When are you ready for the course?

[zooyuka]

I've recently decided to pick up the game of golf. I purchased a new set of clubs last week and took them to the driving range. All considering I did OK for my first time out there. I know I will still be a struggling golfer when I first hit the course, but at what point should I move from the range to the course?

[Scrambled]

I would personally say when you can consistently hit the ball well enough so you don't hold anyone up or cause havoc on the course :-) but that's just me :-D

[zooyuka]

Originally Posted by Scrambled

I would personally say when you can consistently hit the ball well enough so you don't hold anyone up or cause havoc on the course but that's just me

Thats kind of what I was thinking, but what defines consistent enough?

[Yukari]

As long as you don't hold anyone up, you are fine.

The first time I picked up a golf club was on a course with my parents.  I am athletic enough and have a good hand-eye coordination where I could make a solid contact most of the time, so I didn't hold anyone up.

I never went to a driving range until two years ago when I got serious in trying to improve my game.  Now I usually shoot in mid 70's to low 80's, with some blow up rounds in low 90's (I have no idea why that happen )

[bamagrad03]

Originally Posted by zooyuka

I've recently decided to pick up the game of golf. I purchased a new set of clubs last week and took them to the driving range. All considering I did OK for my first time out there. I know I will still be a struggling golfer when I first hit the course, but at what point should I move from the range to the course?

What are your goals in golf? I picked up golf 3 weeks ago, and hit the driving range about 5-6 times per week. I feel like I'm nowhere NEAR ready for the course. But I have fairly lofty goals for what I want my golf game to be. So I kind of want a hold of it before I get out on the course.

But for most folks, I think too much time practicing may not offer them the "end goal" fun they would need to keep going. So for them, getting on the course is paramount to really nailing things down on the range.

As others have already echoed, you want some consistency. At least enough that you're not holding up the entire course on a Saturday. But other than that, I think it's up to you to decide when you're ready - based on what you want to get out of golf.

[Scrambled]

Thats kind of what I was thinking, but what defines consistent enough?

Hmmm Id say as long as you are not holding anyone up your ok maybe hit the ball at least 150 yards most of the time wouldn't be a bad idea :banana:

[SloverUT]

Anytime you want to as long as you are hitting the ball decently well.  When I first started going to the course I used a few simple rules to make sure I didn't hold up play.

I limited myself to 1 mulligan per 9 holes of play:  When I play with my friends who are just starting out like myself they want to re-hit 6-7 drives until they land a good shot.  That takes a lot of time on the course and holds up play.

I maximize my score to be triple bogey or +3:  Basically, if I am playing a par 4 and I don't have it in the hole by the 7th stroke, I pick it up and move on to the next hole.

If you are struggling, let people play through and gather your thoughts.  When I first started going to the course, if it was busy, I would get real amped up and worry so much about speed of play that I couldn't focus on my game.  As long as you are keeping up with the group in front of you, then you should be fine!

[zooyuka]

Originally Posted by SloverUT

Anytime you want to as long as you are hitting the ball decently well.  When I first started going to the course I used a few simple rules to make sure I didn't hold up play.

I limited myself to 1 mulligan per 9 holes of play:  When I play with my friends who are just starting out like myself they want to re-hit 6-7 drives until they land a good shot.  That takes a lot of time on the course and holds up play.

I maximize my score to be triple bogey or +3:  Basically, if I am playing a par 4 and I don't have it in the hole by the 7th stroke, I pick it up and move on to the next hole.

If you are struggling, let people play through and gather your thoughts.  When I first started going to the course, if it was busy, I would get real amped up and worry so much about speed of play that I couldn't focus on my game.  As long as you are keeping up with the group in front of you, then you should be fine!

Thanks for all the tips. I probably will take a similar approact to this. I plan on spending plenty of time at the range before I even consider going out there anyway.