Diary of a Rookie

linksrookie

Hello all,

Have decided to get into the golf a little bit recently and I'm properly thinking about taking the plunge. Up until the last month or so, the most golfing I've done is a bit of pitch & putt a couple of times a summer with my mates.. Figured it would be a nice idea to track my progress via a diary etc and by recording my scores (bit of a spreadsheet junkie). See if there's any interest in following it...

Bit of background; I'm 25... I'd like to think I'm reasonably athletic... Calling it a day from soccer and rugby with a dodgy knee so figured golf would a good sport to take up

The story so far:

I've played around 4 rounds of Par3 since June, I think I'm ready to make the leap and buy a decent set of clubs. Scores were fairly volatile, depending on who I played with and whose clubs I used.

Par 3 record since June:

Round 1: 90 - played with a mate (Dave) who's a good player with a nice set. Got
Round 2: 91 - played with a few pals and a haphazard set of clubs
Round 3: 104 - not much fun. Had several write off holes of 8+ with several lost balls. Plenty of room to improve.......
Round 4: 89 - was really happy with this round. Got another birdie and was playing with Dave again from Round 1... Starting to think it might be about getting a set of clubs to fit me. Hitting the ball pretty cleanly which is a good feeling.
Round 5: 104 - Bit disappointing after a good Round 4. More writeoff holes, which I need to try to avoid. Teeing off well but my approach shots/chips onto the green and putting was absolute pants.

I'm 6'3" so I'm thinking that getting a set of clubs at the proper length would be the next step. Going to try out a few places this week anyway. Any suggestions for where to go to get a decent set?

Cheers!

bobwilliams

you had me all interested then this happened


"Teeing off well but my approach shots/chips onto the green and putting was absolute pants. "

linksrookie

That's me being kind to myself..!

linksrookie

bobwilliams wrote: »

you had me all interested then this happened


"Teeing off well but my approach shots/chips onto the green and putting was absolute pants. "

*-ly awful

linksrookie

Going to start with a set of irons in the region of €250-350 to start.... Then add the woods and driver when I graduate from par 3.

McGuirks and Halpenny seem to be where most recommendations lead so I'll start having a gander this week.

Advice very much welcome at this stage of the game...

kiers47

linksrookie wrote: »

Going to start with a set of irons in the region of €250-350 to start.... Then add the woods and driver when I graduate from par 3.

McGuirks and Halpenny seem to be where most recommendations lead so I'll start having a gander this week.

Advice very much welcome at this stage of the game...

It's been said so many times but second hand irons on adverts is where the value is at. And if you don't like after a few tries it's very easy to move on the top brands like mizuno and titleist for none to little money lost.

linksrookie

kiers47 wrote: »

It's been said so many times but second hand irons on adverts is where the value is at. And if you don't like after a few tries it's very easy to move on the top brands like mizuno and titleist for none to little money lost.

I've thought about that, but being slightly taller than average I've been told I should get fitted for a longer club... Buying used wouldn't cater to that, I would imagine?

First Up

linksrookie wrote: »

I've thought about that, but being slightly taller than average I've been told I should get fitted for a longer club... Buying used wouldn't cater to that, I would imagine?

If you are serious about taking it up, get fitted. It isn't just about length - several other factors to consider. Buying off an advert might be cheap but unless you know what you are looking for, its a real gamble.

Foregolf at Killeen Castle are excellent. I think they charge a "fitting fee", which is then discounted if you buy clubs from them. I expect McGuirks do something similar and they know their stuff too. I can't speak with any experience about Halpenny but they come across more as discounters than real specialists. Maybe that's unfair... Leapardstown does fitting as well but I know someone who got a disastrous result from them - clubs were basically useless and they had to start over.

In any case, go through the analysis and get a specification. Then you can look for a deal.

alxmorgan

First Up wrote: »

If you are serious about taking it up, get fitted. It isn't just about length - several other factors to consider. Buying off an advert might be cheap but unless you know what you are looking for, its a real gamble.

Foregolf at Killeen Castle are excellent. I think they charge a "fitting fee", which is then discounted if you buy clubs from them. I expect McGuirks do something similar and they know their stuff too. I can't speak with any experience about Halpenny but they come across more as discounters than real specialists. Maybe that's unfair... Leapardstown does fitting as well but I know someone who got a disastrous result from them - clubs were basically useless and they had to start over.

In any case, go through the analysis and get a specification. Then you can look for a deal.

Fairly sure this is not the case.

First Up

alxmorgan wrote: »

Fairly sure this is not the case.

Best to check so. I'm pretty sure that was the deal when I used them.,

m r c

Do get fit op that's probably best but I'm 6'4" and am standard off the shelf mizuno irons for loft and lie. I wouldn't assume anything based on height.

markthespark77

if u could find a golf shop with a driving range attached, that way u could hit a couple of different sets and see is ur height an issue..

good luck with ur progress, keep up the updates..

linksrookie

So it’s been a big week in the golfing career of the links rook. Played a final round with my bandy clubs from the 1990s – got a 99, which is about average for what I was knocking around the par 3 course.

As for the new clubs, I had a look in Nevada Bob’s, McGuirke’s & American Golf – got custom fit [+ ½ on length, standard lie and regular shaft] settled on a set of Mizuno JPX EZ 4-PW and a couple of wedges, 52 and 56.. The Mizunos were an ex-demo cut to my size (conveniently) so I picked them up for a good bit less than the rrp.

Thanks to all the lads above for their advice on the purchase.

They felt pretty good trying them out so I gave them a spin on the old par 3 a couple of times and scored an 82 and 77. Shaving roughly 20 shots off my average previously. Of course, this could be just further scientific proof of the placebo effect, but I was very happy to be hitting the ball straight and clean *most* of the time.

Next step would be just to continue playing and get my first couple of lessons to avoid developing any bad habits. Maybe pick up some woods to play real golf in August.

Regarding the wedges I bought, do you think it’s worth adding ½ an inch in length to them? For shots when I want to give them a decent swing rather than the little chips around the green…

Cheers!

linksrookie

Hi lads,

Bit of a final update to round out the summer now. Have fully graduated to 18 hole golf now, moving on from Par 3. Was playing the courses in the local area and scoring around the 120 mark. Lot of shots left out there, hitting duffers in the rough, more than one shot out of a bunker etc.

Since then, I’ve added a G15 driver and G5 3w to the bag, had a couple of lessons, and I’m now hopefully closing in on my first sub 100 round. Getting in and around the 104-108 mark last couple of times. I’m hoping to work towards getting consistently less than 100 in advance of next summer. Played about 8-10 full rounds, with a decent amount of range work.

Those lessons – the first focused on my take-away, keeping my left arm straight, and turning my hips. The second was about the amount of twist again and also having less movement in the lower half of my body. Have a few more lined up, as was thinking about working on the short game with them, but my swing still needs a lot of work…. I’m thinking it might be best to work on getting to the green first, before I worry about what happens on it… Any thoughts on this?

Unfortunately I’m moving house, starting studying again and back playing football, so progress will definitely slow up…. However, next steps – hopefully join a club in the new year and get a handicap. Score less than 100 consistently while playing with some regularity.

Cheers!