The Golf Thread

[Shanks]

Blimey that’s pretty decent considering you’ve only been playing about 6 months!!! - actually that’s bloody fantastic, if you count every shot and hole out everything. You must be a very good sportsman and/or you’re still pretty young…

Ive been messing about with this stupid game for almost 50 years now. I’ll definitely get the hang of it one day!

Hope you’re getting a few lessons. Only way to try and do it properly

Tbf I played off of 11 when I was a kid, just haven't played for almost 30 years, so was always taking it back up when I stopped playing football.

Issue I have is that I can't swing like I used to!
47 now, but yes count every shot and hole put everything, although I go out at about 5.30am a couple of times a week just to practise so don't really count up scores on those ones.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Tbf I played off of 11 when I was a kid, just haven't played for almost 30 years, so was always taking it back up when I stopped playing football.

Issue I have is that I can't swing like I used to!
47 now, but yes count every shot and hole put everything, although I go out at about 5.30am a couple of times a week just to practise so don't really count up scores on those ones.

Is your goal to get down to single figures?
Sounds like you’re giving it a good crack practicing a few times a week early doors

My mate is desperate to get down to single figures but can’t quite get there yet - has had lessons but over thinks it, watches too many YouTube clips and tinkers even when he’s starting to see good results. Currently he’s 11.5

Amazes me that so many at the golf club just play all the time but rarely practice. You’re just reinforcing the bad stuff and will never get better

Impossible to improve, no matter whether it’s a sport or another aspect of your life, without ‘practice’

 

[Shanks]

My only target was to be able to go round worh my friends that are low single figures and not slow them down, my target was to get down to 20 this year, which I've done already (19 but went up after last week's tournament), but as long as I get round okay, I'm happy.

I did have 1 lesson, but that was purely about getting some consistency with my irons, but I have struggled with distances, got my stock distances with irons now its summer though, but I just enjoy playing it, such a challenging game to play, one day play well, next day full of confidence hit awful shots!

Driving and putting are a bit off, once I get those a little better thr handicap will come down quickly now.

 

[Shanks]

Finally broke 90!

Next target to break 80.. maybe next year!

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

Just started getting into golf. Only on the range atm but going to do a 9 hole on Friday.
Target is just trying to hit the ball

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Just started getting into golf. Only on the range atm but going to do a 9 hole on Friday.
Target is just trying to hit the ball

Normally the range will have some group lessons for beginners. Best thing to do is get yourself involved with some of those

If you start off correctly - grip, stance, set up etc you’re on the right path

Unless you’re a genius you’ll only get so far trying to work it out yourself or even worse taking some advice from mates or, god forbid, watching YouTube

 

[UncleBuck]

Just started getting into golf. Only on the range atm but going to do a 9 hole on Friday.
Target is just trying to hit the ball

Word of advice, great to go to the range but have objectives, don’t just rock up and smash 90 balls off the tee with the driver as that won’t do you any favours!
Warm up with a wedge then work your way down the bag (pw, 8, 6, 4, hybrid, just to get the swing going, you only need to hit five balls per club). I then play ‘holes’ whereby I’ll start off with a driver then look at markers at the range to go for which will involved a low/mid iron/hybrid then a 9/wedge.
Just brakes it up as range work can get a bit repetitive, also when you break an average score down think about how many shots you’d take with an individual club per round. I play off 15 now (much lower back in my teens when no wife and kids!) so on average I’d use my driver 13 times in a round and my putter 30 times meaning I use irons/hybrid for about 40 shots.
Get yourself a putting mat though because that’s the one thing you can’t practice at the range which is probably the most important part of the game, good luck on Friday!

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Had my best round of the summer yesterday which coincided with meeting my idol Glenn Hoddle.

Being touched by genius must have helped - shot a 4 over par 75 which has cut my handicap index to 4.8

Also went to Sunningdale last week to watch the girls win the Curtis Cup - some fantastic golf on offer

By chance watched a lot of Sara Byrne who was brilliant all competition and has just turned pro. One to keep an eye on hopefully

Also saw Asterisk Tulley, who I thought looked quite young. She was brilliant. Googled her later and found out she was 15 ffs, unbelievable future she has!

 

[Shanks]

Had my best round of the summer yesterday which coincided with meeting my idol Glenn Hoddle.

Being touched by genius must have helped - shot a 4 over par 75 which has cut my handicap index to 4.8

Also went to Sunningdale last week to watch the girls win the Curtis Cup - some fantastic golf on offer

By chance watched a lot of Sara Byrne who was brilliant all competition and has just turned pro. One to keep an eye on hopefully

Also saw Asterisk Tulley, who I thought looked quite young. She was brilliant. Googled her later and found out she was 15 ffs, unbelievable future she has!

Having played a few games recently woth low level handicappers, I have a new found respect for those maintaining those handicaps, the consistency is amazing to see, where as I'm just trying hard not to slow them down!!

 

[Shanks]

Word of advice, great to go to the range but have objectives, don’t just rock up and smash 90 balls off the tee with the driver as that won’t do you any favours!
Warm up with a wedge then work your way down the bag (pw, 8, 6, 4, hybrid, just to get the swing going, you only need to hit five balls per club). I then play ‘holes’ whereby I’ll start off with a driver then look at markers at the range to go for which will involved a low/mid iron/hybrid then a 9/wedge.
Just brakes it up as range work can get a bit repetitive, also when you break an average score down think about how many shots you’d take with an individual club per round. I play off 15 now (much lower back in my teens when no wife and kids!) so on average I’d use my driver 13 times in a round and my putter 30 times meaning I use irons/hybrid for about 40 shots.
Get yourself a putting mat though because that’s the one thing you can’t practice at the range which is probably the most important part of the game, good luck on Friday!

We have the range finder software at our local range so can actually play courses, which is a nice break uo from just whacking balls for 30 mins.

My driving seems to have gotten worse recently, and feel if I can nail that better I'll start to get into thr mid 80's.

I'm reluctant to use uo my lessons at the moment as going to upgrade my clubs (just had a proper fitting), so early next year will start with clubs that are fitted to me, so seems logical to take my lessosn then.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

We have the range finder software at our local range so can actually play courses, which is a nice break uo from just whacking balls for 30 mins.

My driving seems to have gotten worse recently, and feel if I can nail that better I'll start to get into thr mid 80's.

I'm reluctant to use uo my lessons at the moment as going to upgrade my clubs (just had a proper fitting), so early next year will start with clubs that are fitted to me, so seems logical to take my lessosn then.

Always lessons first. Why get fitted with a worse swing then get lessons to improve swing with clubs fitted for the bad swing?

 

[Shanks]

Always lessons first. Why get fitted with a worse swing then get lessons to improve swing with clubs fitted for the bad swing?

Ah because my swing currently is with clubs that are too short (I'm 6'7 tall), so fitted clubs actually fit me, then work on improving a few bits after.

I've been down to 12 handicap in my youth without ever having a lesson, but actually trying to work on a few bits.

I bought a beginner off rhe shelf set just to see if it would be something I stick with before investing in a set, so now the full on investment that golfers go through!

 

[spurmin]

Good for a nine handicap.

 

[ethanedwards]

The Irish open is on at the moment via RTE2, a rare chance to see Royal County Down, regarded by many as the best in the world.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Not w

The Irish open is on at the moment via RTE2, a rare chance to see Royal County Down, regarded by many as the best in the world.

Not watched any coverage yet but must go and play in Ireland soon

Some amazing courses. Shame the prices to play everywhere have gone absolutely nuts!

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Not w


Not watched any coverage yet but must go and play in Ireland soon

Some amazing courses. Shame the prices to play everywhere have gone absolutely nuts!

It's the American visitors that have driven the prices up. Played Royal Portrush last month which was £360/round (very generous brother in law paid) but Castlerock down the road which is decent, but nothing more and not in great condition was £160, paid £50 for it 8 years ago. The reason is American visitors won't consider other courses apart from the main ones unless they're priced high. Loads of Scottish courses are now £200+

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Just on pricing..

I played The London Club a few days ago (on a mates voucher, luckily)

They want £175 now on ‘The International’ Course - that was about £75 pre covid. And they wanted £45 for an electic trolley . That would have been £10

Course was in great nick but it’s not a patch on ‘the heritage’ course

 

[Shanks]

Played south winchester yesterday, although a business charity day so it was 250 for the day, don't think it costs that much!

Fastest greens I've played on though!

 

[jazz15c]

Going through a REALLY rough patch with the game at the moment, which culminated in a 27 over par round yesterday, which included 5 lost balls and 5 triple bogeys...!

Standing over some clubs (not all) feeling so anxious and devoid of confidence that I can't start the backswing for fear of what might happen. This normally leads to tension and even worse outcome!

It feels like an age since I've even sniffed playing near my handicap (9.2). I have a lesson at lunchtime, fairly sure it's a mental/confidence issue, so hoping my coach can put an arm around the shoulder and help...fingers crossed!

 

[Shanks]

Going through a REALLY rough patch with the game at the moment, which culminated in a 27 over par round yesterday, which included 5 lost balls and 5 triple bogeys...!

Standing over some clubs (not all) feeling so anxious and devoid of confidence that I can't start the backswing for fear of what might happen. This normally leads to tension and even worse outcome!

It feels like an age since I've even sniffed playing near my handicap (9.2). I have a lesson at lunchtime, fairly sure it's a mental/confidence issue, so hoping my coach can put an arm around the shoulder and help...fingers crossed!

That's a superb handicap, I'm not sure I'll ever get down to single figures, have to say though, absolutely loving golf this year though!

I can't quite get a good mixture at the moment, either iron shots are going well and driving is poor, or the opposite, although I've really been working on from around the 150 yard inwards recently, which has seem to have become a little more consistent. Good luck with the lessons mate, hopefully all comes back to together for you