Golf- What to expect.

BillyBoy13

Im thinking of taking up golf in the new year. Its something that has always appealed to me but I have never pursued the idea all that seriously- the odd game here and there but that's it.

So with that being said, what should a person know before they get involved?

I suppose like all sports its probably expensive to get started or can it be done on the cheap? Is there much politics, or cliquey clubs or are they welcoming of new members?

dan_ep82

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

Im thinking of taking up golf in the new year. Its something that has always appealed to me but I have never pursued the idea all that seriously- the odd game here and there but that's it.

So with that being said, what should a person know before they get involved?

I suppose like all sports its probably expensive to get started or can it be done on the cheap? Is there much politics, or cliquey clubs or are they welcoming of new members?

I started in September this year so I might not be the most informed opinion but here it is,

It can get expensive if you let yourself get caught up in all the new gear. The best way, imo, is to buy second hand (adverts.ie,demo clubs) or on a sale. It could still be called expensive, but its all relative, I'm sure other sports are the same.

With all the new clubs coming out soon for 2014 last years clubs are taking a nose dive in price.

All my clubs/equipment except putter,current golf balls and 1 wedge are second hand or demo which saved me a ton and got me better clubs for the money.

As for the price of playing golf once you have all the gear, it varies.
It all depends on how much you play a week/month/year. If your thinking of a club you'd like to join, multiply the green fee charge by the amount of times you'll go out in a year,if it works out less than the membership price then society golf may be the way to go. If it works out more than the cost of membership it can potentially save you money.

As for attitude, I haven't played many courses so can't comment but I found the few I have to be generally dead on.

FixdePitchmark

It can be done on the cheap.
Good tips on 2nd hand above - but like most things you can get a good starter set in most shops.

This would be from a real sports company "spalding" - this would be very good versus some of the real low level stuff from woodies or argos or sport shops.

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/p/spalding-tour-flite-package-set/spac0101

or

To start you could buy a PW and putter and find a local pitch and putt course.

The most important thing is to get 5 lessons - You can get this for 100 euro for 5 at the moment.

Or pay 30 euro a go for a lesson.

Get a good book on the game - or watch You Tube clips for free on the grip - posture - the basic set up and swing.

Make sure you start off right with your grip - find out if you are a left handed golfer or Right handed - do not start this part of wrong.

You could buy one club lots of cheap balls and find a park or field near you to get a feel for hitting the ball. This could be done for 20 euro.

Sadly it is hard. And most lads take weeks befoore they can hit ball at all - then months before a swing takes shape and then after 2 or 3 months of pitch and putt or a par 3 course in for example (sorry don't know your location ?)

http://www.deerpark-hotel.ie/Golf

After a few months - or as soon as you can join up with other golfers, after a few months maybe join a society in pub or even on boards here.


And after all that - sometimes golf is not for all. It just is a bit slow paced for some people and takes plenty of effort to get started - but if it is for you - it has often been said to me , that it was the best thing that ever happened to some people. It is very relaxing and we are blessed with great courses with amazing scenery in Ireland.


Most of the lads on here are sound and there is plenty of help and some great golfers here.

PM me if you have an issues and if you want I'll bring you out to Deer Park if you don't know anybody to go with. It helps if you are with a golfer the first few times.

Best of luck keep us posted on here.

dan_ep82

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

It can be done on the cheap.
Good tips on 2nd hand above - but like most things you can get a good starter set in most shops.

This would be from a real sports company "spalding" - this would be very good versus some of the real low level stuff from woodies or argos or sport shops.

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/p/spalding-tour-flite-package-set/spac0101

or

To start you could buy a PW and putter and find a local pitch and putt course.

The most important thing is to get 5 lessons - You can get this for 100 euro for 5 at the moment.

Or pay 30 euro a go for a lesson.

Get a good book on the game - or watch You Tube clips for free on the grip - posture - the basic set up and swing.

Make sure you start off right with your grip - find out if you are a left handed golfer or Right handed - do not start this part of wrong.

You could buy one club lots of cheap balls and find a park or field near you to get a feel for hitting the ball. This could be done for 20 euro.

Sadly it is hard. And most lads take weeks befoore they can hit ball at all - then months before a swing takes shape and then after 2 or 3 months of pitch and putt or a par 3 course in for example (sorry don't know your location ?)

http://www.deerpark-hotel.ie/Golf

After a few months - or as soon as you can join up with other golfers, after a few months maybe join a society in pub or even on boards here.


And after all that - sometimes golf is not for all. It just is a bit slow paced for some people and takes plenty of effort to get started - but if it is for you - it has often been said to me , that it was the best thing that ever happened to some people. It is very relaxing and we are blessed with great courses with amazing scenery in Ireland.


Most of the lads on here are sound and there is plenty of help and some great golfers here.

PM me if you have an issues and if you want I'll bring you out to Deer Park if you don't know anybody to go with. It helps if you are with a golfer the first few times.

Best of luck keep us posted on here.

snip

Just a few things on that,

I bought a Wilson 1200 GE starter kit back in September for €250 and have upgraded everything since and selling it at €100 now. So I bought at a loss,even on small money sets I'd go second hand.

I started by playing a few weeks of pitching putt which did help on pitching in but I found golf really honed the skill in, so if you have the basics already just go for it.

I watch this guys video's and find them easy to understand and quite entertaining - Mark Crossfield

I wouldn't think it's as hard as all that. Since I've taken it up my brother started playing and is on par with me(low 90 gross on par 72)
. My father and a friend of mine also played they're first game in the last month aswell and got on alright (120 odd strokes) for a first time and are already mad to get out again. I'm not saying its not difficult to be a good player (its hard enough to be a bad one) but its very easy to enjoy it,no matter the skill level, as long as you don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Like Fixed I'd be more than willing to go out on game with you (Meath area) but just don't expect any advice from me, I may look for some though

ShivasIrons

Have a look at this, it might help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgBikgcWnY

carnsoreboxer

Best advice I was given when I took up golf was that I would need lots of patience and practice. Commit for 2 years before you fling your clubs in the nearest lake.

If I hadn't followed this I wouldn't have lasted a year. I was soon playing to a handicap, enjoying the game and totally hooked

Enjoy and be patient

BillyBoy13

Thanks for all the game offers. I might take you up on it some day!

Im thinking of giving this course a whirl http://www.killinparkgolf.com/ since its only a 15 minute drive from my own house. The good thing is you can pay as you go, so I can put a bit more money into equipment without worrying too much about having a recurring 1K bill. And to be honest, unless I really get hooked into it, I think I'll be mainly a 'summer golfer'. Im not a huge fan of being out in the rain!

dan_ep82

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

Thanks for all the game offers. I might take you up on it some day!

Im thinking of giving this course a whirl http://www.killinparkgolf.com/ since its only a 15 minute drive from my own house. The good thing is you can pay as you go, so I can put a bit more money into equipment without worrying too much about having a recurring 1K bill. And to be honest, unless I really get hooked into it, I think I'll be mainly a 'summer golfer'. Im not a huge fan of being out in the rain!

Well the closer you are the more inclined you'll be to go out so it can only be a good thing.
On the membership fee's, there is alot of good deal out there at the minute with full membership,5day,3day and distance membership ranging from €150 up to over €1k but there's alot in between at around €400,might be worth a look if you get more serious about it.
Best of luck either way,and be warned,it can be highly addictive

the greatest game

Best of luck with it..


I would say give it plenty of time and patience, It takes a few years at least to play consistent golf, in the meantime you will play good, average and sh1te, and you won't even know why you are playing either.

like above, it can really make some people, I have met recovering alcoholics who took up golf, and it helped them it was their new addiction,

I love the game, I have played both mornings this weekend, and dodged some real bad weather, but even though the weather is bad, the courses are lush green after the rain,
Take it up, go to a range and get all your bad shots out of the way there, get some lessons but dont over tech it, it should be natural, you should not have to be thinking of 10 things to do..
And don't be one of the 3 practice swings before each shot... ye drive me mad...

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

Im thinking of taking up golf in the new year. Its something that has always appealed to me but I have never pursued the idea all that seriously- the odd game here and there but that's it.

So with that being said, what should a person know before they get involved?

I suppose like all sports its probably expensive to get started or can it be done on the cheap? Is there much politics, or cliquey clubs or are they welcoming of new members?

newport2

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

Thanks for all the game offers. I might take you up on it some day!

Im thinking of giving this course a whirl http://www.killinparkgolf.com/ since its only a 15 minute drive from my own house. The good thing is you can pay as you go, so I can put a bit more money into equipment without worrying too much about having a recurring 1K bill. And to be honest, unless I really get hooked into it, I think I'll be mainly a 'summer golfer'. Im not a huge fan of being out in the rain!

I'd reiterate what some of the posters here have said and get lessons starting off. I didn't and could have saved myself a lot of grief if I did.

All you need to start lessons is one club. If your going to buy second hand, get the pro who's giving you the lessons to give you some help on what he'd recommend you to buy once he's seen your swing. (eg, driver with regular shaft and 11 degree loft) And don't beleive all the sales BS. Any clubs made in the last 5 or 6 years are just as good as those on sale today. The only real change has been loft/lie adjustability in woods.

Good luck.

rollotomasi

You should check out locations for some group lessons (i think in Leopardstown) or even some adult learning centres have golf classes. Its a good way to meet people in a similar situation as yourself etc…
http://www.eveningclasses.ie/products.asp?cat=251

Dossy

Just to let you know where im at, at the moment!!

I started playing with few lads from work and after getting back into it i said i want to stick with it long term so i got the few lessons and have been working on them,

IT TAKES TIME AND ALOT OF IT

I made the mistake of expecting too much too early, you have to give it 1-2yrs to see true results (told this by many ppl, including a Pro)

Once you hit the range and really concentrate on the stuff ur told in your lessons you will start to see small results BUT never get cocky because you'll find you have to go back to start again

Most important thing is too go out and ENJOY the game

Im only new to this aswell but this is my experience so far, alot of lads here are very knologeable about the game so you get alot of good advice!!

Best of luck and hope you stick with it!!

Wombatman

Not trying to be facetious.

Forget about golf courses and golf gear.

Get an eight iron off somebody. Look at YouTube videos about grip and set-up. Spend hours at home and at a local driving range trying to get your body to do this. Start off very slow.

Pay attention to position and movement of:
Hips, legs, trunk, shoulders, arms, hands and head.

If you can hit the ball to land close to a target 120-130 meters, doing the movements above, you are ready to play golf.

Driving, pitching, chipping and putting will a different fettle of kish, but the above will be half the battle.

Dr.Rieux

I only started recently so will give my impressions so far.

Expect a lot of frustration. You rill hit one shot sweet as a nut, do the same thing next time round and be worrying sheep about 200 yards to your right with that one. Expect to be confused also. So many things to remember and try to put into practice. Expect long hours of practice as without you're probably kidding yourself I'd imagine.

I'd say the most important thing to expect is to really enjoy it. I've been out on course twice. Once with work snd once with some lads on here and I loved every second of it. And that is despite making a tit of myself every second shot almost.

PARlance

What to expect:

It's a given that you'll get hooked. That generally translates to years of enjoyment/frustration.
For the minority, the frustration will be too much and that will be that.
A group of my mates started a few years ago when we were coming to an end with football.
Out of 10 of us that took it up, only 1 didn't take to it. The rest of us are addicted in varying degrees.

As mentioned already, grab a few lessons to start out on the right foot.
Don't expect to crack it straight away, on average, I'd say the first year for most is a struggle.

If there's money to burn then get nice gear, it isn't really needed though. A bad workman is still useless with good tools.
There are plenty of great deals for good second hand sets.

Try and get a few mates to take it up too, or failing that, find a few new ones that are in the same boat. You'll need the shoulders to cry on.

There's no point advising you not to try to learn too much from online lessons. I think it's unavoidable for a beginner. But after a few years you'll look back on the 1000's of videos watched and realise that only a couple of them really ever worked for you.

After 1000's of swings you eventually start to really understand your swing, you'll know what you're doing wrong. This is when you'll really start to improve IMO.

Pitch & Putt, Par 3 and casual rounds are a good way to get into it. I only joined a club this year. If I could go back, I'd have jumped in at the deep end and joined a club sooner.

Remember and enjoy the goods shots, they'll be infrequent at the start but they'll get you through a lot