Getting Spouse Into Golf?

[g-funk13]

My wife has become mildly interested in golf since we met. I have taught her a little, and she has enjoyed the few holes she has played.

Who out there has golfed with their spouse? Who has enjoyed it?

I really want to try and get my wife into golf. Do you have any advice for me regarding things to try, and things to avoid? Gimme the straight dope, people. . . don't sugar cote it!

[Fourputt]

My wife has become mildly interested in golf since we met. I have taught her a little, and she has enjoyed the few holes she has played.

What to avoid... don't even try to teach her how to play. Buy her a set of lessons, then step back and shut up. A competent instructor will will tell you the same thing. When my wife took lessons, the first thing the LPGA pro told her was "Don't let your husband tell you anything." It may be cliche, but a lot of divorces have been sparked by husbands trying to teach golf to their wives.

And yes, I enjoy playing golf with my wife. We have a good time together, and even though her skills are on the weak side, I bite my tongue and stay silent unless she asks for help (rarely).

[NM Golf]

I will probably get dinged fo this but I wouldn't play with my wife unless she was a very skilled golfer. I mean I am sure I sound like a big male chauvenist pig but I cannot stand playing with the average female golfer. They are just not very good and can't hit the ball far enough. I guess if my wife was an ex college player or professional of some sort I would tolerate it, possibly even enjoy it.

On the other hand I go to the course a lot of the time to get away from her!

What was it Lee Trevino said to David Feherty? Something like "I would rather sleep with you than play golf with my wife." Well I second that.

Sorry! Just being honest!

[flap]

I play with the Mrs quite often and we take numerous golf trips all year long.I got her hooked by putting her into the Pinehurst golf school for a week.Now I have a golf partner year round snow or rain.

[golfchief]

I enjoy golfing with my wife, I still play with the guys and she plays with the girls. Only rule for this to work is don't try giving her lessons,unless she asks how to hit a shot. Send her to a good teacher and you'll be happy with your partner.

[Shindig]

I will probably get dinged fo this but I wouldn't play with my wife unless she was a very skilled golfer. I mean I am sure I sound like a big male chauvenist pig but I cannot stand playing with the average female golfer. They are just not very good and can't hit the ball far enough. I guess if my wife was an ex college player or professional of some sort I would tolerate it, possibly even enjoy it.

Seriously. If I were playing at a course where slow play wasn't the order of the day, some of the female players would probably get to me. But as it is, they keep up with the (slow) pace of play at LA public courses.

What I can't stand is when their husbands try to correct them after the first mis-swing during a round. Or even worse, every other guy playing. On the other hand, one of my most enjoyable random partners was a girl. She and her boyfriend were playing, both from the white tees. She shot in the 70s, he ... didn't.

[TommyD69]

I got a set of golf clubs for my wife.......


Good trade huh??????

[Jeepthrills]

My wife has been my partner on our league for almost 10 years. We also play a few rounds together throughout the Summer. This year we probably got in about 8-10 on top of the league.

I like it because it gives me an extra round each week where I don't feel bad that I'm out having fun while my wife and kids are at home.

[Fourputt]

I will probably get dinged fo this but I wouldn't play with my wife unless she was a very skilled golfer. I mean I am sure I sound like a big male chauvenist pig but I cannot stand playing with the average female golfer. They are just not very good and can't hit the ball far enough. I guess if my wife was an ex college player or professional of some sort I would tolerate it, possibly even enjoy it.

I play often with a young (early 20's) woman who I can't even come close to competing with. Her handicap from the mid (same ones I play) tees on my home course is +1.8 versus my -13.2

. She qualified this year for the US Women's Open, she played in the US Amateur Public Links too. If you ever played with Lynette, you be the one who had to keep up... I've played with several women who were fully capable of beating me on any given day, and often did, even when I was playing to better than a 10.

[Norm66]

My wife golfs with me occasionally. She really enjoys the local par-3 course because her lack of distance doesn't show nearly as much as on the "Big Boy Courses". But she also likes to play on the regulation courses and when we do, we just play scramble rules so she gets to hit all the shots without feeling the frustration of taking 6 shots just to get to the green. A friend of mine told me early on not to try to teach her myself. She's had a couple lessons and will take some more this Spring so hopefully she'll improve this year.

To be honest though, I don't want to play with her all the time. Sometimes it's good to get out by myself or with buddies and not have to worry about the wife.

[NM Golf]

I play often with a young (early 20's) woman who I can't even come close to competing with. Her handicap from the mid (same ones I play) tees on my home course is +1.8 versus my -13.2

I have played a few times with a very talented female pro from a local course. She is very good, and carried a scratch handicap before turning pro. She gives me a run for my money. I enjoy playing with her as her skills are superior to most women (and men for that matter).

Don't get me wrong, I am not some elitist who won't play with anyone but great golfers. I play every weekend with a 15 handicap. And play often with people who score in the 90's. I just cannot stand to play with people who cannot hit the ball more than 100-150 yards at a time and that score consistantly in the 100's. In my experience a lot women who play golf fall into this category. What I am saying is, its not really a gender thing its an ability thing. It just seems to me that a higher percentage of women are not very good.

[Shindig]

What I am saying is, its not really a gender thing its an ability thing. It just seems to me that a higher percentage of women are not very good.

This is a real fault with where the forward tees are, I bet. In many non-resort courses I've seen, the forward tees are just ten or twenty yards ahead of the white tees, and long par-4s are relabeled as par-5s. I feel that if the hole is a 430-yard par-4 from the white tees, it should be maybe a 380-yard par-4 from the red tees, not a 415-yard par-5 from the red tees.

In short, what's up with the tee markers that short hitters can't play a significantly easier course? By contrast, I've seen "kids tees" on some courses that are a good 200 yards into the hole. It was a 515-yard par-5 for me, it was a 320-yard hole for whoever was playing from those (presumably kids or the severely distance challenged).

[meenman]

my wife decided to take it up right after i did (some fear of becoming a *golf widow*) - for the most part its ok - she just gets frustrated much easier than i do - she needs to realize it takes time to keep up with the vets

[ChvyKc]

my wife decided to take it up right after i did (some fear of becoming a *golf widow*) - for the most part its ok - she just gets frustrated much easier than i do - she needs to realize it takes time to keep up with the vets

Same here. I have recently started playing golf seriously and my wife has shown some interest in it. She is only able to drive it about 80-100 yards right now so she gets frustrated when I'm knocking them out there a lot further. I try to tell her that I didn't just pick up a club and hit it that far. It took me a while to figure out how to just make contact with the ball correctly.

I have a great time with my wife though. She sometimes comes along to the course when I am playing by myself. She drives the cart and we have a great time. I like it because I get to practice some shots that you just can't do on a driving range and she likes it because she gets to make fun of all my bad shots (and there is a lot of them )

[Roody]

My wife plays about 3-4 times a year. She's actually pretty good off the tee. She's hit her drives anywhere between 150-175 yards. It's off the ground where her game is a bit shakey.

I'm hoping she'll play more where eventually I'll be able to convince her to go on full-blown golf vacations with me. Right now her attitude is if the golf course costs too much to play, it's not worth it for her to go out there and hack it up. For me to get her to go on a real golf vacation, she has to get good enough where she doesn't mind paying higher prices to play better courses.

[flap]

Good story;About 4 years ago it is a real foggy day at Bethpage Black.You can not see down #1 so guys are standing around waiting to tee off.I go over to the starter and ask whats up and he says no one wants to go cause of the fog so i tell him Move me up and I will go now.Well the guy says would you mind playing with this young lady?I said no problem.Well he shouts out I need 2 more to play with this gentleman and young lady right now any takers? Well sure enough no one wanted to move up to play with a women on the Black in the fog no less so off we go first off on the Black as a twosome.Make a long story short she was the # 1 player on the UCLA ladies golf team and from the whites shot 71 and kicked my ass but we had a blast and played in under 4 hours.

[Parker0065]

It would be awesome for me if I ever could get my wife interested in golf but I'm not holding my breath. We have been together for almost 15 years and I've got her to go to the driving range once in that time frame and she said she just isn't interested. Lucky for me my 10 year old son is big into the game and we play 2 to 3 times a week when possible.


Maybe 20 years from now when I retire I can convince my wife to take up the game!

[powertrip240]

My girlfriend wanted to go to the driving range with me one day to try her hand at golf. For someone who had never touched a club before, she actually did quite well. We've gone to the range a couple times now, and she really enjoyed it, so I decided to buy her a cheap set of clubs so she can go golfing with me. we haven't played a round yet, as she has a very busy schedule, but we are looking forward to it. My buddies say I screwed up by getting her involved with golf. They say golf is an excuse to get away from her!! I guess I will see if they are right after our first round!!

Now as far as golfing with the wife, I don't think she'd get along with my girlfriend............ just kidding!!!