Is it too late for me to get seriously into golf?

[JohnGalt]

Thanks so much for all of the responses! To answer some of the responses, I'm pretty lucky because I live literally right next to the city's country club and am a member, so I can go whenever I want and the don't have to worry about any fees. I'd love to learn from my dad, but he is a lawyer and is literally working all the time.  The only free time he gets is spent on going to golf tournaments, the family is even going to one this weekend even though its my mom's birthday haha.  Even though I probably won't get too much time to play with him before he retires i'll go whenever we have a chance....but on the bright side of things he said that he would gladly get me lessons from a pro at the club!

I'm not sure what to do about getting fitted for clubs yet....I have a pretty nice set of clubs because my dad has so many.  Maybe i'll just talk to the pro and see what he thinks.  Everything else aside, i'm off to go play with some of my buddies.  I'll keep yall updated with how it goes!

  Stretch said:

Originally Posted by Stretch

18 is definitely not too late for golf. It is, however, far too early for Objectivism.

I caught this haha....to each his own.

[Blades4me]

When you do get a set of clubs, DO get them fitted for you. The worse the golfer the more they should get fitted for thier set of clubs. Fitting is very important.

Good luck and remember "flog" is golf spelled backwards and we spend time in the "flog" mode.

[artfulgolfer]

Just pick out a set of your Dad's clubs that look and feel good to you and go out and play with your friends, and your Dad. You'll figure it out without lessons and fitting and pre-shot routines for now. There will be time for all that later.  Just pick a precise target, visualize the clubhead moving through the ball towards the target, know that you can make that shot, then let go and let 'er rip.

I started playing golf after my kids started college, in my late 40's. Got down to a 4 in 2 years and a 2 in 4 years, playing twice a week and mostly just practicing chipping and putting. I found a book early on, Extraordinary Golf by Fred Shoemaker, that really helped me gain perspective and learn how to think on the course. All that matters in golf is this shot, right now... forget your score, forget your last shot, forget your last hole, forget what you might shoot if you hit this shot or par this hole... just believe you can hit that little ball exactly where you want to. Focus only on your target and creating your desired shot. Don't try too hard. Let it happen naturally.

Mostly, have fun!

[SamW]

Quote:

I'm not sure what to do about getting fitted for clubs yet....I have a pretty nice set of clubs because my dad has so many.  Maybe i'll just talk to the pro and see what he thinks.  Everything else aside, i'm off to go play with some of my buddies.  I'll keep yall updated with how it goes!

I caught this haha....to each his own.

Asking the pro isn't a bad start, he should point you in the right direction. If you plan to play pretty seriously then I am sure you will change clubs within 2 years if not less anyway as what you start with won't continue to be right for you. Don't be shy of second hand clubs for your first set especially if you are weighing them up against budget new clubs. And don't confuse yourself with buying too many clubs, when you start you won't have the consistency to really see the difference between a 5 and 6 iron, a 1/2 set is okay, I played with a 1/2 set for at least a year and if i was 1 club long on a hole I didn't mind when I was trying to break 95.

18 is a good age to start so is 8 or 80 (if you are fit enough) :)

[JoeSWFF]

Just started and turning 54 on Sat.  I can't use my driver either, super slice, so, I use my irons.  The driver will come along sooner or later. I just go out and have fun doing something I enjoy , what could be better.

[glock35ipsc]

  ND Fan said:

Originally Posted by ND Fan

This is like asking a crack dealer if it's too late to try some rock?

LOL, that's a good one!!

I didn't pick up a club until I was 40.  I am enjoying the game so much I wish I would have started at 20, but I can't change that now.  But I am very glad I did start playing!

[rsamsing]

Who is John Galt?

[rsamsing]

Seriously speaking,

You're dad would probably love to spend time with you playing golf.  A lot of father/son's don't have much in common or share similar interests.  You've found something that you can do together and you can learn a lot from him.  I'm sure he'd like to show you the ropes.  I'm 36 and I wish my dad did play so we could have more to do together.

[sean_miller]

  rsamsing said:

Originally Posted by rsamsing

Who is John Galt?

He's a 40 year old internet veteran posing as an 18 year old newbie golfer.

18 year old kids don't know how to construct complete sentences.

[surfdude]

someone asks:

"Who is John Galt"

Presumably that's an Ayn Rand reference..? Anyway, in either case: whether he's an all-too-rare literate and also polite young man, or an older 'poseur', this person did start an interesting thread!

As in: I started at 53 (and would also like to hear from some other 'late bloomers' out there) and am now in my third season. This is also my first "ball sport" - I never played baseball, football (nor soccer), etc. as a kid - I sailed during the Summers and .. tried to .. run track and field in jr high and participate in gymnastics in high school. Since college I've windsurfed, surfed and now also stand-up paddle occasionally (again: nothing to do with hitting balls around!).

At any rate, to learn I've read a few books (including Tommy Armour; Harvey Pennick), taken a few lessons, watched a few videos (Leadbetter, Phil's, and also Tom Watson's - like that one!), attended a few "short game clinics" at a local course and also went to a 3-day Leadbetter camp last summer. Some people are more 'technical' and some learn better by 'feel' - so try a little of multiple approaches and see what seems to work for you. With the access you say you have to a club and a pro - you should be able to learn and progress very quickly....

Unfortunately I get very little actual on-course time but do get chances to go to a nearby driving range and practice practice practice. Spend most of that time doing target practice with the wedges - starting with the 50-yard sign, then going for the 75 and then for the 100. I can see my progression over time in increasing consistency and accuracy. I know these will always be continuing goals but .. I do enjoy a challenge!!! Next target to start work on = 150.

I've also invested in, or have received as gifts, or made for myself a few swing training aids which I've found extremely helpful. But - as others have cautioned - get lessons first so that you're trying to ingrain the good mechanics and habits!

Yes: my game still sucks and no: I don't really keep score. Yet. My eventual scoring goal is +1 'average' per hole over the course of a round; ie. a 45 (or better, of course) for the 9-hole courses I'm able to get out on. But my near-term "scoring" goals are to.. (1) not lose any balls in a round; then (2) as often as I can, put the ball into the fairway with each tee shot and onto the green with each approach shot (ie. hit my targets).

In fact, my last time out (on a fairly challenging 9-hole) I almost birdied the first two holes (gotta practice that stupid putting more, also!) and ended up with a few pars and mostly bogeys for most of this round, with only 1 "blow-up" hole - but right after which I hit probably my most awesome tee shot so far (I hope!): approx 195 (using a 3H) just left of center on a narrow fairway with nasty rough then water on both sides. I was pretty happy with that, but when we got closer and my fiancee - yes guys: I play golf with my fiancee and I enjoy it!, and I plan to keep playing with her after the "Big M" - and when my fiancee starting jumping up and down all excited for me ... well, that made me feel even better ;-)

[mcfc_nick]

im 19 now, started properly when i was 17 (even though i had a go here and there a bit before) and feel as though im not doing too badly for myself, just keep playing and playing and playing again would be my advice :)

[Dr. Strangeclub]

Calvin Pete didn't start playing until he was in his 20s -- with a fused right elbow and he did plenty okay!  One of the USGA Senior Amateur winners didn't start playing until he was in his late 40s, so it can definitely be done.  Be patient, don't let bad shots get to you (everybody hits 'em), and practice a lot around the practice green.  Little chips and lob shots are just smaller versions of big shots, so practicing them helps all your shots.

[Kieran123]

I wish I had started at 5.

I started at 22, 24 now.

18 is young

[xxsoultonesxx]

I never picked up a club until I was 23. I'm 26 now and I can move the ball around just fine. As with anything, if you have a passion for it, you can learn and excel at golf, at any age.

[Dr. Strangeclub]

That was Calvin Pete's LEFT arm that was broken and never set, not his right.  He couldn't even straighten it all the way, so he was also a short hitter.  (Anybody know why he never played in the US Open?  Surely the Vardon Trophy winner would have had an exemption into the field, but maybe not...)

[JCoop]

  surfdude said:

Originally Posted by surfdude

(snip)

As in: I started at 53 (and would also like to hear from some other 'late bloomers' out there) and am now in my third season.

(snip)

Excellent! I just started and I'm 53. It's really encouraging to see "late bloomers" posting up. I really wish I'd started at a young age but no one in my extended family ever played. Just realized a couple years ago that I had some ability to swing a club (and that it was fun) when a friend invited me to take a whack at a ball off the tee.

I suppose it's too late for me to end up on the Tour but I'm still going to enjoy myself. And from what I've seen so far, I'll be meeting some great people in the process.

[aschroeger]

Technically I've been hacking on and off since I was 16, but I never paid any attention to "how" to play or how to get better till I was 34.... I'll be 35 in August.

[sportsnut]

Well it looks like  I got you all beat for late bloomers, I started last fall at the driving range and this summer took lessons and started playing in late june. I am having a blast and my age is Roger Maris (61 for those that dont know his home run count). I have been involved in some kind of sports activity all my live and have tried almost everything but mostly I was a competition shooter for a lot of those adult years. I highly recommend lessons of some sort, I did it to get myself a leg up starting out so late and it has definitely helped me move to a local executive course with some par 4 holes wit hgood results. Its best to set some short term goals, intermediate goals and long term goals, it helps keep the focus in tune and gives you a reference to track, and this advice works for all activities.

What do I tell myself all the time? relax and enjoy. that also works.