Wife golf

I am new to this forum, but have been playing golf for a long time. I would like for my wife to take up the game. What do you suggest that would encourage her? She has never hit a golf ball! Also, I need to get her clubs, I guess. I dont know if she could try mine or if that would be bad. She is 5'2" tall and I am 6'3". I am open to all thoughts .

Thanks

Lots of variables depending on what her potential is and what her goals are. My wife started playing in her 50s mostly because she realized she wasn't going to see my son or I very often if she didn't start playing. She doesn't like to practice (and honestly doesn't have much time to practice) but likes to play.

Best thing for her particular situation was when my son bought her a set of hybrid clubs all the way from the SW to the 3I. She would have taken much longer to play enjoyable golf with conventional irons given her lack of desire to practice and lack of natural ability.

Like many women she's more of a social person than I am and she enjoyed the couples Monday scramble at the club. Now she enjoys playing with a couple of other ladies she knows. She's actually played more golf this year than I have. If you know another couple that like to play your wife would probably like having another woman along.

When it's just my wife and I playing I play from her tee box fairly often and only hit irons. It's good practice for me and more fun for her.

Sometimes we play a "match" and I give her a stroke a hole (and I haven't won them all). She gets a thrill out of beating me when it happens.

Of course it goes without saying that if your wife doesn't mind practice and would be interested in lessons that would be a great thing, and I would definitely get her some clubs.

I can't speak form direct personal experience but i can give advice from my mate who got his girlfriend into golf for the first time last year.

Ask her what she thinks first off, i suspect you'll have no problem getting her to at least give it a go once or twice which hopefully will be enough to get her into the game. That said, don't try to force it upon her, if she wants to play or is even a little bit interested she will come if you ask to her i bet. She is probably quite interested to know what you see in it.

And after that the advice from @boogielicious is really spot on IMO.

Great ideas! I like the idea of playing from the women's tees with irons. Playing par 3 course is also a great idea too. I also do not want to force golf onto her or anyone. I will look into women's golf equipment now. Perhaps hybrids are the way to go for a faster learning curve. I do hope she likes it so we can play together locally and on vacations! Others thoughts and experiences are welcome and appreciated.

I don't think it will ever happen with my wife.  A couple of times I asked her if she wanted to ride along or drive the cart on a nice evening.  I got a maybe...  hasn't happened yet.

My wife actually came to me asked me to help her get into the game.  So for our anniversary I bought her a decent set of starter clubs.  She was honestly happy with what she got.  I know for her it's going to be social and fashionable but it will still get us together as we grow older.

My tips for your situation ... don't try to teach her golf yourself if she is on a proud/stubborn side, or you don't have patience/experience in teaching a beginner.   Protect your marriage and have her learn golf from professional .

Once she learns the basics, take her to easy par 3 executive courses for a while until she feels comfortable to play longer courses.

Amen.  I'm a weekend hack to begin with so she'll definitely learn more from them than me. We have some decent Par 3's around here so that's where we're going to start.  I'm just glad she wants to learn.

I second this. My wife asked me to teach her and my response was "I love you and want to stay married. I will pay for all the lessons you want." She took a couple and plays a little now. I don't force it and may have to look into a set of full hybrids for her.

We finally settled on a white Nike glove with teal trim...

My wife is entering her 6th year as a player.  I helped her as much as I could, then bought her lessons to help her improve full swing shots of all kind.  Here is her journey and a little about her personality:

My wife played HS softball and can bowl well so she has a good bit of athletic capability already.  She's competitive to a degree but enjoys the overall golf experience more than not being able to break 100 even now.  Her mind-set is, we're outside in a beautiful environment, the weather is great, a young girl brings beer to me when I'm thirsty and this sure beats working.  Attitude and perspective = enjoyment of the game.

How we started:  Middle of winter, downstairs watching college and NBA basketball on TV.  Gave the wife a putter and three balls to begin the process of understanding how hard one needs to swing a putter to get ball to move 25-30' to the other side of the basement on carpet.  Added a drinking cup to aim at soon after.

When spring broke, we started going to practice facilities.  She learned to chip and putt here.  More importantly, she learned how to hit DOWN on the ball to make it fly onto the green and roll out.  We chipped and putted a LOT.  Next step was a practice tee where she hit 7-irons off the short rubber tee.  It wasn't long before they were actually flying and going 50-60 yards.  Handed her the 460cc driver with a face the size of a melon.  When the first one flew and went 120 yards or so she was hooked on golf!

Her clubs:  That first spring, I bought her an Adams complete set.  Clubs, bag, putter, everything.  When we started playing the short courses, I'd take out clubs that weren't being used.  When we started playing full-length courses we took out more. Entering her 3rd year of playing her set included these clubs:  Driver (new TM) a #5 hybrid (Cobra) 7-9 irons, PW, SW and a putter.  Here game was driver off the tee, #5 hyrbid to short iron range, on the green and finish.

At the end of last season, she got a REAL set of clubs fitted for her.  She's playing her best golf so far.  Usually between 100-110 every time out and has broken 100 once.  Her goal is to break 100 on a consistent basis.  Not bad for a woman going into her 6th year of playing.

Hope your girl warms up to the game like mine did.  She's a blast to play with and it's pretty much what we do every Sunday we can play in NE Ohio.  Oh, and she joined a league this year.  It's golf night, tonight.

dave

ps:  As others might have mentioned, I keep my mouth shut unless asked.  I try to be supportive, encouraging and a good playing partner.  Nothing will turn off YOUR woman more than trying to micro-manage her game.

I am glad your wife has added golf to her life! I hope my wife will too. I will take her to the practice green and start there. Thanks

Mine started last year - is jazzed about golf.  Really good putter, crappy chip/pitch, sporadic hitter, but when she makes contact it's impressive.  She's had a few pars on Par 3's, and just got her first par on a Par 4.  As she's learning to cover the ball better and follow through completely, all of a sudden she's making occasional good contact.  I think she could be a pretty decent player in time.  However, she needs to take lessons soon (not from me).  She will clearly be breaking 100 this year.

And she whines a bit when I play with the guys and she doesn't get asked along (which is incredibly annoying, I need her to stop that - for that matter, there are times when i also just want to play by myself too).  She should find girlfriends also that will play with her so it's all not just riding on me.

net/net - it's a win for us.  we have fun playing together.  And once she gets a little better, it'll be even more fun.  We played twice in our recent trip to Hawaii even.

Is she athletic or play other sports?

Does she know other women that play?

Is she 30 or 65 yrs old?

Patience, Patience, Patience!

If she shows slight interest buy her several lessons. There are places with female golf pros that may make her more comfortable

play 9 holes only for a while

My wife became an addict. Beware!! Everything will cost you x2

My wife is 56 years old and reasonably athletic. She likes to try new things, in particular sports. She bikes and windsurfs too. She does know some women who play and if she took up golf they would include her. I have played a lot of golf with men. Never women. I think it would be frustrating to have a 375 yard par 4 when the longest shot you could hit would be 150. I like the idea of a par 3 pitch and putt course to start with.

My wife and I play at least once a week together.    She's not as maniacally into it as I am, but she really enjoys just playing (practicing not so much - she has no short game, but has a great drive).     She probably shoots between 105-115 on average.      Its' great couples time.     My only advice for you is that she has to WANT to play.   I would encourage her as it's great couples time, great exercise, with a dinner planned afterwards.     I think for women, lessons are a good thing (a lot of guys can get away without lessons - case in point - but women who are not as avid benefit from lessons to get them started).    Lastly, don't try to tell her how to do something on the course - I've not heard of one yet who will listen to their husbands advice while playing - they will listen to their teacher though.    Good luck ... and just buy her a set of $120 clubs at Dicks SPorting Goods for now - that will last her a long time.   On that note, I can tell you that at least for mine, it's apparently a good thing to have a really "cute" and girly golf bag - they make a lot of stylish ladies golf bags today -  it'll probably cost more than her beginner ladies clubs, but that's ok if it'll give her inspiration to play more.   Let her pick out one that she likes - much better selection of them online than at stores.

This sounds like my wife.  She really wants to play but right now is afraid to embarrass herself at the range.  I told her when we go to grab a pitching wedge and swing

away.  I'll let her learn from her own mistakes and we'll go from there.  She wants the together time and exercise.  She also likes the idea of the pink bag and cute clothes.  I stated earlier it's all social and fashion for her.  But she does want to play and to me that's what I want hear.