Question:
While talking to my wife’s friend who took up the game, and her recent lesson where she felt that she was moving backwards, I was starting to talk to her about all those little hurdles that we set up in our minds, and how we overcome them. Some of the things my little clique have felt are things like: Fear of people looking at driving range First time my wife gets to a range, after only swinging a few clubs the week before while out with myself and parents playing, trying to make her feel comfortable. she get out there, and on her 10th ball, she sh*nks…errr.sharks…one dead right…about head high….and goes right in front of the faces of everyone to the right of her on the range, and hits the face. Slowly, one by one, they all quietly turn to look her way. The precious look of, "oh my god I almost killed everyone!" and then her muttering in a cracked voice the word, "four?" She got past that, I told her that we all go to the range to work on our games, and people usually don’t look at anyone else on the range, they are too busy working on their own swing, and the fear that others are watching them…and they suck (tm R&B). First Tee Jitters Get "on deck" with that vast expanse of green around you, knowing that all eyes are on you, "Joe Cool Golfer," even the employees have obviously stopped to see the great swings that only come form 34+ handicappers. The thoughts race thru your head and whammo you hit a beautiful dribbler past the ladies tees…if they mowed the box short enough. Then learning that you get there early and warm up and figure out which club you hit best that day and use that instead. If no warming up, don’t hit a driver, hit what you hit well! be that a 3 wood 5 wood 7 wood or 7 iron! Fear of Sand Buddy of mine had an irrational fear of sand. No matter what the conditions, he would see his ball go into the bunker and he would start worrying. By the time he got to the bunker, sometimes he was shaking. Guaranteed for a 3 just to get out of the bunker. My advice was to go hit out of the sand with a bucket of balls (we hadn’t fished out enough balls yet for two full shag bags) for two hours….and bring a coke, you’ll get thirsty. After that he would mentally lose it when the sand got him. Fear of Water My personal waterloo (pun!). First few times, if I see water, ANY water, left right front side behind, I’d plonk one into it. Then, after getting consistent, and then hitting several almost over water, and then slowly working up to getting them over all the time, my fear vanished. But how odd it was to see the same face of fear on my wifes face when she gets to water now. Others are: Fear of Slowing Play That putt for your first bogie, par and birdie. Hitting over that ravine with all the weeds. Looking at a long distance and knowing not to hit it "hard" and let the club to the work. Mentally adding your score (on the 14th hole) and knowing you could get that new personal best. First time with money on the line. First tourney (well not tourney, more like scrambe) play. Fear of slicing, that turns into fear of hooking…which may turn into fear of who the hell knows? And yet, as we play more, those hurdles are a thing of the past. I witness my wife and friend go thru some of the same things that I did, and we talk about how we all get over them. I was hoping y’all might have some andecdotes and funny bits of all the little things (and fears) that you have faced so I can show them that, "all over the world, every golfer knows what another golfer goes thru." Thanks, and hope to hear some good stories! Jeff
Response:
Agree on the driving range – my wife’s personality changed big time whenever she got a club in her hand. Swore like a trooper, banged club into ground etc. And, couldn’t hit it worth a damn. Made me feel like encouraging her to give the game away – but as seniors its nice to have husband and wife able to play together. So I said nothing, and she went from bad to worse! Then, one night on the busy range, she suddenly pured a 3 iron straight down the fairway – boy, you should have seen her face! Suddenly she KNEW what a good shot felt like. From that time on, she lost the bad attitude, got involved with associate play, got a handicap, and got serious about the game. She started out on 36 (doesn’t every woman?), got down to 25, then broke her leg in an accidnet, and couldn’t play for a year. Went out to 33, and still no complaints. Then we moved to a new area, and the course we play seems to suit her better. Has gone to 28 in short order, winning 5 times in the process, and is now in the C grade pennant side. Still has the best attitude I’ve seen from any player, male or female. Never gets upset, never blows a gasket, takes each time on the course as a good thing. Putts like a demon, and on any given day can beat the pants off me on our handicaps. Perfect example of what golf is really about. — Regards Barrie Smart The Wizard of Oz!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While talking to my wife’s friend who took up the game, and her recent lesson where she felt that she was moving backwards, I was starting to talk to her about all those little hurdles that we set up in our minds, and how we overcome them. Some of the things my little clique have felt are things like: Fear of people looking at driving range First time my wife gets to a range, after only swinging a few clubs the week before while out with myself and parents playing, trying to make her feel comfortable. she get out there, and on her 10th ball, she sh*nks…errr.sharks…one dead right…about head high….and goes right in front of the faces of everyone to the right of her on the range, and hits the face. Slowly, one by one, they all quietly turn to look her way. The precious look of, "oh my god I almost killed everyone!" and then her muttering in a cracked voice the word, "four?" She got past that, I told her that we all go to the range to work on our games, and people usually don’t look at anyone else on the range, they are too busy working on their own swing, and the fear that others are watching them…and they suck (tm R&B). First Tee Jitters Get "on deck" with that vast expanse of green around you, knowing that all eyes are on you, "Joe Cool Golfer," even the employees have obviously stopped to see the great swings that only come form 34+ handicappers. The thoughts race thru your head and whammo you hit a beautiful dribbler past the ladies tees…if they mowed the box short enough. Then learning that you get there early and warm up and figure out which club you hit best that day and use that instead. If no warming up, don’t hit a driver, hit what you hit well! be that a 3 wood 5 wood 7 wood or 7 iron! Fear of Sand Buddy of mine had an irrational fear of sand. No matter what the conditions, he would see his ball go into the bunker and he would start worrying. By the time he got to the bunker, sometimes he was shaking. Guaranteed for a 3 just to get out of the bunker. My advice was to go hit out of the sand with a bucket of balls (we hadn’t fished out enough balls yet for two full shag bags) for two hours….and bring a coke, you’ll get thirsty. After that he would mentally lose it when the sand got him. Fear of Water My personal waterloo (pun!). First few times, if I see water, ANY water, left right front side behind, I’d plonk one into it. Then, after getting consistent, and then hitting several almost over water, and then slowly working up to getting them over all the time, my fear vanished. But how odd it was to see the same face of fear on my wifes face when she gets to water now. Others are: Fear of Slowing Play That putt for your first bogie, par and birdie. Hitting over that ravine with all the weeds. Looking at a long distance and knowing not to hit it "hard" and let the club to the work. Mentally adding your score (on the 14th hole) and knowing you could get that new personal best. First time with money on the line. First tourney (well not tourney, more like scrambe) play. Fear of slicing, that turns into fear of hooking…which may turn into fear of who the hell knows? And yet, as we play more, those hurdles are a thing of the past. I witness my wife and friend go thru some of the same things that I did, and we talk about how we all get over them. I was hoping y’all might have some andecdotes and funny bits of all the little things (and fears) that you have faced so I can show them that, "all over the world, every golfer knows what another golfer goes thru." Thanks, and hope to hear some good stories! Jeff
Response:
Fear of people looking at driving range First time my wife gets to a range, after only swinging a few clubs the week before while out with myself and parents playing, trying to make her feel comfortable. she get out there, and on her 10th ball, she sh*nks…errr.sharks…one dead right…about head high….and goes right in front of the faces of everyone to the right of her on the range, and hits the face. Slowly, one by one, they all quietly turn to look her way. The precious look of, "oh my god I almost killed everyone!" and then her muttering in a cracked voice the word, "four?"
I was on the driving range once when the guy in front of me lost his driver and it went between me and the guy behind me without touching us – and it ended up hitting a golf bag. Others are: Fear of Slowing Play
Nothing makes my game worse like trying to hurry after bad shots.