stepping up from pitch and putt to golf

Akabusi

I have been playing pitch and putt on and off for a few years now, I bought a starter golf set about five years ago, I got back into playing the pitch and putt this year in quite a big way and consider myself hooked on it now. I now want to step up to golf and my goal for next year is to join a club and get a handicap, I'm quite comfortable with the short game and I have just started going a driving range to get comfortable with the driver.
Firstly I'm going to upgrade my Irons, my Howson set has served me well but think if i'm going to improve i need a better set. I have it narrowed down to Taylormade Burner plus. Wilson Di9 or Calloway big bertha.
I have tried the Taylormade and the calloway and the I feel pretty comfortable with both of them. Could anyone suggest which way I should go.
On the pitch and Putt corse I am quite conservative and would sometime choose a 7 or 8 iron for what would be a 9 iron shot, simply because I have greater control when not going at it 100%, I know there will be alot of times on the golf course when I have to go close to 90 - 100% so maybe one club suits a more adventurous player than myself

Also could anyone answer the following stupid questions
Is it okay for me as a non member without any handicap to just pay green fees and play a round at a local club?

What do people wear trousers wise on the golf course? I know I can buy golfing trousers in the shops or online but can I wear ordinary trousers that I'm comfortable in, and on waterproofs would a pair of O Neills be okay, I use them for training and they are very comfortable, when people talk about waterproof they always mention some of the well known golf brands.

Also any other advice on the step up from pitch and putt would be appreciated

Thanks

Myksyk

Akabusi wrote: »

I have tried the Taylormade and the calloway and the I feel pretty comfortable with both of them. Could anyone suggest which way I should go.

It's really a question of which you like most, which feel right, which looks right to the eye etc. Obviously try to go for a perimeter weighted, more forgiving game improvement club (which I think these are but I'm open to correction)

Is it okay for me as a non member without any handicap to just pay green fees and play a round at a local club?

Yes. No problem.

What do people wear trousers wise on the golf course? I know I can buy golfing trousers in the shops or online but can I wear ordinary trousers that I'm comfortable in, and on waterproofs would a pair of O Neills be okay, I use them for training and they are very comfortable, when people talk about waterproof they always mention some of the well known golf brands.

There are dress codes in some clubs but not all. Usually people wear some sort of chino type trousers, including chino-type shorts in the summer. I like the golf-specific ones you can buy as they are typically more lightweight. The only real no-nos are stuff like tracksuits etc but you still see them on some courses. I also sometimes see people in jeans but not a good idea if you're semi-serious - they're heavy, constraining and a bitch if they get wet.

Waterproofs? Wear what you like as long as they keep you dry. The top golf brands are probably Galvin Green and ProQuip ... undeniably very good but very expensive too.

jimbling

Akabusi wrote: »

On the pitch and Putt corse I am quite conservative and would sometime choose a 7 or 8 iron for what would be a 9 iron shot, simply because I have greater control when not going at it 100%, I know there will be alot of times on the golf course when I have to go close to 90 - 100% so maybe one club suits a more adventurous player than myself

Okay, it has been a while since I played pitch and putt but this is confusing me a bit.
I thought you were only allowed two clubs in P&P. i.e. Wedge and Putter. How were you "choosing" to use a 7 or 8 iron instead of 9 iron on a particular shot?

Second note, how long was your P&P course?? When I was younger I always played with a sand wedge and there was no hole I couldn't reach. Maybe it was a particularly short course. Longest hole was about 60/70y only.
I couldn't imagine trying to play P&P with anything less lofty than a sand wedge to be honest.

Akabusi

The P&P course I play is in Cavan, It is quite a long course and some would describe it as being more a par 3 golf course. There are 4 holes over 160 yards

You can use whatever clubs you wish to, I don't think it is part of the P&P union, I have never heard of any P&P competions there, but some of the local Gaa clubs have golf classics there and I've seen regular golfers struggle. The best I can do it in is 62 and I just cant score any better than this so hence the new clubs and the step up to golf.
I think I will play a few rounds of P&P with the new clubs and then go on the golf course

Is it normal practice with golf clubs to ring and book a tee time or can people just turn up and tee of at the next available slot?

ANXIOUS

Akabusi wrote: »

The P&P course I play is in Cavan, It is quite a long course and some would describe it as being more a par 3 golf course. There are 4 holes over 160 yards

You can use whatever clubs you wish to, I don't think it is part of the P&P union, I have never heard of any P&P competions there, but some of the local Gaa clubs have golf classics there and I've seen regular golfers struggle. The best I can do it in is 62 and I just cant score any better than this so hence the new clubs and the step up to golf.
I think I will play a few rounds of P&P with the new clubs and then go on the golf course

Is it normal practice with golf clubs to ring and book a tee time or can people just turn up and tee of at the next available slot?

Your better off if you ring beforehand to make sure that its not fully booked. Bare in mind that you'll be doing well to get a full round in if you tee off after 1p.m.

What part of cavan is the pitch and putt course you play? The slieve russell up your way is a great track and they also have a par 3 course. If you've any other questions just ask.

Akabusi

It's in Cornafean, about 10 miles south of Cavan town. I didn't know they had a par 3 in the Russell so I might make my way there at the weekend weather permitting. Thanks for the heads up, it would be like me to get lost on a golf course as its getting dark

Gailf

Don't take out the driver at every par 4! It's arguably the toughest club to use for a beginner and a wood/hybrid/long iron will generally be the more sensible option.

The fact your short game is pretty sharp should be very benifitial. Keep working hard at it though.

Shane Lowry was playing P&P only a few years ago and look where he is now!

Akabusi

Yes I think I'll ease slowly onto using the driver, my approach will be to hit two straight shorter shots and see how that goes.

Never knew Shane Lowry started with P&P, but I would have thought it was the natural way to start into golf for us mortals

I've always fancied playing golf in KIllarney in the summer

Gailf

I know when I started out I grabbed the driver at every opportunity available to me. It took a few words from my mates, who were pretty sick of spending half their round in the trees looking for my ball, to convince me to go for the sensible option...

jimbling

160y in a P&P course :eek: :eek: never heard the likes of it.

Just a quick check on some official pitch and putt site.

FIPPA wrote:

Pitch and Putt is presently defined as...
1. Distances
(a) Length of hole: Maximum of 90 metres.
(b) Length of 18 hole course: Maximum of 1,200 metres.
2. Maximum of three clubs (one of which must be a putter) permitted for use.
3. Use of a Tee on the teeing ground is obligatory.
with the proviso that ...
The Constitution of FIPPA recognises the right of each territory to legislate for the game in its own territory in accordance with its own Constitution and stated aims.

Firstly, I never knew I could take 3 clubs out. Shocker.
Secondly, I don't think you've been playing pitch and putt. More like a par 3 golf course.

Akabusi

Yea I've always considered it more a par 3 course, its just that its called Cornafean P&P course, its even on the score cards they give you. There are a couple of short holes maybe 50 yards but they are just as challenging, then a few around the 90 - 100 yd mark and then of course the longer ones. There is actually two holes that you have to hit over trees and you can't see the greens. So You get to use most of the clubs in the bag.
Its pretty lax regarding rules, they just ask you to repair any divotts,

jimbling

ha, well that's in a different league to the pitch and putt I used to play.

Most holes were around the 30-50y. There was only two long ones, and they were around 70y. It was still challenging though.
I was a pretty good player*, but these short holes meant that everything was about getting the ball up high into the air and stopping it dead on the green... or with a little backspin.

To achieve this my swing took on this weird stance and angle. When I came to golf and tried to hit less loftier clubs and woods etc I was in big slice territory. It took me a long time to grow out of it.



*Brag: I was pretty competitive in the p&p. My best round was a 9 under that contained two hole in ones. Nice

Akabusi

Yes I have played more normal P&P courses and I know what your saying, Its funny how you adapt (pick up bad habits) your game so much when you play the same course over and over.
Just out of curiosity is it just the pros that are able to back spin the ball or should any modest golfer be able to do this with pratice. My thinking of it is the same as in snooker you need to get under the ball hard to achieve this am I right? and should I stand any differently?

jimbling

Akabusi wrote: »

Yes I have played more normal P&P courses and I know what your saying, Its funny how you adapt (pick up bad habits) your game so much when you play the same course over and over.
Just out of curiosity is it just the pros that are able to back spin the ball or should any modest golfer be able to do this with pratice. My thinking of it is the same as in snooker you need to get under the ball hard to achieve this am I right? and should I stand any differently?

There are two major factors when talking about ball spin.

1) Technique

I wont get into the actual technique as you would be much better off just researching it yourself. Go look at videos on you tube etc.
e.g.


2) Equipment
Some people like to say that Equipment doesn't make that much of a difference. Well... it does. Especially when talking about wedges and getting stop/back spin on the ball.

Good balls (in p&p you can use ridiculously soft balls, these are exceptional for backspin) will make a massive difference. A pro V1 will backspin/stop much more than a top flight for example.

I have friends that play with me that look in awe as my 7 iron shot lands and stops quickly on the green. These guys will give out when their ball lands and goes flying passed the green. These same guys will be playing with rock hard top flight ball.

Wedge technology. Zip grooves came out a few years ago... and although they are going to be banned to the pros again next year, us mere mortals get to bask in their glory for another 14 years.

Greens. Hadn't really thought of this before, but a faster green will mean more backspin... if you actually put it into it. This may be a reason that I have only been getting the little bit...the greens where I play are very slow.

Note1: When I talk about backspin I am talking about the type that bounces once, stops, then spins back a little bit. Perfect. I have never done a backspin shot that the pros can do... where it spins back half the damn green.
Also note, I don't get backspin on anything above my wedges. I do still get a good quick stop. This is both down to the loft and the fact I swing differently with my wedges.

Note2: Yes, it is like snooker. But snooker is not about getting "down under the ball hard". It is about a controlled stroke. A good follow through. And hitting down into the ball. If you just try to get under the ball hard it will likely just hop off the table.
Same can be said for golf.

Note3: I am by no means an expert and all this should be taken with a pinch of salt. :eek: