Need advice for fellow beginner golfer...

[green6767]

Well, after a couple years of me playing and having a BLAST with this sport, my dad is finally going to give it a shot. He used to golf when he was a kid, but times have changes as well as the swing and equipment. I told him I wouldn't let him bring out his woods (actually wooden). Haha. So, I've been trying to get him on the right track. Its nice because its a clean slate and he can develop a swing to suit him without developing bad habits like 95% of golfers do when they start. Im not saying he wont, but the fact that maybe I could direct him just a bit to eliminate the common bad habit golfers start with. My question:

I've been looking through the stacks of magazines I have to find articles for him to read up on for a beginner golfer. The problem is, the popular magazines are more for the intermediate/advanced golfer. Not so much for a guy who is learning how to swing a golf club or even learn common terminology.

Does anybody have links, sites, articles to refer that have some good beginner advice? He knows little to nothing about posture, form, etiquette, swing mechanics, equipment, etc. I need a starting block for him. Its a clean canvas and I want to start him right. Thanks!!!

[tmoult]

golf.com is the best. Daves Pelz's vault section has EVERYTHING on short game! The whole sit has thousands of great tips.

[Bowker]

I would strongly recommend purchasing "Golf For Dummies, 3rd edition" by Gary McCord. It tells and easily explains EVERYTHING about golf in general, swing, etiquette, equiptment, fitness, practcing, drills, common mistakes, gamesmenship, scoring, rules, golf on tv, golf on the web, "Golf's 10 Commandments", real life golf stories, "golf speak" (golf glossary).

I was just reading some of the things out of the table of contents.

Please check out this book! It has everything you would want to know about golf and more. Its humorous in my opinion as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Golf-Dummies-G..._sim_d_title_1

thats the link for Amazon.


Also check out this website- www.golflink.com .
You can sign up for a 1 year free trial and it has hundreds of videos, articles, and other links.

Hope this helped!! and good luck to you father!

[green6767]

Bowker, thanks for the tip! I am a member of golflink and I will be mentioning that site to him. Excellent link, even for the advanced golfer! I hadn't heard about the book though. I will definitely check it out. Sounds like a great source for beginners to get started.

[Bignose]

Let me just echo that McCord's Golf for Dummies is excellent.

Don't discount purchasing him a lesson or two with your favorite local pro, too. Not that I am saying that anything will definately happen, but sometimes family members teaching each other lead to some friction, and having an outside source can be good. Also, there are many different ways to skin a cat.. errr.. swing a golf club, and the way you want to teach your father may not be the best way for him. An outside teacher may be able to better work with him and his abilities.

Other good beginner books are Julius Richardson's Better Golf , and Hogan's Five Lessons , though it is worth nothing that Richardson and Hogan advocate two fairly different styles of hitting a golf ball. Neither one is fundamentally better than the other, both methods can hit a golf ball long and hard and accurately. There are many others good books out there, a trip to the library should reap vast rewards -- one of the many different kinds of books and styles should jive with your dad.

[green6767]

Well, looks like two votes for the "Golf for Dummies" so far. I did think about lessons, but not sure if even those are too advanced for him right now??? Would they teach him the very basics...setup, grip, basic swing mechanics? Im sure they would, Im just not positive as I haven't taken a lesson. Im more of a visual learner and so is he. We would both rather "watch" or "read" to learn something.

He's a very patient, strong willed man. In his younger days, he practiced Japanese Karate for for 17 years so he knows how long you have to work at something to achieve your goals. He sais, "If I can do Karate, I can do this"...I chuckled.

I told him he has no idea what he's getting into...haha. (Addiction)

I will pass on all the advice and really take into consideration a lesson or two to get him on the right track.

[tm22721]

With the amount of effort and expense I have put in for the past 3 1/2 years I could have gotten another college degree. I am still pretty far away from golf graduation, however.

It's like trying to peel an onion, there are many layers. And moments that will could bring you to tears.

[Shindig]

Well, looks like two votes for the "Golf for Dummies" so far. I did think about lessons, but not sure if even those are too advanced for him right now??? Would they teach him the very basics...setup, grip, basic swing mechanics? Im sure they would, Im just not positive as I haven't taken a lesson. Im more of a visual learner and so is he. We would both rather "watch" or "read" to learn something.

The lessons won't be too advanced for him unless the pro is giving the same lesson to everyone. Don't get group lessons and don't take a classroom lesson. If the pro gives one-size-fits-all lessons, find someone else. The pro I take lessons from has a student who is 6 years old. I don't think he teaches her the same things he teaches to the single-digit handicappers who go to him for lessons.

[dirtfrmr]

How do you prepare for golf school?

Going in 6 weeks

[Bowker]

Well, looks like two votes for the "Golf for Dummies" so far. I did think about lessons, but not sure if even those are too advanced for him right now??? Would they teach him the very basics...setup, grip, basic swing mechanics? Im sure they would, Im just not positive as I haven't taken a lesson. Im more of a visual learner and so is he. We would both rather "watch" or "read" to learn something.

Glad to help with the book suggestions.

I agree with the lessons. Most pros, in a private lesson, will teach you anything you want to know. After all, you're paying for it, shouldn't you get what you want? It's great that you say he's patient, he will need, as I'm sure you already know. Good luck.

[green6767]

When I got into golf, I had no idea how much of an actual science it can be. It has taught me many things including how to harness my patience level. Im sure he will love the sport once he gets passed the "beginner frustration" that everyone of us has/or still is going through. It will be a great experience and Im looking forward to some warm weather!