Getting into Golf

jackmcc

Hey,

I really want to start playing golf but I don't know where to start. I started playing tennis a couple of years ago and I joined a coaching class of about 6 people and it was great fun, then once I knew I was good enough I shelled out to join a club and now I can have a competitive game with anyone there.

Is there a similar process I can do for golf or do I have to spend loads to get started? I live near glasnevin and I know there are quite a few golf courses that I can drive to (and one driving range near portmarnock), but I don't know where to start as I would be the first of my friends to express an interest in golf.

I've searched the forum already but I'm not even sure what a golf pro is? perhaps "golf for dummies" might need to be purchased.

Jack

DJB

I only started back in April. Here's what I did (and I'm not saying it's correct - it's just what I've done):

- Played a round at Deer Park out in Howth on a Saturday in April.
- Got a donation of a set of clubs (blades) the next day and played Deer Park again.
- Realised I was terrible and hit the driving range for about a month - 2/3 times a week before I had the confidence to stand on a tee. It can be a bit nerve wracking when people are watching you but you get over it.
- I bought a new driver in that month as well cause the donation I got wasn't great at all.
- I play 2/3 times a week since the start of June - different courses around the country and with different players (mainly friends and family). You learn something from everyone you play with I think.
- I've taken my own scores and worked out what my handicap roughly is using online calculators and I use this in the friendly games with my friends but I need to join a club and get a proper one. I'm a bit unsure of this area so maybe someone can advise on best way to get a handicap?
- Once I knew I was in it for the long haul, I both a new set of irons last month for €350. I've actually spent a few grand on it at this stage between green fees, equipment, clothing, etc. Darn it - I'm hooked!

Oh, I haven't joined anywhere yet. Haven't decided where I want to be a member.

Anyway, that's how I got started and hopefully it will help you. One thing I have not done yet is go to a pro for a few lessons. I talk to the pros in a couple of the courses I play regularly but I doubt it substitutes for a full lesson. I heard somewhere that the Irish spend something like 90% on golf equipment to 10% golf lessons, while the americans are 50-50! Ooops!

Right, I'm off to play Clontarf now! Hope that helps!

Rgds, Dave

jackmcc

Thanks, I think I'll need to be a more of 50-50 golf player, but where can you get lessons?

O.P.H

Don't do it man, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. One day you'll go out with a freind or somethin to a course and not expect a whole lot only to be dazzled by how amazing golf courses are. You'll play really bad the first few times and when you leave the course you wont wanna see another golf ball, but strangly enough when you get home that night you'll be thinking about what changes you can make to your swing for tomorrows golf and think to yourself, ya I've got this game sorted. You wont be able to enter a golf store without leaving with something, anything, a new shiny club, expensive new balls. And then when your fully hooked and too far gone you find yourself shelling out €8000 to join a club with €600 fees a year and you'll think to yourself, ya this is good value. Have you thought about cocaine or heroin But seriously, what I did was get a fake student ID card and used student green fees when getting started, saved me €35 a round and I spent most of my time at driving ranges. Get a few lessons before you do anything, even before you get clubs, seriously this is the best thing to do, nothing worse than starting golf with a DIY swing.

Swinging Looney

Try looking at http://www.irelandprogolf.com/

Pretty much any club will have a pro who gives lessons. Whatever you do, try your best not to go to a friend or a single digit handicap player who says they can give you lessons.

I think it would be very useful to go to a PGA teaching professional earlier rather than later so that you have the fundamentals correct. It is incredibly easy to develop bad habits in this game and it can take a huge amount of work to work them out at a later stage.

I recently had a lesson after years away from golf. I had played previously for perhaps 10 years and had developed some bad habits at that stage although nothing major. Nonetheless, after my lesson my game became terrible for a while as I tried to do what I should be doing. It was very difficult to go out and play worse than I might have done with my old swing all in the name of eventual improvement!!!

So, go earlier rather than later!!

Enjoy!

jackmcc

Agreed! lessons need to be done ASAP,

Thanks guys

Golf Ninja

I agree with the guys golf lessons are the way forward i made the mistake of trying to do it on my own finally when i went to get a lesson from Brendan Mcdaid i was a disaster but months down the line i got it right. The point i am trying to make is getting lessons first saves you so much hassle. I getting a lesson from a guy called Barry Power he is meant to be really good. Anyone get a lesson from him before??