a driving range first, and learning at least the basics of hitting the ball on your own. It's a lot cheaper than getting lessons right from the start. Once you figure out a swing that will work for you, go for lessons and get any kinks worked out.
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65 for 3 or 4 hours or 3/4 of a hour. The problem with going out and hitting right away is you develop bad habits which are hard to correct. Purchase a few books,magazines(golf digest) and take one or two lessons. They will teach technique,gripping,stance and set up. Then you can practice it on the driving range. Practice at the same pace you play. If you play eighteen holes you have to ride or walk to your next shot so don't keep hacking away at the ball hitting bad shots. You will waste more money playing bad golf than you will the first lessons. Lets say you play two or three times a month. $40 for a good course plus two times on a decent course for 25-30 dollars a pop. That's $100 dollars. If you score high 100's you will be waisting your money.

This is coming from someone who went out first and played a year before I got one lesson. The driving range only cost you 6-10 dollars depending on the size of your bucket of balls. I also have bumped into golf instructors on the range who have helped me as well. They just start talking and giving you tips.:emlaugh:
 
One of the things that I regret in my 30 years plus of playing golf, is I have never taken a professional lesson. I think I labored in medicority for years before I started breaking 90. I read a lot, practiced alot and got into the low 80s, occasionally breaking 80. One thing I that Tiger Woods says, never hit a ball without a purpose and target. Every shot in practice needs to aimed at a target and has a purpose or else you will learn nothing from your practice. You will hit a good shot every now and then and don't understand how to repeat it. I have Jack Nicklaus "Golf My Way" it was great, I also have Earl Woods "Training a Tiger" it has very tips as well.

One best suggestions I got from friends my senior year at SU (1974), wait to see if you really like the sport before you invest a lot of $$$ in equipment. Equipment is very expensive these days, single clubs can cost 300-500 dollars. Back then, it only cost $2-3 over green fees to rent clubs. Renting is probably not a good suggestion today, but you can get a good set of used clubs online or a used sporting goods store. I suggest this so you can use the same clubs over and over to gain some consistency. The irons I use now I got from ebay for less than $50. They are Tommy Armour 848s (3-sw). I don't play as often as I used and it gets frustrating when I can shoot anywhere from 8 over to 20 over par. My consistency is very sporatic right. But since I have completed my D.Min in May, I have been practicing more. I am not going to the course until I develop some consistency on the practice range. This is a disciple that I have developed that help lower my scores.
 
I strongly suggest take lessons. I made the mistake on not taking lessons and there are things I need to perfect on my swing (Fairwat and driving).
 
I suggest taking lessons, although I started a the driving range without them. The range pro walked up and gave me some suggestions on his own. Taking the lessons early save you from having to change bad habits right away.

I picked up my first set of clubs from a sale at Dick's. Not a great set, but a good set of Dunlops. Less then $200 at the time. If you decide to stick with the game, then start looking at the higher priced clubs. You might even be able to get a set fitted for you at a decent price. Check out some of the driving ranges that have a full pro shop. They may cut a deal for the lessons and the clubs if you get them together. But I don't suggest spending a lot for your clubs until you get serious. They are too much of an investment to put them in the garage with the unused treadmill, stairclimber and Nordic Trac.
 
northern tiger said:
Are you always this supportive when it comes to your men?
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I don't need to support y'all...do your thang like you always do. If you like the sport that's great...I was just posting my opinion about it. It's boring as hell to me. I'd rather be bowling, shooting pool/basketball or watching some good ole football. :D
 
northern tiger said:
If you are over 6 feet tall, do you have to be fitted or buy special clubs that are more expensive?
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I'm in the six-four range, and I went to get mine fitted. Most places do not charge extra to fit the clubs when you are buying a set.

E-bay is always a nice idea when looking for clubs as well, you can find some steals on there for quality product.
 



northern tiger said:
If you are over 6 feet tall, do you have to be fitted or buy special clubs that are more expensive?
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I highly recommend you be fitted. If you are looking for a shortcut as a beginner, go to www.pinggolf.com and select the Custom Fitting button. Select the icon for irons. After the program loads adjust the height slider for your height. Then there are three options:
  1. Go to an online buying service like eBay and buy a used set of Ping irons in the color that matches your height.
  2. Go to the news paper or a used club dealer and do the same.
  3. Go to a local shop that makes knock-off clubs and tell them what color Ping clubs the website specified for you and have a set of clubs made for you. Pay no more than $200. Do not let them talk you into buying woods yet.
With any of the above you would probably want to have the clubs regripped. Taller people tend to have larger hands. If you are a beginner, don't be insulted by the idea of knockoff clubs - especially if you are a taller person. Good used clubs are a better long term investment (on the assumption that you will want to sell them someday), but finding them for a taller person can be quite challenging. Later on when you are ready for a new pro-level set of clubs and you spend $600 - $1200 for them, that set of knockoffs will still have been a good investment.
 
dacontinent said:
I highly recommend you be fitted. If you are looking for a shortcut as a beginner, go to www.pinggolf.com and select the Custom Fitting button. Select the icon for irons. After the program loads adjust the height slider for your height. Then there are three options:
  1. Go to an online buying service like eBay and buy a used set of Ping irons in the color that matches your height.
  2. Go to the news paper or a used club dealer and do the same.
  3. Go to a local shop that makes knock-off clubs and tell them what color Ping clubs the website specified for you and have a set of clubs made for you. Pay no more than $200. Do not let them talk you into buying woods yet.
With any of the above you would probably want to have the clubs regripped. Taller people tend to have larger hands. If you are a beginner, don't be insulted by the idea of knockoff clubs - especially if you are a taller person. Good used clubs are a better long term investment (on the assumption that you will want to sell them someday), but finding them for a taller person can be quite challenging. Later on when you are ready for a new pro-level set of clubs and you spend $600 - $1200 for them, that set of knockoffs will still have been a good investment.
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ditto and practice,practice practice hell I have a putting green setup in my office Lol!!!
 
Warndalyn said:
I don't need to support y'all...do your thang like you always do. If you like the sport that's great...I was just posting my opinion about it. It's boring as hell to me. I'd rather be bowling, shooting pool/basketball or watching some good ole football. :D
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Well it's a beautiful thing to see a woman with a big but swinging a club at a driving range. It's better than watching one bowl. :ebrow:
 
I went to a driving range this past weekend both days. I originally scheduled a lesson Saturday, but I got the time wrong so I rescheduled for the following day. I practiced with my boy and became frustrated. Mind you, it was in the 90's both days. I got a few good shots in using a driver, but I couldn't have told you what I did. The next day with the sun blazing at noon I had my first lesson, and I must say it was a night and day difference. I was still having problems but I could see the progression. I used a five iron mostly and I made the ball travel farther with that club than I did the driver the da before. I wanted to get a foundation to see if I truly like the sport rather than hacking just for the sake of. I would have stayed for another bucket, but that 95 degrees wasn't playing. I will be at the range at least once a week for about a month before I try out a real course. The instructor told me I needed a club with an additional 1 1/2 inches and 1 to 2 degrees angle. I purchased a couple a books online.One was mentioned earlier and the five steps by I believe Ben Hogan. I'll know if I can truly kick it when the weather cools off.
 
Take a few lessons from a pro. Timbuktu Jag introduced me to the game when I lived in Huntsville, but I didn't start playing until I moved to VA. If you try to learn on your own, you will develop bad habits that are hard to break. Find some inexpensive clubs to start, until you get the game down a little. If you develop and good tempo, you will be find. Always remember, it's not the equipment; it's the user. However, I just bought a Callaway Big Bertha 460 CC driver. Maybe I should take my own advice.:whatever:

Lefties rule.
 
shawiggi said:
Pratice, practice and develop a good shot term memory. A bad whole must be forgotten quikly. There was another thread started about this topic so I know there are a lot of golfers here. Great game. Also pick up some golf magazines and watch the golf channel on Mondays for great tips.
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Couldnt have said it better. Just pick up the club and swing. Keep your eye on the ball and your arms straight. Oh! Dont turn your wrist and use your hips for power. Dont bring your head up to soon, keep your head down and let it come up on your upswing when your body turns. Keep your feet spread about shoulder's length unless you're chipping. Dont try to kill the ball on every swing. Develop your own rhythm and let loose. Let's see. Did I forget anything?
 
Keeping your head down is the most important lesson you can learn. There's always going to be someone else golfing with you, and they should be looking for the flight of your ball, not you.
 
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