Need some advice for a brand new golfer

[blackxpress]

My wife has decided to take up the grand old game. I intend to get her some lessons very soon before she develops bad habits. In the meantime I have a strategy in mind and would appreciate your input as to whether my idea is a good one. Looking back on my own experience I wish I would've learned the short game first instead of doing like most other amateurs and starting out swinging my driver. I developed so many bad habits early on that it's been a real struggle ever getting below bogey golf.

My wife doesn't even own any clubs yet and I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to buy her a really nice putter and wedge and start her out learning to chip and putt. I'm pretty good at chipping and putting and am relatively certain I can teach her those skills myself. She's in no great hurry to get out on the golf course so I'm thinking it might be good to start out at the practice green and work her up to the point that she can take a full swing with a wedge and then sign her up for lessons. Then we'll let her instructor help us select a full set of clubs for her.

My wife is 57 yrs. old, 5'0" tall, 130 lbs.  Not very athletic although she does have good hand/eye coordination and is a quick learner. She's a very good bowler (she kicks my butt) so she can be good at sports when she puts her mind to it. I don't figure she'll ever be a long ball hitter but if she can get really good inside 100 yds. she should be able to play well enough to enjoy the game.

What say you? Any other advice you could offer? I want to get her started off on the right foot.

[airic31]

I'd recommend to begin with the short game, this is where she'll develop the sense of feel that you need in golf.  It also limit's the times that she'll get discouraged.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Perfect perfect perfect.

Starting out with a putter and wedge she loves will achieve a lot:

- She chooses a putter she likes the feel of and that suits her natural putting swing (make sure she tries mallets as well as blades as one suits a straight putting path and one a curved path)

- She chooses a wedge she feels comfortable with and likes to swing.

- She's not overwhelmed with "what club is what and which do I need for what task" etc

- Her 'scoring' will be good from the very beginning and then as she progresses she'll just need to hit it from further afield which is when you can introduce lower lofted wedges/irons.

- She can practice short game chips and pitches in the garden or somewhere local for free.

- Putting can be done at local practice facilities for free.

- You guys can find a short "pitch and putt" course nearby to get her used to playing on courses and tying in the pitching, chipping and putting together.

- If she decided she doesn't like it you've not wasted money on a full set of clubs.

- You'll be able to enjoy a hobby together.

From there you can add a set of irons as needed, matching wedges as needed, hybrids, woods, driver etc as needed.

For me I wouldn't change the approach you're taking at all.

[Topper]

My wife and I started last year.  I'm 47 and my wife is almost my age and not athletic.  She enjoys (or tolerates...I'm not sure yet) golf as quiet time away from the kids and an opportunity for exercise which she usually hates.  Here's some of what we've learned and maybe our experience will help you.

1.  A few lessons early on really helped just to learn the grip, stance, and general swing instruction.  I would also include some playing lessons to review basic golf etiquette and how to move around the course which can be intimidating.

2.  Recognize that many instructors are devoid of any ability to teach a swing that fits a particular person's physical abilities, natural tendencies, and objectives.  Keep in mind that most PGA instructors have been golfing their entire lives and learned to golf when they were young and (in my opinion) do not have a direct understanding of what it's like to learn this game when people are a lot older.  Be wary if the instructor pulls out his vintage Tiger Woods video collection during a lesson.

3.  Find an instructor that emphasizes simple movements that you and your wife can perform in a relaxed manner to make consistent contact with the ball.  Save the instructors who want to teach you how to make a big shoulder turn and body coil to achieve maximum distance for a later time.

4.  Start with par 3 courses or shorter full-length courses that are easier.  Unless you and your wife really fall in love with the game, play only 9 holes at a time.  There's no point in playing 18 if both of you are frustrated, tire, or bored for the back 9.

5.  Have fun....especially when golfing with your wife. It's easier to "find" time to play golf and buy new equipment when your wife isn't turned off to the game.

[mdl]

I'll agree your plan sounds good.  I'd imagine that even though you say she's in no hurry to get on the course that going to the chipping green with your wife but never getting to actually play a game will get boring after a few months at the most (for both of you).  Are there any pitch and putts with even halfway decent greens around you?  I'm all for spending a few months teaching her how to putt and chip on the practice greens, and hit some wedges on the range, but I'd think for myself at least that it'd be more rewarding eventually to go out and feel the accomplishment of parring a 75 yard par 3 at a pitch and putt.

That would enforce some good practice time for you as well!  Nothing helps scoring like hitting the green with a high percentage of shots with the scoring clubs and being able to get up and down from inside 30 yards!

[blackxpress]

Actually, my local driving range has a very nice Par 3 course. It's a P.B. Dye course and is very challenging. I don't plan to drag it out very long. I'm eager to get out there with her so as soon as she's ready to take a full swing we'll walk down the hill from the range to the Par 3. It's never busy there during the week so she can practice without feeling she's getting in anybody's way.

[Topper]

Quote:

I'd imagine that even though you say she's in no hurry to get on the course that going to the chipping green with your wife but never getting to actually play a game will get boring after a few months at the most (for both of you).

That's an excellent point.  Although we started there, my wife hates the driving range.  She doesn't even take practice swings on the course and laughs at me when I do.  She'd make an excellent "Just Do It" Nike commercial despite not being into sports or exercise in general.  No pace of play issues with her!  Par 3 courses are an excellent alternative.

[WUTiger]

Plan sounds good. Putting "gets the ball rolling" so to speak.

Also, the motion for chip shots and pitch shots is the basic motions of the full swing. Good contact on the abbreviated swing can be brought into building the full swing.

You're right - on Americans especially - wanting to swing the driver. If you go with putting, then short game, then full swing with irons, then par 3 golf, she might get a focus on scoring. After some par 3 golf, you can bring in the driver and woods in month 2.

This is what I did in the past with friends to get them started. I didn't really want to "teach golf without a license," but both persons were in a tight money situation, wouldn't spend on lessons. Hopefully my tips were better than them going out on the course cold and trying to play.

After you show her the very basics, see if there's a good golf clinic in the area - beginners learning together can make it less scary. It goes without saying, get the clinic from someone who can give good individual lessons later on.

[blackxpress]

A clinic sounds like a great idea. Hadn't thought of that. The pro at our home course gives group lessons. I guess I'll leave all that up to her. Don't want to be overbearing and take all the fun out of it for her but she might really enjoy learning in a group environment like that. Thanks for the tip.