Hi all, just joined. I'm 41 and live in rural northern MN. I didn't start golfing regularly until I turned 30. I'm a tinkerer (very messy workbench) and frugal (cheap) by nature. My wife bought me my first box set from a big box store, but we got them from for free as the cashier failed to ring them up. I understand now that first set was extremely poor quality, but as I was just a beginner, I just thought it was cool to have a "complete, matching" set. Also, I learned some invaluable lessons about equipment from that first set.
The first thing I wondered about/noticed was the different lengths of clubs. After my first 9 holes, I "fixed" my putter. The head wasn't even glued on completely. I used air to blow off the grip, and hacked it down to 33 1/2" and have been playing that length putter ever since.
I also noticed I hit my 8 iron most consistently. I have never hit a 1, 2, 3, or 4 iron as that first set came with a 3/4 hybrid and 5 wood. I really like the hybrids and discovered I had trouble with fairway woods. I tell you all this to let you know where I am now.
I play 3 lengths: 60/56/52 wedge, PW, 9 and 8 iron are all 38". 7 iron, 5 and 6 transition irons (steel shafts), 2, 3, and 4 hybrid are all 38 1/2" (stiff, graphite) My driver is 10.5 stiff shaft 41". (No fairway woods: people have even told me that you HAVE to have a fairway wood and if you don't it's cheating! I hit my 2 hybrid 240 consistently in case you're wondering.)
You see, I want to battle the course, not my swing or equipment. Money is an issue for me (cheap, remember?) so I want the bulk of my golfing funds to go to green fees. I know I'm suppose to go get professionally fitted and money is best spent on lessons, but who can you trust? Machines? People you've never met? I figure the person who knows my game best is me.
I'm not headed for the PGA and I really don't know what my handicap is. The course I play most often has 4 tee boxes and I play from the "whites" not the "tips." My best score on 18 is -2. I only battle "Ol' Man Par" I most like to golf with myself because I get frustrated playing with people who brag about their new $400 driver and have an excuse after every swing. (Oddly enough, these people are also the ones who give me the most swing "tips") I love to play new courses, and it's exciting to know I can hit the fairway, hit the green, and 2 putt on holes I've never even seen before.
Glad to be here and hit 'em good! Sorry for the long post!
