Tips for a golfing newbie

[Pa$ky859]

I’ve always enjoyed basketball, football, baseball and tennis. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve drifted away from all of those sports (occasionally still get a basketball run in). I’m needing something besides walking to keep me active. It’s either going to be pickleball or golf.

Golf looks enjoyable because I can play alone and be outdoors. However, I have literally never played golf. I went to a driving range once or twice. That’s it. Without spending thousands of dollars, what’s the best way to get started and see if I like it?

 

[WEP6to12]

Takes lesson(s). Start with someone who can show your fundamentals. And you need a long strategy. For most, including me, it likely doesn’t come naturally.

 

[WEP6to12]

Takes lesson(s). Start with someone who can show your fundamentals. And you need a long strategy. For most, including me, it likely doesn’t come naturally.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Don't lie about golfing where there's a tornado warning like Mitul

 

[Tgar]

I’ve always enjoyed basketball, football, baseball and tennis. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve drifted away from all of those sports (occasionally still get a basketball run in). I’m needing something besides walking to keep me active. It’s either going to be pickleball or golf.

Golf looks enjoyable because I can play alone and be outdoors. However, I have literally never played golf. I went to a driving range once or twice. That’s it. Without spending thousands of dollars, what’s the best way to get started and see if I like it?

Depending on where you live, try fly fishing.

 

[1995PSUGrad]

Just go play. Find a cheap local course that will let you play by yourself and play a round. Then spend some time chipping and putting on the practice green. The good thing about golf is you don't have to be good to enjoy the game. When you are starting out it doesn't matter if you shoot 120 or 85. Once you play a few rounds you will have an idea of what you are capable of and then just practice to get better in those areas. I believe it gets harder as you get better. In my opinion, it's easier to go from a 120 to a 110 than it is to go from an 80 to a 75. When you start to have expectations, you put pressure on yourself, and sometimes can lose a little bit of the fun. For now, just go enjoy it.

 

[Fayette_LION]

I’ve always enjoyed basketball, football, baseball and tennis. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve drifted away from all of those sports (occasionally still get a basketball run in). I’m needing something besides walking to keep me active. It’s either going to be pickleball or golf.

Golf looks enjoyable because I can play alone and be outdoors. However, I have literally never played golf. I went to a driving range once or twice. That’s it. Without spending thousands of dollars, what’s the best way to get started and see if I like it?

Where are you located? I have lots of extra golf equipment you could have if you’re in SW. Pa. Pickleball is a very good sport too, Especially if you played tennis. Doing it alone is questionable though. I love the competitive end of both of these sports.

 

[PSU Mike]

My FIL started pickleball at 81. In his second class he fully ruptured his Achilles. Have fun with golf. Just remember lower score is better than high. And don’t listen to @Tgar - we fly fishermen are greedy and like our space.

(So @Tgar, any chance you want to hit Nehalem R. and/or Clackamas R. in Oregon in September?)

 

[Bison13]

Watch Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore, they will teach you all you need to know about golf

 

[Chumboshifko1]

How about Dorf?

 

[PSUAVLNC]

Swing with your upper body, hip and legs, not your arms. Head down and still. Hit the ball first.

 

[Bosco2]

REALLY practice putting and chipping. I've seen many guys that can hit the ball a mile, but give it all back because of their short game.

 

[Lion84]

REALLY practice putting and chipping. I've seen many guys that can hit the ball a mile, but give it all back because of their short game.

Don’t do any night putting - could get you in trouble.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Using a wedge during a tornado can be bad.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

Get some decent game improvement irons to start. Calloway, Ping, Mizouno, and Titleist all have some. Likewise on a driver and fairway metals. Cobra, Ping, Calloway, Titleist. You should be able to find some used at reasonable prices. I'd avoid buying new until you're sure that you want to continue to play. If you're a competitive guy and will get enjoyment out of winning, then by all means get some lessons. I played for 30 years without lessons and never broke 90. My 14 year old grandson plays in the mid 80's. He's had lessons, I didn't. If it's purely recreational and you just want to get out and play then that's ok too. It is hard to unlearn all your bad habits after the fact so this may help you decide where to start. Hope this helps.

 

[Tgar]

My FIL started pickleball at 81. In his second class he fully ruptured his Achilles. Have fun with golf. Just remember lower score is better than high. And don’t listen to @Tgar - we fly fishermen are greedy and like our space.

(So @Tgar, any chance you want to hit Nehalem R. and/or Clackamas R. in Oregon in September?)

Going to shoot you a PM.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Ping is very good.

 

[Ghost of OM]

For a beginner, lessons are critical. Check with your closest course. Many have lesson packages for beginners. It’s much easier to start with the proper grip, body position, swing motion etc than to build in bad habits and then try to undo them. I would never want to see you go out and play a round with no prior instruction at all. That is a recipe for frustration. It’s a great game but not easy to learn to do well (or even marginally ok). If you happen to be close to PSU, the university courses run summer adult camps that would be a great place to start.

 

[WDLion]

I’ve always enjoyed basketball, football, baseball and tennis. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve drifted away from all of those sports (occasionally still get a basketball run in). I’m needing something besides walking to keep me active. It’s either going to be pickleball or golf.

Golf looks enjoyable because I can play alone and be outdoors. However, I have literally never played golf. I went to a driving range once or twice. That’s it. Without spending thousands of dollars, what’s the best way to get started and see if I like it?

Go to a par 3 course with the other duffers.

 

[Fac]

If your close to Sharon, they have a free golf course.

 

[Ram20]

I have a different view of golf than many, I started like everyone having no idea about anything, playing golf courses, losing 1000 balls and my mind. After doing that for 2 years and realizing that golf is actually miserable if you suck at it(Credit to those on here that say they just love the game and don't care if they shoot a 115), so I figured I'd actually try to be good at it and build a swing and approach as a pose to just "play" it. I practice golf 90% of the time and "play" it 10% of the time. Yes, so 9 range sessions for each actual round of golf. I enjoying practicing golf as much as I enjoy playing it....so even practicing is recreational. As is mentioned, I'd get some used game improvement clubs and try to develop somewhat of a consistent swing, get a feel vs. good shots/swings vs. bad and I'd actually just do that for an entire summer before I went to the course. Just depends how you are wired, I hated playing golf and hitting the ball all over the earth, but I loved the sport. As tiger used to say..."you have to dig the ball out of the dirt" over and over and over again to be any good.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

I hit two holes in one in West Mifflin.

 

[razpsu]

Watch tin cup.
Grip it and rip it.

Let the big dog eat.
find some clubs, some golf balls, music, beer, cart and local muni. Go have fun.

 

[Shep]

Beginner tips from a life long golfer:
-Play as quickly as possible. Nobody cares if you play poor. But poor and slow will not make you a lot of fans.
-Enjoy the game no matter how you play or what your skill level is. Other golfers will appreciate the positivity.
- Don’t talk about your play after a round. No one really cares.
- if the golfing bug grabs you, embrace it right back. IMO it’s about chasing a dream of playing better and better. Hope is the greatest driver behind most of us playing this game.

 

[LionJim]

Beginner tips from a life long golfer:
-Play as quickly as possible. Nobody cares if you play poor. But poor and slow will not make you a lot of fans.
-Enjoy the game no matter how you play or what your skill level is. Other golfers will appreciate the positivity.
- Don’t talk about your play after a round. No one really cares.
- if the golfing bug grabs you, embrace it right back. IMO it’s about chasing a dream of playing better and better. Hope is the greatest driver behind most of us playing this game.

Dead solid perfect post, as best I can tell.

 

[IrishHerb]

Just go play. Find a cheap local course that will let you play by yourself and play a round. Then spend some time chipping and putting on the practice green. The good thing about golf is you don't have to be good to enjoy the game. When you are starting out it doesn't matter if you shoot 120 or 85. Once you play a few rounds you will have an idea of what you are capable of and then just practice to get better in those areas. I believe it gets harder as you get better. In my opinion, it's easier to go from a 120 to a 110 than it is to go from an 80 to a 75. When you start to have expectations, you put pressure on yourself, and sometimes can lose a little bit of the fun. For now, just go enjoy it.

Easier said than done. A lot depends on where you live and what golf courses are available.

For me, I grew up in the same town as Mrs. LionJim, and we had a nice 9 hole public course that was easy to get on and play alone. I now live in the DC area, and its not as easy, but there are still a few courses that I can get into to play a solo round.

For me, I started out with a half set of clubs ... driver, 3 wood, 3,5,7,9 irons and a putter. Play a few rounds and see how you like the game before thinking of spending $$ on something more expensive. Exercise? ... find a course you can walk ... lots of newer courses basically require riding a golf cart.

 

[JakkL]

1 get fitted for clubs.
2 take lessons starting with short game. Wedges and putter
3 lessons on long irons and woods
4 start from the forward tees and move back after you get better.

Scoring well at golf is 90% getting it on the green and not 3 putting. I've played with a lot of guys who drive it 200 or less, but are down the middle and wedge it close and putt well. Lots of crappy golfers drive it 250+, but have no idea where it's going. OB, water, in the trees are where you lose strokes.

 

[NittanyBuff]

Depending on where you live, try fly fishing.

That'll keep you in shape standing there casting a line

 

[Tgar]

That'll keep you in shape standing there casting a line

Spend a day with Tgar exploring Young Women’s creek while you hike up the mountain and it will give you a much better workout than a round of golf. But yes, you do see John Daly shapes standing in the creek as well. LOL.

 

[Mile High Lion]

Find a nine hole par three or executive course near you and play it as much as you can. You'll get a lot of practice chipping and putting which is where you'll need to improve if you'll ever be any good. Most golf shots are within 100 yards of the hole. Plus it won't cost much and it will only take 1-2 hours so you can do it on a weekday afternoon without it killing your whole day.

 

[Eddo]

Read Harvey Penick’s, Little Red Book.

 

[PSU Mike]

That'll keep you in shape standing there casting a line

Wade a couple miles on Salmon River in NY in thigh-deep current then report back.

 

[Shepdogg]

Let people play through, and do not get added to a group of three friends. It makes everyone uncomfortable.

 

[FK3JM]

Let people play through, and do not get added to a group of three friends. It makes everyone uncomfortable.

We have a standing foursome that plays every Saturday morning. On the weekends someone cancels, many courses will try to stick a solo with you. It can be awkward, but as the solo just introduce yourself, play at pace and if the group isn’t talkative, just keep to yourself. In my circle of buddies, we always try to be nice to solos unless they act like fools.

 

[Anon231980]

I consider myself a so so golfer after 25 years. Joined/Playing at a golf simulator to get thru the winter. Play 6-8 times a month. My swing has improved more in three months than 25 years.
We will see in about a month just how much! lol

 

[Sunshinedynomite 1]

If your close to Sharon, they have a free golf course.

What? Where?

 

[MaconNitt]

Playing in the rain may be hazardous to your health. Broken ankle, 7 weeks in a boot followed by 6 weeks of PT, only to find out the fall caused 2 bulging discs, drop foot, weakness and sciatica. Seeing neuro surgeon at U Penn in June.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Playing in the rain may be hazardous to your health. Broken ankle, 7 weeks in a boot followed by 6 weeks of PT, only to find out the fall caused 2 bulging discs, drop foot, weakness and sciatica. Seeing neuro surgeon at U Penn in June.

Hope you get better.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Did laughing boy get his husband matching clubs?

 

[Ludd]

Playing with the right people is critical. If you’re just playing for fun, make sure you play with others who are doing it just for fun. There’s nothing worse than getting in a group where one of more are ultra serious about it. I used to play a lot with my brother because we had fun doing it…once he passed away, I lost all interest in ever playing again.