steve7
Head Pro
Hi to all,just a question on how many golf lessons do you think would suffice before attempting to go on a golf course for a beginner ? All replies appreciated.
Amount of lessons ?
- Thread starter steve7
- Start date
Craigy_Mac
Medal Winner
Unfortunatley there is no set number, depends how you take to it and how often you practise. when you feel you wont hold up the course to much and can manage to consistantly hit the ball 100yards then go for it.
Junior
Tour Winner
Hi Steve,
Just go to a local municiple and give it a crack - you will have a blast.
Quite a few people learn on muni's and its a good way to start. Dont be nervous, maybe just hit your 7/8/9 PW to get around with the occasional blast of a driver or 3 wood
Enjoy !
Just go to a local municiple and give it a crack - you will have a blast.
Quite a few people learn on muni's and its a good way to start. Dont be nervous, maybe just hit your 7/8/9 PW to get around with the occasional blast of a driver or 3 wood
Enjoy !
def
Medal Winner
take plenty of balls so instead of serching for lost balls just drop another and you wont hold play up.as you improve you wont mind holding play up on the odd hole.enjoy
Tommo21
Tour Winner
As above, just go do it. I hacked (still do sometimes) my way round the golf course until I got better. I would say have a crack at the range or at some derelict ground until you get half decent without causing any serious upset or injury to anyone. Also when I first started I asked what was the best times to get a clear run at the course….it makes it a bit easier when your not under any pressure.
TonyN
Money List Winner
I agree with all of the above, when you feel you can hit the ball consistantly then just get down the muni and play. I have had no real lessons but i was on a course a couple of weeks after starting, i was takin a few too many divots at first but i stuck with it. Dont worry about what you think others are thinking, Just practice practice practice and you be havin a blast in no time.
Mr_Top_Shot
Assistant Pro
i went for the first time at the end of last summer and was fairly nervous not having had any lessons etc. After cocking up my 1st tee shot under pressure i continue around and thoroughly enjoyed it. I even hit par on the first par 3 there, bearing in mind i had only played pitch and putt before. I lost a good number of balls but it was worth it.
It depends on your confidence, but i would just go for it.
It depends on your confidence, but i would just go for it.
billyg
Q-School Graduate
I'm sure everyone on this forum has shared this dilemma at some point in the past and I broadly agree with the sentiments expressed above.
A few things that helped inform my decision way back when...
1) Can I get it off the floor? if you skull it 9 times out ten at the range, bang it off the wood bay dividers,shank it or cut daisies then it's going to be a slog that could seriously put you off prematurely.
2) The 7 iron is your best club. If you can launch a 7 iron with a degree of consistency within a roughly 70 degree arc (where your target lies in the middle of that sweep- horizontally) then go for it. You can use a 7 off the tee(a small one), for par threes, to make progress along a track amd chip with. Make friends with the 7 and you're on your way( and most pro's will get you using it first if you aren't doing something specific)
3) get in early- nothing is going to throw your confidence more than being stuffed between groups on a busy muni. Get the first slot or hold back until you can
4) Take a patient mate. Preferably a big-un who will hold off the idiots that want to kick off at the first excuse- god knows what they get out of golf.
5) Forget the scores and make good progress. Don't punish yourself with marking scores that you will laugh at within 6 months. Youre out there in the early days just to get a feel of the game, the pace of it, the rules of it etc.
6) meanwhile back at the range.... get your PW out more and save the big dog for the last half dozen balls at the end of a bucket. In the early days the driver is about as much use to you on a golf course as a chocolate scorecard and dangerous to others too. Hitting someone with a golf ball is something (touch wood) you want to avoid at all costs.
A few things that helped inform my decision way back when...
1) Can I get it off the floor? if you skull it 9 times out ten at the range, bang it off the wood bay dividers,shank it or cut daisies then it's going to be a slog that could seriously put you off prematurely.
2) The 7 iron is your best club. If you can launch a 7 iron with a degree of consistency within a roughly 70 degree arc (where your target lies in the middle of that sweep- horizontally) then go for it. You can use a 7 off the tee(a small one), for par threes, to make progress along a track amd chip with. Make friends with the 7 and you're on your way( and most pro's will get you using it first if you aren't doing something specific)
3) get in early- nothing is going to throw your confidence more than being stuffed between groups on a busy muni. Get the first slot or hold back until you can
4) Take a patient mate. Preferably a big-un who will hold off the idiots that want to kick off at the first excuse- god knows what they get out of golf.
5) Forget the scores and make good progress. Don't punish yourself with marking scores that you will laugh at within 6 months. Youre out there in the early days just to get a feel of the game, the pace of it, the rules of it etc.
6) meanwhile back at the range.... get your PW out more and save the big dog for the last half dozen balls at the end of a bucket. In the early days the driver is about as much use to you on a golf course as a chocolate scorecard and dangerous to others too. Hitting someone with a golf ball is something (touch wood) you want to avoid at all costs.
medwayjon
Tour Winner
I would have a bit of a practise down the range, then get out onto a muni course.
The other thing that I did was play on a short course (not solely par 3) before stepping up.
Par 3 courses are grand in my eyes for both the beginner and accomplished golfer. I am somewhere inbewtween these 2 stages and still use a decent p3 course from time to time for short game practise and just to swing a club when time is precious.
Lessons of course are essential in my eyes, I have always said that the most 2 important things a beginner can do is 1) get a lesson, 2) get a lesson.
Bad habits are easy to make an integral part of your game and once they become routine they are very difficult to change for the better.
Hope this helps,
Jon.
The other thing that I did was play on a short course (not solely par 3) before stepping up.
Par 3 courses are grand in my eyes for both the beginner and accomplished golfer. I am somewhere inbewtween these 2 stages and still use a decent p3 course from time to time for short game practise and just to swing a club when time is precious.
Lessons of course are essential in my eyes, I have always said that the most 2 important things a beginner can do is 1) get a lesson, 2) get a lesson.
Bad habits are easy to make an integral part of your game and once they become routine they are very difficult to change for the better.
Hope this helps,
Jon.
RGuk
Tour Winner
I'd recommend a few lessons (2 or 3 maybe), plenty of trips to the range, then take on a 9 holer or short course.
billyg is on the right lines - if every shot is a disaster, might be worth a few more lessons/practice sessions.
I started on a private course....built in the grounds of "somewhere". I was terrible, but once I felt I could hit it reasonably well, I went on the 9 hole muni, then 18.
Even when I was passable, I tended to mess up the first tee shot! Important yard-stick is if you can keep up with the speed of play, if yes, then go play anywhere!!
Dave
billyg is on the right lines - if every shot is a disaster, might be worth a few more lessons/practice sessions.
I started on a private course....built in the grounds of "somewhere". I was terrible, but once I felt I could hit it reasonably well, I went on the 9 hole muni, then 18.
Even when I was passable, I tended to mess up the first tee shot! Important yard-stick is if you can keep up with the speed of play, if yes, then go play anywhere!!
Dave
Gasp
Head Pro
I'd have to agree with medwayjon, par-3 courses are a wonderful introduction to course golf. I still love playing the par-3 course at Dukes Meadows as it is fantastic practise for the short game.
Steve persevere with the lessons but go to the course, par-3 or full. There are some lessons that can only be learnt on course.
Steve persevere with the lessons but go to the course, par-3 or full. There are some lessons that can only be learnt on course.
viscount17
Money List Winner
Have enough lessons, range practice to have a reasonable degree of success in hitting the ball.
Par-3 is best I think, that way distance isn't that important. You'll know when you're ready to transition to a longer 9-hole or 18-hole course.
Lake balls will do - £10/50 at AG - as you will lose them.
Don't be afraid to go on a course - if you're struggling just let the group behind through.
Par-3 is best I think, that way distance isn't that important. You'll know when you're ready to transition to a longer 9-hole or 18-hole course.
Lake balls will do - £10/50 at AG - as you will lose them.
Don't be afraid to go on a course - if you're struggling just let the group behind through.
RGuk
Tour Winner
Oh....now there's a blast....that's the course nr. Chiswick?
Played most of these W London places.....Perivale, Brent Valley, Horsenden Hill (started here!)
http://www.horsendenhillgolfclub.co.uk/4654/index.html
took 8 air shots off the 1st!
Dave
TonyN
Money List Winner
there is a 9 holer that is less than 2000 yards near me, mostly par 3's but a few par 4's this is where i play twice a week atleast and i normally go round twice for the 18. This place has helped me immensly with my irons. I have played a few 18 holer's and wasnt too bad, i now cant wait to get back on the big course's cause i think i'll do well. You should try get to one of these shorter courses if ya can till ya confident enough to play properly.
steve7
Head Pro
Thanks to all for advice much appreciated.Probably hitting 6 or 7 + up out of 10 pretty good at the moment.
