Dont learn to hit a golf ball on a course............

murphthemog said:
Not strictly true. He believed that if he practiced all (including short game) skills, that rather than starting from a 28 handicap, and trying to get to scratch, that if your first three cards were hot, you would start from a lower base, and it would be achievable quicker. I'm yet to be convinced that he was wrong.
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I quote 'where's the short game?'.

I disagree with you I'm afraid. Practise all you want on the range, the short game area and the putting green. Then go out on the course and watch how many shots you rack up through having no idea of course management.
 
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stevie_r said:
I quote 'where's the short game?'.

I disagree with you I'm afraid. Practise all you want on the range, the short game area and the putting green. Then go out on the course and watch how many shots you rack up through having no idea of course management.
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Disagree. Why is course management so hard? Don't we make it more difficult than it is?

So much of golf is a closed skill, and then bottle.
 
I made it to single figures with no short game skills at all.
I know a low guys who have no course management skills at all. They hit it long, hard and recover well.
 
what a load of rubbish.If they're members its their
course as much as yours.So long as they enjoy themselves and don't hold anybody up too much who cares
 
Their money, their choice. As long as they're abiding by the club rules and not holding people up then fair play to them. A few of the clubs more seasoned members could offer to chaperone them and offer some tips to welcome them to the sport and the club.

Before I let my sons loose on a course I got them at the range, and then progressed to a local pitch and putt over the summer. Once they'd got some "course craft" and some of the basic etiquette we went and played 9 holes at the local municipal a few times. Played 18 with them, and while we're slow as a group (more shots & shorter legs!) we call people through and enjoy our game. My sons now know what they're doing from tee to green and seem equipped to play almost anywhere. They're 10 and 12.

It's easy to sigh and roll our eyes at the new/poor players, but we should all try and be the best ambassadors for the game and our club that we can.
 
I dont think enough is done in clubs to help beginners (maybe free group lessons? rules of golf lessons? how to act around a course..), as the above say, their money is as good as a scratch golfer...
 
They have paid their money the same as anyone else, therefore they have the right to play as good or as bad as they like. As long as they follow the rules, allow others to play through and respect the course, there shouldn't be a problem. And anyone who thinks differently can do one in my opinion.

I first started playing on a course during quiet periods (no prior visits to the range) when I was about 14 years old with a group of friends, we would let people play through straight away as we knew we were crap. One time we offered to let a 2 ball through after 2 of us had already teed off, they told us to finish teeing off, then they would and they will play through from the second shots (if you know what I mean). After we had teed off they started telling us that we were rubbish and shouldn't be on the course, I told him where to go and things started getting heated. One of my mates stopped playing after that.
 
i dont think that was just a case of being new to the game. sounds like they were looking down their nose at you because you were a youngster !
 
garyinderry said:
i dont think that was just a case of being new to the game. sounds like they were looking down their nose at you because you were a youngster !
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My thoughts exactly, as usual in this situation the group observing etiquette gets told off by the group who are not - and its the later that think they are in the right. Came up against this as a junior and to my shock again on my return to the game in my 30s, still get the "we own the course" treatment from the more established members. Sickening but its not the clubs fault, not much you can do but beat them in KOs.

They don't like that.

:)
 
I'm just starting out although I played a bit 25 years ago. I think people of all abilities should be encouraged to play as long as they observe rules and etiquette. Personally though, I've opted for lessons and practice before setting foot on the course. I think it will make for a more enjoyable experience both for me and others.
 
quinn said:
what a load of rubbish.If they're members its their
course as much as yours.So long as they enjoy themselves and don't hold anybody up too much who cares
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While this sounds absolutely reasonable - especially if they are members - there are other aspects of the game to consider beyond etiquette and notwithstanding they might just have a competely miserable time. Also I'd add that damage they might do to the course is, IMO, a red herring of an argument because any damage done will be minimal in the context of a golf course. I can only assume with hope and expectation that they would know that they don't take great swings at the ball with a wedge when on a green.

However - the safety aspect should not be ignored - as much as we might dismiss the risk of injuries as being 'very unlikely'. Let's not forget that we mostly play on golf courses where players have at least a basic knowledge of the game and level of ability. And whilst the danger to one and all on a golf course is therefore minimal - serious accidents do occur. Only a couple of years back a member at my place lost an eye through being hit by a wayward drive from an adjacent hole.

So imagine being on a golf course where balls are rocketing left, right and centre at knee, groin and head height; and where those hitting the balls don;t have much uidea where the ball is heading, and may forget or not know to call 'FORE' or be able to give a 'directed' call of fore (e.g. FORE LEFT!!!).

Example taken to extreme. Yes perhaps. But be careful what you wish for.

Take a little time to get used to swinging a club and hitting the ball (just because some precocious child is filmed doing it and posted on Youtube doesn't mean that a beginner adult can do it); then Pitch and Putt - or Par 3 Course, plus lessons; then a full course accompanied by someone who plays.

Today's society get's itself tied up in knots with everybody having 'rights' to do this that and the other, when in many situations there are good reasons why they can't or shouldn't. Often - as in this golfing example - the rights to something of one group (to play on a 'full' course) is at the expense of the rights of another (the right to be safe on a 'full' course).
 
My first games were on a local 9 holer, half a dozen tatty hired clubs carried round in lengths of fireman's hose sewn up at the ends as bags.

Wish I'd had some lessons first and gone to the range a bit, I'm sure I wouldn't have half as many bad habits as I do now.
 
If beginners abide by the rules and let people play through then what's the problem?

Myself and my playing partner must have gone 10 times to the range before we ventured onto the course, although we read the rules and thought we knew the score, hole 1 round 1 we got bollocked for trying to play off the white tees:D, you live and learn, We've been never had an issue since though we're still thrashers.

The range is ok but it's so forgiving, you need to learn out on the course and learn the game, there's no substitute for getting out there and getting muddy, losing 7 balls OOB between us on one hole and thoroughly enjoying it :thup:
 
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