How I play golf

Some of you express doubt as I recall some of my shots or scores, stating that a beginner couldn't possibly get a certain score or hit a ball a certain way

But to me golf is very simple. At the same time it can be very difficult, but here is my approach that I use as a beginner working toward scratch:

- I know that consistency is key
- I know how far a particular shot must go
- I know how far I can hit the ball with each of my clubs if my swing is consistent

So for me this is the thread of consciousness that goes thru my head as I play a round. I stay in control by keeping things simple. Yes there are the small parts of the game such as the lie of the ball, hitting from sand and rough, and green speed + slope, but these are also fairly simple.

On any given Par 4 or Par 5, if I hit my tee shot the way I should it ends up 250-300+ yards down the fairway using a 3 wood or Driver. My next shot then gets me onto the green. Mentally, I don't force myself to putt in that 3rd shot but if I putt effectively I end up within 2-3 feet of the hole making it an easy putt for par.

How I play golf on Par 3s is just as simple: I know how far it is, I know how far I can hit each club, and I usually end up on the green. From there my goal again to simply 2 putt. I prefer uphill putts on my 2nd shot because when the hole is down a slope that ball can keep rolling making for a very tough 3rd shot for par.

So, I find golf very simple and enjoyable when I am consistent. Unfortunately, like many of you, I do still make mistakes, but my hope is that after playing for a year I will minimize them enough such that the average of my best previous 10 of 20 rounds will be par.

Have a great weekend of golf everyone!

Most useless post ever. Thanks for taking us through how to play a golf hole. Wow, so I should look at the yardage, pick the club that goes that far, and just put it on the green? BRILLIANT! Man, to think I've been wasting time picking clubs with a coin flip and judging distance with a slide rule and a feather....

Dude, just stop it....... You understand that, for the best 10 of your last 20 to AVERAGE out to par, that means some of those ten rounds will be over par and some will be UNDER par??? Let me put this into perspective......

A friend of mine is an excellent golfer. Tall guy, very sound swing, hits it far and accurate. I once saw him hang a 2-iron over a lake and cut it back onto a green from about 220 and knock down the eagle putt. I've also seen him cut a 7-iron from the rough, around a tree, onto a green. He's got all the shots, is a solid putter and has been playing for years. The lowest round of his life is 68, a mere -4. More often, he's somewhere around 75-80, so I'm guessing he's a 5-6 handicap.

Go away. Stop it. Leave it alone. This has nothing to do with your quest or your actual chances to achieve it. It has to do with your coming in, boasting of the most lofty goal in the sport, essentially, and then just hammering us with, "See, I was only +3 after 8 holes, so I'm totally going to do this! I just play to two putt on par 3's and avoid downhill putts. It's so simple!"

Really. Stop it now.

Not even Tiger Woods thinks golf is that simple. You must be kidding.

You have to expect this sort of stuff on a golf website. The only place you could possibly find more bull is a fishing message board.

Speaking of bull, some guy got paired with us the other day. I asked him before we started if he was solid. He said scratch. About 5 minutes later he had hit his first three tee shots snap hooked out of bounds. HE was like I never do this. I think this could have been get r done.

I am also a new golfer. Started playing in June. Practice, practice and practice at the range, went from never held a club ever in my life, to hitting 6 Iron fairly consistant around 150yrd.

Right before my first time out, I had a really good range session. Every ball in the bucket went airborne with any club I used, landing mostly in a 20 X20 yd zone. And I thought to myself, when I am out tomorrow, I should be fine, like what you said, I know where my balls will land with each club.

Until... I get on a course, and realized I wasn't even born yet.

At the range, the conditions are as controlled as it could get. I take my time, measure and calculate everything. On the course, there are just too many variables that I couldn't control. Grass, dew, sand, wind, rough, fringe, sun, glare, humidity, and HILLS!!!, at the range, the ground is level! Needless to say, I topped, shanked, sliced, hooked, pulled many, and score a 125.

If the game of golf is as easy and you can control your ball flight like you said you do, then more power to you. But my few months of impression of the game -- is freaking hard.

You owe me a keyboard...mines now covered in water! LOL

here's a shot in the dark but can we see a video of you hitting a golf ball? (i bet we never see a video)

We won't. He lies as much as Bill Clinton. Except he's not nearly as good at covering them up.

The best way to deal with this guy is just ignore his posts and not reply. He's a phony.

He may owe me a job as well. Laughed so loud my publisher heard, not so happy I am on a golf forum during work. But i'm playing in his scamble Sunday, so he didn't say much!!!!!!!

you're welcome ;)

Yeah but it's way easier for you bro, I don't hit my driver 400 yards past the hole, hitting my desired target, a tree, and have it kick back, hit a spinkler head, and wind up 3 inches from the cup, I'm just not that good, by the way how is Tiger Woods golf treating you?

Don't feed the troll

Just ignore this guy. He is probably 15 years old and reads his posts in between World of Warcraft games.

He will keep posting as long as he gets responses and everyone of his threads are pretty high up in post count. Just leave the kid alone, and he will go away.

I wonder how come all of us including the PGA Tour Pros never thought of landing the ball 2-3 foot close to the pin? Now that's a good theory. I'm sure we'll make par on every holes. Wow! I think you're genius! Golf IS really simple!

P.S: Wake up, man!

Hey! im 15 and i play.. games..

Gitrdone, you gotta stop this, either leave the forum and go join somewhere else, or stop posting lies about your golf game. Because of your lies youve lost respect from the other golfers on this forum. (Maybe you did have some at first who knows) After posting all these lies, your just making a fool of yourself.

Dent you took the words out of my mouth.

Don't go dissing 15 year olds (actually 16 year olds). Im 16 and started a few weeks ago. Today I shot a 52. Not all teens are annoying, know it all liers,

Git,
I am sure you would have noticed that most of the par 4s and par 5s have doglegs. Do you mind telling us how you get around them?. If you are +3 after 8 holes (which I have never managed to do yet), you should have some idea of working that ball. Please enlighten us.