sid77

Everyone I met at the club last night seemed really friendly. They did give me an official copy of the rules so that has gone straight in my bag. Don't get me wrong I know the rules of golf, its just the finer points which I will struggle with. I'll report back with an update after my round !

Some of you might have seen my earlier posts. I started playing the game April 07, in the last 12 months I've been playing with my girlfriend mainly (who started at the same time). We've both had lessons with a local PGA Pro. Personally I haven't played as much as I would like due to reliance on my girlfriend to come with me. Don't get me wrong she loves the game but hates practicing. The other week she said 'I don't see the point in going to the range!'. Anyway last night we both joined our local golf club. Memberships fees were cheap (£85 for a year). This entitles me to play in the competitions every week, gain an official handicap and obviously meet and play with other players who are serious about the game. I can't play in any competitions until I have an official handicap. They have told me I need to play on average 3 rounds of 18 until I get my handicap. so this Sunday I'm teeing off in a fourball and I'm quite nervous to say the least! I'm not a bad player by any means considering I've been playing for a year. I just hope I don't choke on Sunday and shoot the worst score ever !!

The best thing about golf is the solitary nature of it. Yes you can play with others but you don't need 10 other "players" to make a game. Just book your tee time, grab your clubs and off you go.

thanks ! It could have been lower but a few dodgy chips and putts!

I've taken 10 lessons since I started playing golf April last year. Every now and again I will play 18 with 3 other lads, they haven't had a single lesson and boy can you tell ! Its quite funny watching them set up to each shot exactly the same way, club way over the top on the back swing and loads of other suicide faults. Of course I'm not brilliant at the game but I do have a sound setup and understand the fundamentals to a good swing. Of course I never say anything to them but have to giggle when I see them making the same mistakes over and over. Its the same watching other people playing the same way. Usually a group of older players who have had the same swing faults for 30+ years. I had about 4 lessons before I even attempted 18. Some people I guess are happy to hack their way around with no idea how to swing the club properly. Each to their own I guess......

ok wow you might think but im over the moon. Started playing this game with my girlfriend April 07. Never picked a club up in my life before. In fairness I haven't played as much as I would like because I need a regular golf buddy. The golf bug has got my more than my girlfriend so I dont play as much as I want. We didn't play at all in the Winter last year in the UK cos it was absolutely dreadful, heavy rain for months. Anyway to cut a long story short we started to play again around March and I've just come back from Florida. I shot 96 at Southern Dunes in Orlando. Think the yardage was just under 6000. My lowest score back home was 108. To be honest I never realised I was on for a sub 100 round because I never count the score until I've finished. I've been determined to break 100 for a while and could feel my game was ready for it. I feel so much confident now. It feels like my swing is coming together and its happening much more naturally. I can concentrate more on enjoying the game and playing the course rather than all the technical stuff.

The result, my very first broken club ! Happened on my 2nd shot on a Par 4. My ball landed right near a tree which meant my downswing was near the tree. I should have just chipped it out but I got clever and thought to myself "I can stop my follow through after contact". Well momentum got the better of me and I wrapped it round the tree ! Luckily my course has the same 6 iron (2nd hand) which I can buy for £20 so its not all bad.

"The Greatest Game Ever Played" written by Mark Frost. He talks about the early origins of the game in the UK and USA. I bought this whilst holidaying in Florida last week and I couldn't put it down. A truly fantastic read, highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Game-.../dp/0786869208

Well I shot 108 (equalling my best so far), I holed 43 putts. I 3 putted three times. Rest were 2 putts and one 1 putt. But for a few silly shots, lack of concentration and some dodgy chipping and putting I could have broke 100. First hole I shot 9 (par 4) but that was because I had first tee jitters and a group behind me watching. I've still haven't conquered that fear ! I'm sure once I become more comfortable with my swing then it will go away. Once I got into the round, especially from the 8th things started to improve. During my last lesson my instructor said my swing was coming in too steep and thats why I was hitting fat shots. He got me swinging the club on a shallower plane. So I was connecting with the ball better and getting it up in the air more often. I was hitting the Driver good today and my 2nd/3rd shots into the green were good as well. My short game let me down but hey, I haven't practised that much yet. I'm too busy trying to get the ball to the green in the first place !! Once I'm happy with my long game I'll hit the range and drill chipping and putting. When I'm on the course I always add one shot onto the par of each hole. I play par 3's as par 4's, par 4's as par 5's & par 5's as par 6's. I know I'm not going to sink a birdie (unless I get really lucky). I have a below 50% chance of a par normally but a +65% chance of a bogey. I figure if I bogey every hole then I would shoot an 88. I would be over the moon to shoot 88. By increasing the par of each hole it helps me play more conservatively which in turns helps me achieve better scores. I'm off to Florida tomorrow for lots of golf so I'll not be back for 2 weeks. I'll let you know how I get on. My goal is to break 100 whilst I'm away !!

Well I work all week so don't get the time then. I've play once a week, sometimes twice (at the weekends) but its mostly once a week. I would love to play more often but don't get the chance unfortunately. I'm off tomorrow so I'm doing 18 in the morning. By analysing my scorecard if I don't 3 putt too often and turn a few 7's in 5's I should break 100. I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.

I took the game up in April. The main course I play on has a 1500 yard 9 holes (7 par 3's and 2 par 4's - total par 29). There is also an full regulation 18 hole Par 70. I also sometimes play another 9 holes course, slightly longer - 2589 yards Par 35. I've played most my golf on the short 9 holer, my best is 42. My worst is 52 (when I first started). I've played 5 rounds on the 18, my best is 108 and my worst is 115. I've had about 10 lessons so far with the local pro and this has paid dividends, its really helped me understand what I need to do. So considering I've only been playing since April and before that I've never even picked up a club. My best on the 18 is 108? How do you think I'm doing? Personally I think +38 is respectible, I'm averaging a double bogey on every hole. Myself and my girlfriend go to Florida this Saturday, we are taking our clubs with us and intend to play lots of golf !! Can't wait.

I knew I was probably wrong and coming from a 2 handicapper I won't disagree.

Hey Shadow, myself and my girlfriend were in the exact same position as you a few months ago. Here are some tips which might help you. 1. Take some lessons, even one will help you understand what you need to do to hit the dam ball. 2. Don't splash out on expensive clubs before you decide you want to play it more. Golf sounds good in theory, but its a cruel game and much harder than it looks. 3. Try and play when the course is quiet, ask in the pro shop what the last tee time for the day is and go with that. Nothing worse than teeing off with an audience when your playing for the first time. 4. Don't bother with a driver, in fact forget woods altogether. If its a short par 3 course then 5I - SW should be all you need. 5. Have fun and don't bother counting your score, it doesn't matter at this stage.

I could be wrong here but my instructor told me (for a right hander) a slight draw on every shot is an indication of a well struck shot. It means your coming through the ball correctly and the left hand spin on the ball comes natural.

I took up the game in April. I had a 4/5 lessons before I even went on the beginner 9 holer. I just practiced at the range in between to get a feel. I used to take a lesson once every 2 weeks but now its once every 4-6 weeks. The instructor I use is excellent, he doesn't bamboozle me with technical jargon. He ALWAYS films me from the side and back to show me what I'm doing wrong, this works everytime.