Adult Beginners

[Bug Bunny]

I'm 34 and started playing a few months ago. I played a lil with a friend a couple years ago but never with anyone who even remotely knew what they were doing. After playing in a 4th of July Scramble with another couple, I've been hooked. I've gotten 5 lessons. Still trying to cure my driver slice. Most days I can play just over bogey golf.

[allin]

I started playing in my 30s fairly regularly, even practiced. Never better than maybe a 22 handicap. Except for being a decent 800 meter runner, not a great athlete. Had a closed head injury at 24, (equivalent to a small stroke). After nearly 20 years I finally started steady improvement after I turned 50. Before turning 50 I spent many hours of practice trying to maximize everything, shoulder turn,lag, x factor, spin etc. I finally really began improving when I changed my focus to making sure things happen in the right order (with rythym). I have improved 2-3 strokes a year for the past 3 years after turning 50. Recently had 5 birdies in a round and shot 76 a personal best, and it really should have been lower, tensed up the last couple of holes and gave away 2-3 shots. I Still put myself in places I can't recover from sometimes but I think I will finally make single digits in the next year or two.

[Ash1974]

I am 35 this December and started 2 years ago, never been into golf all my life then got the bug, shame really as my dad has been a teaching pro all my life and tried to get me into golf form a young age but I was never interested.

Anyway best advice he gave me as an adult learner was to get lessons and custom fit clubs from day 1 as at 33 I did not need any bad habits as they are harder to work out at this age.

So I had some lesson from a pro my dad sent me too (dad lives mile away from me so not practical all the time) he fitted me for my clubs and away I went.

I had about 5 lesson form this guy and now I just get on with it, if I get any issues I go see my dad and he ALWAYS fixes them.

After two years and 47 rounds I am off 16.8 which isn’t bad, I broke 100 and 90 in one round when I was off 28 at the end of the 1st year and there was no stopping me after that.

I now shoot 85-89 most weeks with the odd 90-95 now and then but our course plays a SSS of 74 on a 70 handicap.

I always said I will be happy with bogey golf at my age but when I play bogey golf I normally end up with as many pars as double bogies so that evens it out. I guess over time more pars will creep in and the doubles will become single bogey's which will = breaking 80, then I will be a happy man for ever and enjoy my golf even more.

[10footer4bird]

I know a guy who never picked up a club until he was around 30. Was a 25 Handicap his first year. By year 3 he was and still is 20 years later a 0-4.

[herrb]

I'm 41. I am not old.

Started golf a month or so ago. Went visiting a friend in Edinburgh who took us to a driving range and then to Edinburgh's Bruntsfield pitch and put course . Got hooked. Immediately on return I sorted out the first few golf lessons for my girlfriend and me. On ye olde internet I got myself a set of MX-950 + wedges and a stand bag. Borrowed a Wilson-Staff putter of a friend and might actually get my own putter some time soon.

I actually spent two hours and a half this evening on the driving range and chipping and putting in beautiful late summer weather. Boy was this relaxing! And I don't really play. Still just practising and enjoying that very very much.

Golf here in Germany tends to have a considerable air of snobbery about it. But the more often I go to practise the more down to earth people (genuinely interested in the sport) I meet.

I am glad I started it.

Cheers,
Joerg

[Howie411]

I'm 31, I took golf lessons when I was about 15, but never really continued on. Recently I started going to the driving range a lot, but I'm thinking of taking some lessons, I got a bunch of co-workers (age 30sh) that just picked it up too.

[retexan599]

I started playing golf when I was about age 55 and I am now 72. For most of those years I settled for a low to mid-90's score and felt I was getting good fun out of it. I decided this year that I would try to organize my game approach with more focused practices, keeping notes, bought a quality driver, got new grips appropriate for my hands, chose a single ball to play instead of a recycled mixture, etc. It has helped me enjoy the game a lot more this year and my scores are settling in to upper 80's so I feel there is good progress. I am looking forward to the cooler weather here in Houston so I can play more often. I guess my point is that one is never too old to start and to make improvements.