Anyone else kick themselves everyday for not picking up golf when you were younger?

[callaweveland]

When I was around 11 I got a set of Wilson clubs. Nobody in my family played golf but I remember really wanting to play. Unfortunately, with no guidance towards the game I never got anywhere.
In my early twenties most of my friends played, so I bought a set of Hogan Apex 2's from my buddy's dad. Everyone I played with came from a golfing family so they could do things on the course that I couldn't. After being frustrated continually and not having the time or money to improve my game I just gave it up.
I'm 37 now, and my interest in golf skyrocketed last year during the Masters. I got so involved in the tournament that even my wife started watching. I decided that I really wanted to LEARN to play. So, I got properly fitted for clubs, substituted hybrids for long irons and made sure shafts were fit to my swing. Then I did the best thing I could have done- I called and got lessons. Funny thing though, the pro would never return my calls. I gave it one more shot and happened to talk to a guy I hadn't talked to previously. He told me that he, too, gave lessons and he would be glad to help me if I wanted. Not only did he help, but now we have become good friends that play together (I get my lessons for free now ,too).
So, I guess everything works out, but I wonder where my game would be now if I had started playing at 11.

[rangerat]

I first played golf at age 29 and have been playing for about 8 years now. I feel that I would not have the same passion for the game if I had started playing when I was younger. I see some of my playing partners who have been playing since they were kids and they don't seem to have the passion for the game the way I do. In fact, I am now better than most of these guys including the one who talked me into playing to begin with.

[Awsi Dooger]

I turn 25 in February so I suppose some of you would still consider me young.

You should print that sentence and set it aside for a few decades. You'll wonder how you ever typed it.

Anyway, I regret not playing more in my mid 20s through about 40. In those years I basically played during summer and Christmas only, while on vacation. Otherwise I was acclimating myself to Las Vegas when it was still a great town, the old player-friendly simple casinos all over the place, and 15 minutes taking you anywhere in mid afternoon. I played a ton of golf from about 9 years old through 24, before moving to Las Vegas. Now in my late 40s my natural strength is noticeably lessened and the ball doesn't explode off the clubface anymore. Technology doesn't pretend to substitute for youth and flexibility. My advice would be for guys in those age brackets to get out there and play. Don't look at guys on the senior tour and think it will apply to you, maintaining level at that age. I'm sure there will be guys here who will defensively claim they are playing better than ever in their 50s. Laughably irrelevant. That's hardly the betting favorite.

[ks8829]

I started playing when I was 27 years old and 24 years later at age 51 I am playing my best golf, yes, I wished I played golf earlier but I was introduced to the game in high school and took up the game serious when I was 27.

I know that golf takes years to develop the skills with practice and playing time under your belt.

My son was introduced to golf at 4 years old and took about 50 group lessons with his friends at age 7, now my daughter is 8 years and she has taken up the game through the First Tee program in our area.

I play once or twice a week and always invited my son out to play but he finds reason for not going out, we went out to the driving range about 3 weeks ago.

I had him read some of the treads and will have him read other comments. thanks for sharing your experiences.

[GaijinGolfer]

I wish I would have picked up golf when I was younger and I wish that when I started playing golf at age 20 that I would have stuck with it instead of hanging up my clubs for 8 years.
Its not that big of a deal though. Golf for me is a hobby. I have absolutely no plans of ever going pro or even playing in any amateur tournaments, so its not as if Im worried about missing my prime as a golfer.

[Beantown Beancounter]

my dad had always tried to push me to take up the game, I would play in spurts but never actually took up the game seriously since this past year. The only regret I have of not playing when I was younger is that I missed out on some great quality time with my dad.

[Quinn07]

I was lucky enough when I was younger to play golf in the summer, what i regret is not playing more when I was younger and sticking with it. I would love to know how far I could have taken it...but hey that's life...guess I will have to make a push to become a professional at 28.

[JonnyGolf]

Was he stellar back then or just mediocre?

We went to school at Long Beach Wilson, which had a decent segment of upper middle class students who would have been exposed to golf. So, there had been some talent at the school over the years. He was described as "the finest golfer to ever come through this program." I think he did really well in the CIF championships, too.

So, he was always a standout player that was looked upon as "special".

[Paradigm]

I wish I would have taken golf more seriously when I was younger. I recently saw a kid at the driving range who was 14 years old (been playing since he was 11) and this kid could hit the ball consistently and accurately every time. Definately a low-handicapper and soon to be a scratch golfer by my age.

[steviesouthpaw]

Couldn't agree more. I think about this all the time. When I was younger it was all baseball and hoops. My body needed the faster sports, I couldn't slow down enough to learn the golf swing. Better to have found it than not I guess. I may have discouraged myself beyond repair if I tried to learn before I was ready. Gotta look at it that way.

[bogeyhitter25]

I just picked golf up a little after my 14th birthday. That's a little more than a year. I wish I started when I was 7 or 8. I'd probably be in the single digits now.

[wedge player]

I turn 25 in February so I suppose some of you would still consider me young. But when I look around at the opportunities available to young golfers, that just arent there for working stiffs like most of us it makes me wanna throw up. Whats worse is that to a certain extent at least I KNEW about these things when I was a kid. I remember my buddies talking about playing one of our local courses in tampa for half off after 3 when they got out of school, and and additional half off for being a student. Thats $9 bucks a round at a pretty decent Robert Trent Jones course!

i do ive played two years and down to a 5 i wish i coulda played in high school

[MI Rob]

I wish i would have started playing younger all the time. I started almost a year ago.

[mirv]

absolutely. that's a thought that crosses my mind at least once or twice a week, even moreso recently. my dad took me golfing and even had a little beginner set for me when i was about 6 or 7 years old, and i enjoyed it, but i just wasn't supremely into it. didn't have the inclination to really *learn* the game. i was way more into nintendo. curse you, nintendo!

i ended up finally getting into the game seriously when i was 23, so at least i wasn't super late with it. just a decade or so. :P

[automatic31]

my dad!

[Brakkus]

I have to say I have these regrets about quite a few sports,but then I thought about it I actually regret that the internet wasn't more readily available when I was younger bec ause it's full of free coaching in a way.Particulary Golf which has more instruction on proper mechanics than any other sport I have played.

I mean when I was younger because of my smallish size I just didn't stand out athletically,so I remember just the basic coaching you get in a PE lesson.It's only those blessed few who got one on one coaching.

As for Golf everything that I know now is mainly because of sites on the web.This knowledge wasn't in my reach in my younger years,only if you're parents could afford to send you to Golf lessons.I played on lots of pitch and putt courses and always loved it but dropped it in my 20's so yeah I do regret not sticking with it.

[1dayIllBaPro]

I started when I was 10, but I wish I didn't stop playing it for almost 8-9 years. I had one no to play golf with at that time, so I played soccer, ice hockey, and basketball. Luckily I still remember how to swing...Anyway, I totally change my feels and swing last year, and got better (it was such a really hard time, since I used that swing for all my life)