Required proficiency for pitch-and-putt?

[SafeBogey]

Hello everyone,

An acquaintance of mine has asked me to introduce him to golf. I thought I would start by bringing him to the pitch-and-putt course, but I thought that it would be better for him first to acquire some basic level of proficiency, such as being able to hit the ball with the club most of the time. My question is, when would it be acceptable for someone to play the pitch-and-putt course? It's just an average pitch-and-putt course, there are people hacking around it all the time, but just how bad is a complete beginner?

[dkolo]

Hello everyone,

An acquaintance of mine has asked me to introduce him to golf. I thought I would start by bringing him to the pitch-and-putt course, but I thought that it would be better for him first to acquire some basic level of proficiency, such as being able to hit the ball with the club most of the time. My question is, when would it be acceptable for someone to play the pitch-and-putt course? It's just an average pitch-and-putt course, there are people hacking around it all the time, but just how bad is a complete beginner?

I've seen women hit driver on 115 yard par 3s at pitch and putt and not even get to the green. As long as you're mindful of pace, it doesn't really matter how good you are.

[SafeBogey]

I've seen women hit driver on 115 yard par 3s at pitch and putt and not even get to the green. As long as you're mindful of pace, it doesn't really matter how good you are.

Well, at least they're advancing the ball in some way. We're talking about someone who's barely held a club before. He could just hack at the ball a couple of times on each hole and then pick up, but that wouldn't be much fun for either of us. Can complete beginners actually hit the ball consistently?

[dkolo]

Well, at least they're advancing the ball in some way. We're talking about someone who's barely held a club before. He could just hack at the ball a couple of times on each hole and then pick up, but that wouldn't be much fun for either of us. Can complete beginners actually hit the ball consistently?

It varies by person, obviously. It would be good to at least hit the range first.

[meenman]

They have to learn somewhere and it would definitely be better than a full length course the first time. Take him out to the range once and all should be good.

Too much range time for newbies is overrated. I hit the range every day for 3 months before I played my first round and the range could do little to prepare me for that day.

[SafeBogey]

That sounds like a good idea. However, since the range here is absurdly expensive, I'll see what I can teach him in the park with a club and some rubber practice balls. Then maybe some putting on a carpet, and then we'll risk the pitch-and-putt.

[treebound]

Potentially worse than a 100 yard drive is hitting the ball 200 yards on a 150 yard hole into a group on the next tee. Try hitting a few balls in the yard to pitch and chip to help the friend get a feel for the clubs. Then take a mid-iron and a few dozen thrift store balls out to a vacant field or business park back lot to get a feel for full swings (this way with cheap balls you won't mind losing a few of them). Then go play and highlight a few etticute(sp?) rules as you go (replace divots, replace the flagstick when done, wait for the group ahead to clear the green before hitting up to the green, just a few to help the friend get the basics down.

[dkolo]

Potentially worse than a 100 yard drive is hitting the ball 200 yards on a 150 yard hole into a group on the next tee.

Try hitting a few balls in the yard to pitch and chip to help the friend get a feel for the clubs. Then take a mid-iron and a few dozen thrift store balls out to a vacant field or business park back lot to get a feel for full swings (this way with cheap balls you won't mind losing a few of them).

Then go play and highlight a few etticute(sp?) rules as you go (replace divots, replace the flagstick when done, wait for the group ahead to clear the green before hitting up to the green, just a few to help the friend get the basics down.

(It's "etiquette," since you seem to be asking)

[treebound]

Thanks, I knew I had it wrong but wasn't sure what was right.

[SafeBogey]

Well, this isn't a par 3 course really. The longest hole is 80 yards, haha. So he'll have a club he couldn't hit much farther than that if he tried.

[dkolo]

Well, this isn't a par 3 course really. The longest hole is 80 yards, haha. So he'll have a club he couldn't hit much farther than that if he tried.

Clearly you've never seen me with a sand wedge in my hand in a greenside bunker. I accept your challenge, haha.