Beginner

[tndave]

I am 50 and just getting started playing golf. I have been reading around on the web a bit & I have really enjoyed watching the Denis Pugh videos on youtube. I picked up a set of used irons and a bag of balls to practice swinging here at home. I read a lot, but trying to figure out what to read on golf is a bit overwhelming. What book(s) would you recommend for an old beginner like myself?

Thanks!!

DD

[ochmude]

Five Lessons by Ben Hogan is a great book for beginners, I think.  It covers the basics and is written in a very non-technical style.

[tndave]

Thanks!! I will order it.

[JCoop]

Welcome to the game! I'm 53 and have just started as well - have played a total of 4 times now and it's a great sport!

I've taken a few lessons and will be taking a few more. I've also learned a fair amount just watching the pros on television. Paying careful attention to stance, posture, etc, is very enlightening. I also hit just about every day in my field.

[tndave]

Hey JCoop,

Thanks for the encouragement! I have been lobbing balls at an open 12x12 shop door from about 30 yds away & at about a 30 degree angle with a PW. I’ve gotten to where I can put about 50% thru the door. Finally yesterday I found time to go to a range for the first time and hit a bucket of balls with a 9 iron & found on a full swing I slice a lot of them. So last night I watched some youtube & this morning worked on my grip hitting plastic balls at full swing & I think I have improved a lot. I can hardly wait to get back to the range to test my new knowledge full tilt. I still have a problem with consistency in what I will call depth…hitting the top of the ball or digging too far under it.

You are lucky to have a field to practice in. I have 10 acres here, but I don’t want a horse choking on a golf ball LOL. I will come up with some sort of hitting range here as well as a putting green…may take some time, but I’ve been bitten by the bug pretty hard.