Golf discussion

[Reboot_IT]

Hi everyone,

 

I've recently taken up Golf (mainly due to lockdown) and I have got the bug. It's the most frustrating sport I've ever played and I go from wanting to give it up to enjoying it as I'm so inconsitent.

 

Does anyone have any tips/resources to help?! I watch Rick Shiels a lot and his videos are great.

 

If Golf happens to be popular enough with people I suppose this can be a general Golf discussion thread too!

[Rob_D]

I don't play much myself, but my parents are super into Golf.

Your not alone in the way you feel, my dad's been playing for 50 years and he has the same mixed feelings about it. Apparently the trick is to never buy a club, as you always play so much better with the demo clubs than you when you've paid for them.

 

Have you tried Canadian Greensomes yet?

The rules are (and I swear this is a real thing).

You start a 2-ball, both players tee off, then take each-other's second shot (so player A is hitting player B's tee shot). Once that's been done, you choose which of the two balls in play you continue the hole with (played as a 2-some - both taking shots on the same ball in turn) until the the hole is completed.

Alternate rule variation is that the best tee shot is chosen and both players take their second shot from that location, then choose which ball to play forward.

Or my favorite, the Gruesome Greensomes variant, where your opponent gets to choose which of the balls in play gets played forward (generally only played once per club because afterward everyone hates everyone else).

[Ditto]

Hi everyone,

 

I've recently taken up Golf (mainly due to lockdown) and I have got the bug. It's the most frustrating sport I've ever played and I go from wanting to give it up to enjoying it as I'm so inconsitent.

 

Does anyone have any tips/resources to help?! I watch Rick Shiels a lot and his videos are great.

 

If Golf happens to be popular enough with people I suppose this can be a general Golf discussion thread too!

Oh boy! Having never done drugs (alcohol excepted), I fear the parallels are scary but I, and many, many golfers know 100% what you are talking about. One of my favourite quotes about golf, are that it is a great walk, ruined! Probably my biggest tip is enjoy the good shots and days as much as possible and be ambivalent about the bad shots and days as you can. Inconsistency is why you and I, and 99% of golfers are amateurs and the 1% are pros! You just have to live with that fact. If you move on to be a member of a club and start to play really regularly, in spite of the expense, consider getting 1-1 lessons. Not cheap, but can be a solid investment - concentrate on the short game - it's half of the scoring and don't obsessed by distance.

 

There's probably a million other quotes, but one other I like, is "hit the little ball, not the big one".

Edited August 3, 2020 by Ditto

[dezt]

I took up golf last year and have had a few 1-1 lessons, best thing I could have done. I'm not the best in the world by a long shot, but I do play every weekend as a few of my mates and I have joined a club. I know how frustrating it is, i've almost binned my clubs a few times after awful rounds.

 

One thing that I have learn't from my lessons is, don't try and smash the ball as hard as you can, i've tried and sliced it into the woods many a time from the tee and lost multiple balls, the golf pro told me to take my time, start off by hitting the ball straight so it lands on the fairway and then you can introduce more power when you have the control.

 

We play stableford golf, and, as my mates have taken pity on me with the handicap scoring i have won one round out of the 12 i've played so far.

[Reboot_IT]

Thanks for the tips. I've joined the local club and I'm managing to play 2-3 times a week at the moment. I generally only use irons at the moment as I want to improve that part of my game, it wasn't going well yesterday so on the 18th, after a stinker I pulled the driver out. I hit the best shot I've ever hit and gave myself a chance to birdie with the subsequent chip which I of course fluffed! Golf eh?!

 

I'm planning on getting lessons, can't decide whether to do them soon or at the beggining of next spring so they are fresh in my mind. Can't imagine me playing much over winter.

[dezt]

I played on Sunday, managed to win out of the 4 of us again so must be doing something right. I'd be tempted to get lessons now and then practice at the driving range or even play a bit during the winter, if you get lessons spring time you will be trying to correct the bad habbits you've picked up, especially if you're playing 2 - 3 times a week. A mate of mine is struggling after 5 years of playing as he's finally gone for lessons and is getting everything corrected and he finds it all strange.

 

Oh, and if you do play over the winter i recommend getting something like this to protect the fairways. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Callaway-Launch-Zone-Golf-Hitting/dp/B002CACMR0/ref=asc_df_B002CACMR0/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309947835595&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13045535770743752108&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046585&hvtargid=pla-387206382652&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Edited August 11, 2020 by dezt

[AJWhite1970]

Round of golf booked for Monday afternoon, first since lockdown. £18 twilight ticket on a 100 year old forest course. Should be fun....

[Reboot_IT]

Good luck! Take some hi-vis balls!

 

In other news, I broke 100 on my last 18 holes which is the best I've done. Doing another 18 on Sunday and after that I should have my official handicap.