Question:
I probably know as much about golf as anyone that’s never played the game. I need a starting point.
I’d suggest you check out the driving ranges in your area and see if any are giving beginners lessons…They often do this for free, to get you started and give their instructors a chance to hook you into lessons… Buying anything other than a few books right off the bat is probably a mistake…But if you MUST look for something used and cheap…as you will wind up replacing it soon enough. ]]]Z[[[
Response:
I’m interested in learning how to play golf. I just don’t know how to start. Obviously I need some whackers (uhh, "clubs", right?). How many? Should I just run to Wal-Mart and pick up a couple to try? There’s two courses and a driving range all within 8 or 10 miles of me.
My advice? grab a few clubs, a driver, 3 wood a few irons and a putter from a PAWN SHOP where they will only cost you a couple bucks a piece…then spend two or three times at the driving range and take a couple of lessons before you play a round to get the basics. then if you really enjoy it…get some better clubs, custom fitted does not cost much more, and is a big improvement. a lot of community colleges and even large universitys have "learn to golf" programs in the adult education departments (along with clay pot making and such). these are usually run by a pro or the college teams coach and are a super introduction to the game.
Response:
If you go down to your local Wal-Mart, the only "single" clubs you’re likely to find are putters or drivers. If you want to pick up ONE or TWO irons, you’ll have to go somewhere that has a barrel of used clubs. That’s a very inexpensive way to go. You aren’t likely to want to build a set around these clubs, but they’re available at almost throwaway prices (like $5 or so for one). It’d be enough to get you started hitting balls at the range. Eventually, you’ll want to purchase a SET. Randy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings all. I’ve been reading through the group a bit. You seem to have a nice little community here, complete with knowledgeable people, clueless newbies (/me raises hand), and just a tiny bit of dry humor. No trolls though. That’s a welcome change. Anyway, I’m interested in learning how to play golf. I just don’t know how to start. Obviously I need some whackers (uhh, "clubs", right?). How many? Should I just run to Wal-Mart and pick up a couple to try? There’s two courses and a driving range all within 8 or 10 miles of me. Should I go get a club (what kind/number/whatever?) and some old balls and spend a couple hours on the driving range? I probably know as much about golf as anyone that’s never played the game. I need a starting point. — Zaphod
Response:
My advice is to be careful with advice. There’s maybe too much out there. There are a lot of egoist local hackers that you’ll meet at the range or at the pro shop. The safest thing is to ignore it all. Just try and think what is motivating that person to offer advice to you, and you’ll readily see through sales pitches, machismo, and bad information. Ask a few golfer-friends who a good pro/instructor is and see him/her. They will most likely set you up with a partial set of custom made clubs. Nothing fancy, but right for your game without wasting money. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go out and buy expensive clubs and the sports super-store. Based on my engineering experience, good used clubs of the right fit with fresh grips will work as good or better than the clubs you see marketed in commercials. The advertisements lie. Period. If you’re ever curious what I mean by that, email me and I’ll explain the ‘lies’ I see in big-game golf advertising, but that’s going off-topic. Back to the instruction. Now that you’ve saved a bunch of money because your pro has probably set you up with a partial set of fitted clubs, you can use that dough for a set of lessons. Nobody can get you going as well as a qualified instructor. Don’t be afraid to try more than one and mix that instruction in with quality practice on your own. The instructor will take care of technique, and you’ll have to sweat for the skill required to that little ball with on the center of that little clubhead. Whatever you do, make certain that plenty of putting and chipping is a part of your practice and instruction. You don’t need to get out on the course immediately. You’ll enjoy the varied challenge of the course more once you’ve carved some skills through practice. Also, choose your golfing buddies carefully. It’s almost like high school – it’s no fun to play when you’re in the wrong crowd. Golf etiquette is not a old-school fogie thing, it’s the set of guidelines we all need to share a single course and enjoy ourselves. Whew. Long one. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings all. I’ve been reading through the group a bit. You seem to have a nice little community here, complete with knowledgeable people, clueless newbies (/me raises hand), and just a tiny bit of dry humor. No trolls though. That’s a welcome change. Anyway, I’m interested in learning how to play golf. I just don’t know how to start. Obviously I need some whackers (uhh, "clubs", right?). How many? Should I just run to Wal-Mart and pick up a couple to try? There’s two courses and a driving range all within 8 or 10 miles of me. Should I go get a club (what kind/number/whatever?) and some old balls and spend a couple hours on the driving range? I probably know as much about golf as anyone that’s never played the game. I need a starting point. — Zaphod
Response:
Greetings all. I’ve been reading through the group a bit. You seem to have a nice little community here, complete with knowledgeable people, clueless newbies (/me raises hand), and just a tiny bit of dry humor. No trolls though. That’s a welcome change. Anyway, I’m interested in learning how to play golf. I just don’t know how to start. Obviously I need some whackers (uhh, "clubs", right?). How many? Should I just run to Wal-Mart and pick up a couple to try? There’s two courses and a driving range all within 8 or 10 miles of me. Should I go get a club (what kind/number/whatever?) and some old balls and spend a couple hours on the driving range? I probably know as much about golf as anyone that’s never played the game. I need a starting point. — Zaphod
Response:
Zaphod, I have played golf for several years and did not show any improvement, till I took some lessons. If you are serious about the game, take atleast three hours of lessons, broken up into short sessions of two periods a week and practice daily what you have learned. Otherwise you will be wasting your time. If you have access or can afford the "golf channel", get it as they also give lessons there, several times a day. You might want to get a hold of the book "Golf for Dummies" or some other not too technical book. When choosing a golf instructor, try to find someone who adjusts the swing to the person, as we all are not as loose as the pros you see on TV. Another tip is to get on some conditional or fitness program, that would enable you to swing the clubs with a minimum of ease. Most of these Golf books have details tips on golf exercises. — Roger — Roger and/or Nancy Before you buy.
Response:
What the heck’s a "pre-newbie"? I thought newbie was the start… 
Greetings all. I’ve been reading through the group a bit. You seem to have a nice little community here,
We’re the best! complete with knowledgeable people,
The problem is that you can’t tell who they are just by looking at them….:) clueless newbies (/me raises hand),
We have some clueless veterans, as well. and just a tiny bit of dry humor.
We have some gross humor, too. No trolls though. That’s a welcome change.
You haven’t been here long enough. Anyway, I’m interested in learning how to play golf. I just don’t know how to start. Obviously I need some whackers (uhh, "clubs", right?). How many? Should I just run to Wal-Mart and pick up a couple to try? There’s two courses and a driving range all within 8 or 10 miles of me. Should I go get a club (what kind/number/whatever?) and some old balls and spend a couple hours on the driving range? I probably know as much about golf as anyone that’s never played the game. I need a starting point.
If you just want to try it out, almost any driving range (dare I say EVERY driving range?) will have clubs people can use. They won’t be great, but often they’re not bad, and they certainly will be enough for you to get a sense of how it goes. Try a 3-wood (they’re not made of wood anymore, but we still call them woods) and a 7-iron. I suggest you should have just a tiny modicum of advice from someone local about what clubs to buy. If you’re taller or shorter than average, standard clubs may not be right for you. Etc. etc. You can certainly get all sorts of advice from people here–and you probably will–but without seeing a person and watching them swing… Probably WalMart clubs would be ok to start, but you might also be able to find a cheap used set, which until you hone your game a bit would prevent you from sinking money into clubs you’ll outgro as you progress (unless money is no object). I’ve often wondered if the best way to introduce someone to the game is to let them do what you propose–just try it out a bit. Could be it’ll hook ‘em. But–you really should get a little professional advice right from the get-go. I know that spending money on lessons seems, well, unfulfilling. They’re not cheap, and it’s far more fun (you think now, anyway) to buy clubs, or rounds of golf with them. Driving range personnel probably can make a suggestion on someone who can give lessons. If not that, then perhaps a friend, or acquaintance. Or even identify where you live, perhaps someone on RSG can make a suggestion in that area. But in the long run, and even the very short run, you’ll be so far ahead with someone showing you correct grip, stance, and swing, that you’ll forever thank me and send me multiple-$G presents on my birthday. Well, maybe not that, but really–get off on the right foot. I, personally, did not. I was taught partly by my father, mostly by myself, when I started at about age 15. My grip was wrong, my stance very wrong (to compensate for a terrible swing), and my swing was not a swing, it was a hit. I golfed like this off and on for 25 years, flailing and flailing (I hit a few good ones along the way, they’ll bring you back). I then had a few lessons 2 years ago, and was floored by them. I had my stance, grip, and swing theory changed. And it took me a LONG time to get used to what is a very different way of swinging than what I had been doing. It took me over 3000 practice range balls before the new grip felt reasonably comfortable; I’m still working on the swing (not without hope, btw–I have my days I started in the 100s for 18 holes, now I’m down to the 80s (had an 84 Thursday), and broke 80 last fall for the first time. None of it would have happened w/o lessons. To avoid walking down the same or similar blind alley as I did, then, I suggest just a couple lessons to get yourself off on the right foot. You’ll have less to unlearn, and more time progressing, rather than what I did. Meanwhile, welcome to the group, and good luck with whichever approach you decide on. Mike Dalecki