Pack it in Before I start ?

Redjeep!

Hi,

I basically started playing golf for the first time a few weeks ago and have taken 3 lessons and been down the driving range a few times.

In my lesson tonight, my coach told me that I was never really going to make it and although I could probably get better, it'd take a huge amount of effort to make any appreciable gains or to get to a stage where I could be trusted to set foot on a course. The implication being that it probably wasn't worth the effort.

Now, I'll acknowledge that I'm probably never going to be great, but I did kinda feel that this was a bit severe, after all I can hit the ball reasonably repeatably although I do hook or slice a fair number still. I also keep making the same mistakes time and time again. When I was practising afterwards to get close to a 75 yard marker I actually hit the thing twice and was reasonably close about half the time.

Any thoughts ? I don't know if I'm more bothered about what he said or the fact that I'm going to have to put so much effort in.

boysie39

Hi redjeep. Ihad to give up playing Golf after 35years because of ill health.I have never heard anyone except in a joke say any thing like that.I most certiantly would not call him a coach. One of the most important things a golfer needs is confidance and he has failed you in that cathagoery.Are you sure he is a pro.or just somebody whois just working at the range. I,ve met many who after working at the range for some time feel that they are qualified to give lessons especiallyif the PRO.is not about and he sees a beginner.If I were you I would report this person to the PGA .Unless things have changed drasticaly in the last few years this Idiot would not allowed into the PGA.If you take up this great game you will find it,s like everything else in life you get out of it what you are willing to put in. Some people are gifted with ability others have to work very hard to reach their goal.Change your teacher learn the basics be patient and learn to play this wonderful game. YOU have something to aim for now to make COACH eat his words preferably before you make him eat his CLUBS, good luck i,ll watch out for your name on the leader board. regds. Boysie39

Adiaga 2

I think most people would back up what boysie39 has written. Go to someone else for lessons. Keep it up.

delboy159

Very annoyed with that story! I was as poor as you when I started out - a lot was no confience, no idea of what I should have been doing etc.

I stuck at it and got lessons - from encouraging pros, played Par 3 golf until I felt comfortable with playing a full course.... I'm still a poor golfer, but can break 100 on most courses and enjoy a round with friends.

The most up lifting thing I saw when I was starting out was when a friend brought me out for a round with 2 of his best mates. They were really friendly and encouraged me. One of the guys had a terrible swing - even a novice like myself saw that. When we were hitting 7 irons he was hitting his 5 wood. Every time off the tee on a Par4/Par5 he would hit his 5 wood - 140yrds at best. The funny thing was, he probably won most of the rounds those guys played, because he was consistent in what he did.
On a 500yrd par 5 after 3 shots of 140 yrds each with his 5 wood he was 80 yrds from the green. A bump on with a 6 iron and he had 2 putts for a respectable 6. The bottom line was, he was comfortable with his game, stuck to his plan and had fun.

Keep at it and learn to enjoy the game. For every golfer you see hitting a sweet 7 iron 170 yrds there are 10 golfers who can't hit it straight 100 yrds!

Adiaga 2

Playing a few rounds of par-3 golf before you go out for your first proper round is a great idea. It will give you a much better feel for the game than the range alone.

Gillie

That guy sounded like a pr1ck.
Don't give up man.
I got my clubs last Xmas. Played a couple of times in Tubbercurry - a 9 hole golf course. Twice this year my wife has gotten me a golfing break.
The first one was two rounds in Castlebar and one in Ballinrobe.
The second one was one round in Wesport and one in Ballinrobe again.
Now I am not a great golfer by any means. I am not a member anywhere yet and don't have a hanicap. I have had one lesson and some advice from friends.
As a total beginner and someone who's not that good what kind of reaction do you think I got in those arguably big golf clubs?
Absolutly Fantastic.
The other ppl who were out playing all spoke to my father and I and encouraged us when they discovered we were newbies!

Bottom line. Do not be discouraged from going out there and giving it a try.
I would definately not go back to that coach.

And remember...No Golfer came out of the womb able to play golf!
(Except maybe Tiger Woods!)

sofireland

Sorry to hear that, i'd echo what the guys are saying.

It really helps when you've someone who'll encourage you, like i started playing again last year with my dad, and we've played a few rounds with friends, and we all motivate each other. Thats the best thing about playing fourballs... everyone will hit a bad shot at some stage,

Stick at it, after all its a hobby, only professionals should get wound up

DIEGO WORST

Hiya Redjeep

I totally echo what others on this message board have said to you.
If you enjoy golf, don’t ever give up.

Name and shame that teacher, if you feel comfortable to do so. I know of one or two arrogant Pros who think they know everything about golf….they know nada. Anyone who makes a comment like that to a paying customer knows little about golf.

Have a read of Ben Hogan’s 5 Fundamentals of Golf, it was a real inspiration to me. Early on in the book he declares that **any** able bodied person can, with the right attitude, achieve a score of level par. Almost everybody who has ever played golf topped, shanked and dribbled their way around the course first time out – just thinking of my first day, Jaysus I was brutal…..well, even more brutal than I am today.

I really really mean this…… it is your coach who is inadequate. If he cannot teach you to improve, he shouldn’t be teaching. There are some wonderful teachers out there, who can get you swinging the club well in a short time.

HMC

Dear Redjeep,

Don't let this bad experience put you off. You've been unlucky with your first teacher; persevere and find someone who will build your confidence as well as show you the basics.

Another thing : don't measure golf and your game simply by how far you can hit the ball. There is so much more to it than that. So when you're at the range, practise your short game too. Remember the famous golf saying : "long for show, putt for dough"

All the best.

Redjeep!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

I've been thinking about this today in work and have decided that I'm going to find another coach.

milltown

Good on ya!
Don't believe a word that gobsheen told you. Like 99.99% of golfers you may never set the course alight but that's no reason for not being able to enjoy the game. Plenty of experienced golfers know they will never get a handicap below, say, 20, but still play every week and love the game for those one or two shots in a round that Tiger would have been proud of. That's what got me hooked. I would take 150 woeful shots in a round but couldn't wait to get out again to try and replicate or better the two that went exactly where they were supposed to.

Mr. capello

hey redjeep,
not much else to say really, i agree with what the others have said. definitely get a new coach. i know from personal experience it can be a trial and error proccess trying to find the right coach for you. and do not underestimate how important it is to find the right coach. i have went thru several coaches and it is only recently that i have found one i work well with. The sign of a really good coach is one who adapts the way he/she coaches to suit each individual student. people learn differently and to be honest that pro that said that to you is an absolute disgrace and he is completely wrong.

if i may i would like to recommend two books to you: Extraordinary golf written by Fred Shoemaker and Extraordinary putting also written by Fred. Trust me, these books are an inspiration. You will know what i mean once u read the opening pages. Fred believes that we can coach ourselves and that a good coach can help u to coach yourself. He is dead right.

i work at a golf club in dublin and i am not a pro by any means but i really like to see beginners getting off to a good start and i would be delight to give u any advice and help with your golf. just let me know.even if its just a chat at the practice putting green or whatever. because u have been v. unlucky to get started with such a bad coach. hope this helps, good luck

fred funk }{

That guy is an a$$hole. The best thing you can do is use what he said to you as motivation to become the golfer that he said you couldn't become. Go back up to the range and tell him to stick it up his backside.

And by the way i think you should name and shame him too, as a warning to others who might stumble across him.

Redjeep!

Thanks again. I've now spoken to another coach and am planning to go for another lesson. I honestly don't feel I'm beyond hope as this isn't the first thing I've done in my life that required some coordination.

Had it not been for the support here I probably would have just packed it in.

sofireland

Good to hear...

Keep swinging, let us know how you get on