golfing life.......

[ademac]

Hello all,
I'm just asking to see if anyone would like to share a brief description of their golfing life,i.e. what got you into the game,how long you've been playing,when did you start really improving,your greatest achievements, how often you play....etc.

Just think it would be nice to feel like I know a few of you guys a bit,seeing as I'm on the forum most nights and I'm going to possibly be playing with some of you in may.

I'm not meaning to be nosey, just interested.

cheers all.

 

[Smiffy]

Had no interest in golf whatsoever until I started selling cars in 1986. A guy from the local finance company introduced himself to me in the showroom and asked if I played. Over the course of the next few months he badgered me to get out for a game so I borrowed my father in laws rusty old set of clubs and went out for a hack. I wasn't very good but once I had hit what I thought were a couple of half decent shots I was hooked. I went out and bought my first full set of clubs about 6 months later (Ram Tom Watson I think they were)...and carried on playing the local muni course and a private 9 hole course near Gatwick airport. I found I was playing more and more regularly so after about 3 years of messing around decided to join a club. Crowborough Beacon was the closest "decent" course to me and I phoned and asked the pro if I could go up for a game with a view to joining. Didn't have a handicap, he asked how many I usually went round in and I lied and said "about 90"....his comment? "Bring plenty of golf balls!"
I went and had the round, must have lost a dozen balls, but fell in love with the place and joined shortly after.
Struggled initially off my first handicap of 23 (don't know why they gave me that ) but it all seemed to "click" about 3 or 4 years later when my handicap came down fairly quickly to 10. I stayed at Crowborough for about 10 or 11 years until my divorce in 2000 meant I had to move away and leave the club. If it weren't for that I would still be there now. Have been a "nomad" golfer since then playing Society golf and reasonably regularly with friends although motorbiking entered my life about 6 years ago and golf took a bit of a back seat. Truth be told, I only played about a dozen games in all this year. I intend to get back into swinging the club in a big way next year by joining our local club and I will try my hardest to get down to single figures if I can (9 will do!).
Have made many good friends over the years playing and have played on some fantastic courses both here and abroad. My best memories are when we used to "tour" Scotland during the nineties playing some superb courses on the East Coast, Carnoustie, St Andrews, Blairgowrie, Downfield and Scotscraig to name but a few. We used to play two rounds a day for six days carrying!! I couldn't do that now, it would kill me.
In recent years I have preferred to go on golfing holidays in the Algarve/Spain and am seriously considering going to Turkey at the end of May with some of my mates....they say the courses over there are gorgeous. A lot depends on the finances (and work) but if I can get there I will.
It now looks like I've sold the motorbike, golf looks like it is going to be my main pastime again from now on.

 

[Parmo]

Hi,
I started playing in August 2007 for the main reason to spend some time with my step son, it helped us over tough times and he drifted away from the game and I kept it up. I play once a week as I work FT and since becoming a golf addict have spent a fortune on kit to improve my average swing I just joined the club of a local municipal as the social life for me and the wife is good, the comps seem to be mostly Stableford and the course is a tricky 9 holer so ideal for learning and improving the short game.

the things I get out of golf are excerise, enjoyment, relaxation and time to myself, I love the game and hope I am able to play for the rest of my days.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I started playing about 2 and a bit years ago, when I went to a range for the fun of it with some mates. I then tried a par 3 9 hole course and discovered that this was by far the hardest game I had ever tried to play- without being conceited I have always been able to play reasonably well (ie slightly reminiscent of professionals) any sport I have tried from the off, but golf was a different kettle of fish and I was quite frankly useless. This difficulty intrigued me and I took the challenge to conquer this game of ours (still ongoing ) and gradually got more serious until the group of mates that had gone to mess about was down to me and one other who both started playing weekly. He then gave up due to the frustration of it and I having become reasonable started getting a game at some good 18 hole courses with mates of my dad who were members and eventually applied for club membership at the beginning of 2008 and eventually (I didn't bother doing a card for about 7 months) got my first handicap of 21 which is yet to be improved upon due to a lack of competitive action. I am in fact playing to about 14/15 over pretty consistently at the moment so my next comp could hopefully yield a decent return. My problem is I still am liable to once every 5 rounds say shoot a 95 or something silly. I think if I played more I could be much better. But that is the brief history of my golfing life.

 

[Imurg]

I played the odd pitch and putt round with mates until I had to pack up cricket in '92. Dodgy right knee! So I said to HID "I've got to play something!". So I decided on Golf and got a cheap half set and went along to the local range and started banging balls. Decided after a week that I wanted to get serious and got a full set of Howson clubs and set about "getting better".

My feelings were that I couldn't join a club until I was good enough so I practiced on the range all winter. I read the magazines and worked things out myself and then in April '93 I felt ready.

I played my 3 rounds with the members and was given my first and Highest handicap. 15!!

Seems I was better than I thought! Things got even better and by '97 I was down to 8 and winning things regularly and I still hold the record for the lowest eclectic round at the club - 45 gross (best score on each hole ever).

Had to give up playing for 5 years due to the Boy arriving and an accident at work that left me needing 3 knee ops. I was just about to get back into it again when I shattered my ankle and spent 16 weeks in plaster and 6 months off work. Really started playing properly again about 2 years ago and my game is starting to gel. I play mostly weekdays - often alone but I get my fair share of weekends too.

 

[Tommo21]

Been playing on and off for about 34 years. Started playing the odd game with the guys at my local pub and it took off from there. My first HC was 16 and I soon realised I should have taken the game up earlier. Got down to 5 within about 4 years and I won a fair amount of club competitions plus a medal round hole in one. I also won the end of season finally open competition, the one everyone in the club wants to win. Back then I won £100 prize plus £70 sweep money, that was around 1978, a lot of money back then. Shot 67 scratch less 9 at the time and some people wanted to shoot me and still do. I stopped playing for about 10 years and when I came back I couldn’t believe how well I was playing and got a 7 HC, where I’m at right now. Always tinkering with my swing, tend to snap the ball now and then destroying many a good round like last Saturday when I went out in 8 straight 4s and a par 5 at the ninth. Out in a scratch one over par and I blew it with a couple of hooks on the back nine.

Love the game and my good lady hardly sees me in the summer, but she doesn’t mind and even comes round some times for a walk on a nice summers day…..not very often. Can spend hours practicing trying to find something that’s probably not there.

 

[ademac]

Imurg

I wouldn't mind meeting up for a game in the week if you usually play on your own,Aylesbury isn't very far from me.

 

[golfermartin]

Hi

Started playing the year after "the long hot summer" in 1977. I used to play badminton and a friend mentioned about public golf courses where you could hire clubs etc. Didn't know such places existed! Learned my golf at Lullingstone on the 9 hole course. First time I played 18 holes it took 6 hours!! It was a case of smack it in the woods / rough and call the group behind through.

I was a student at Uni and so was able to play alot in holidays. One day I was playing on my own and caught up with two guys who I joined. By the 16th the conversation was where was I a member, when I said nowhere, they said did I want to join there. So that became my first club. My first handicap was 18 (and is still the highest it's ever been). I used to quite regularly play to it by dropping 18 on one nine and none on the other. After a while I managed to hold it together for a couple of rounds and was cut 6 shots in 2 weeks (the old h'cap system you understand). That's one hell of a culture shock! When the new system was introduced I was off 8. The end of year review cut me to 7 and everbody got a shot back under the new system - back to 8.

Since then I joined a private club, went through a swing change because I could not draw a ball, went up to 12 and now have worked my way back down to 7.1 (Played one round off 6.4 in 1998, so that's the lowest I've ever been). I am so much better now than when I was off 8 under the old h'cap system.

I've been Club Captain twice!

------

My bag
Driver Ping G5 10.5 deg firm graphite shaft
3 and 5 wood Callaway steel varishafts
3 to wedge Mizuno MP30 (0.5" long, 2 deg upright) stiff steel shafts
Wedges Mizuno Tour Style 52 deg (with 7 deg bounce) and 56 deg (with 8 deg bounce)
Putter Odessey white hot number 2

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I started with some lessons (one per day for a week) at Sandown Park in the middle of the racecourse. My dad got me in as a junior aged 10 at Wimbledon Common. I started off around 18 handicap but had a pretty good aptitude for the game and helped by spending every day possible I got down to single figures.

I spent most of the 5th form at school working for £40 per week (good money cash in hand in 1982) and then left school and became the assistant there. Tried to turn pro but my parents couldn't afford to put me through PGA training and theclub and pro wouldn't sponsor me.

I stayed at the club after I got into full time employment but beer, women and football came along and I stopped. Rejoined the club for a couple of years around 1994 but in the end I had to choose between seeing my girlfriend (now HID) and golf. It was a close run thing but she got me drunk one night I chose her.

Stopped playing until I moved into my current house. A guy from another department at the place I was at bought a house opposite and it turned out he played at Royal Ascot and his dad was captain that year. He got me in and I played at the old course in the middle of Ascot racecourse for about 6 years. Started playing badly and got disenchanted and the course was cut to nine holes as part of the building of the new course so I decided to jack it in.

Rejoined the current Ascot (purpose built new course) in January 2006 and have been playing and living golf 24/7 since. I have totally got my mojo back and now want to try and recapture some lost magic. I have days where I can play nine holes in level (or one or two over) and it is like the old days where it came naturally. Sadly I can't keep it going all the way round.

2009 is going to be my year. Back with my new coach and a schedule sorted to really work on the scoring zone (100 yards and in, chipping, putting and bunker play).

 

[forefortheday]

Was always a console geek then discovered Tiger Woods on the PS2..........

After going 60 under par on it I thought "It can't be that hard"

My boss at work was always going on about playing a round one day and mentioned he had a set of clubs for sale for £50 bag included (Ben Sayers) after I expressed an interest in starting.

Got 6 lessons off one of the most arrogant pro's I've met (although Mr Poulter hasn't crossed my path yet) and got on the muni.

One early round included 3 air shots at a par 3 with a crowd behind.I heard someone say "Take it easy lad" to which I snapped back then realised that Golf was a gentlemans game and the guy was trying to help!,It also included a 3 wood from miles that landed 6 foot from the pin.PS2 got sold not long after.

I think my greatest achivement was during a round with a father and son I met on the first tee,Played a short par 4 with a pond covering the right hand side of the green and fairway,landed in line with the pin but had to hit across the pond to a pin on the back right about 80 yards away.Turned to the father and said I had this shot last week and nearly put it in,he smiled said "You must be brave" took out my SW and caught it nicely putting it nice and close to the pin.

He started clapping politely I was 10 feet tall then a bloke walked over from the next fairway and said "Have you seen my ball"??? Yes mine was in the rough 5 yards away but I still love remembering that shot!

Play as often as I can and after 3 years I think (hope,pray) my swings starting to resemble a golfers swing and not a collection of body parts all moving to different rythms!

 

[Smiffy]

One early round included 3 air shots at a par 3 with a crowd behind.I heard someone say "Take it easy lad"

I remember when I first started playing, stood on a tough par 4 and caught the ball really fat, I only just moved it off the front of the tee.
Some wag in the group behind said "you can see why this one is stroke index one!"
Knob

 

[viscount17]

my first round of golf was in 1973 on the Eden at St Andrews using a borrowed half set. I'd gone with a couple of guys off the squadron who played a bit (we, though RN, were stationed at RAF Leuchars next door and got a special rate). I played hockey, same game nearly isn't it - and didn't play again!

Cut to Malaysia 2006. My company had sent me over (kicking and screaming honest ) for a few weeks and with the job done the guys who were based there took me out for 9 holes one afternoon, dodging thunderstorms as we went. my mate said 'hit one good shot, you'll be happy', I hit four and was hooked.

Came back, bought a set of Petrons, and started lessons in the new year, played a few par 3's but then joined the club and have played 18-holes ever since. Took the Petron's back after a few weeks when I snapped the head off the 7-iron and traded up for a set of Ben Sayers. They have slowly been replaced and been passed on to my No. 2 son, though he hasn't started yet.

spent the first year on lessons, range time and course time, then got my handicap Jan this year, unfortunately it's gone the wrong way but I've had a few good rounds and am just waiting for it to gel.

love playing new courses, which I do with the society at work, guys off the forum and a mate at work - I've now managed 27 courses in less than 2 years, including one in Spain, with at least one more to come after xmas.

I would class myself as a confirmed addict.

 

[Imurg]

Imurg

I wouldn't mind meeting up for a game in the week if you usually play on your own,Aylesbury isn't very far from me.

Sounds good. Only I quite often only get 3 hour windows to play in and I can't always tell when they'll be. I can get round on my own in 2 1/2 or so. But lets work on it and see what we can do.

Where are you and where do you play?

 

[ademac]

I live in south oxford, I play all over as I'm not a member. I've played weston turville a few times near wendover.

 

[Imurg]

Not one I've played Ademac - strange as I only live 3 par 4's away from it!!!!

 

[ademac]

I find it a nice course, however, I've not been playing very long! A bloke I play
with now and then is the same standard as I see you are and he enjoyed it.

 

[Herbie]

I started knocking balls about when I was 17 (1975) then joined the army and began playing (after a lot of practice)when introduced to Sennelager Golf club W/Germany (as it was)by other squaddies, I was grateful to a staff sgt I knew who showed me a thing or two.

Over the years Ive been a member at 8 clubs and a free spirit in between.
Best standard I reached was h/c of 6 but playing better than that on many occasions. Sennelager club was one of the two clubs I held a h/c greater than 9, for most of my golf I have been 9 or below.

Greatest achievements....
Shooting a 84 at St Andrews OC on my first visit on a very windy day.

Making Par on 5 of the courses I was a member at.

Shooting 78 on the Hotchkin and 82 on the Bracken the following day.(Bracken ..I had a 7 on a par 4)two great days of golf on a great course.

Playing for the club A team, last minute call up, in the last pair to go out, partner played lousy, my golf won the round and halved the match for the club, I had played a cracking round against low single figure players.

Had MS attack in 2004 found it impossible to work and forced out in 2005, layed up (literally) for 6 months, tried a couple of magical MS medicines that made me ill for 4 days just to get two decent days.Came off the lot and followed my own path of dealing with it. The residual stuff is there all the time and the stuff that comes and goes Im learning to deal. It was a fear that I couldnt play golf at all but after a time I found a way to play with numb soles of feet where balance is sometimes affected, the perminent numbness in lower half of arms and hands that fluctuates, the constant muscle aches (the signal is real, whether they are actually aching is another matter ) the fatigue, headaches and tingles down the spine,ass and legs all which fluctuate to varying degrees makes the fact that I have just been given 9 h/c at my new club the biggest achievement yet.

I have had several small wins in local comps/team efforts and one or two placings in the odd major club comp but they all fade when I look at my golf today and how Im sustaining it,especially when sometimes I cant even feel the club in my hand, dont know how hard I am holding it.

 

[Robo]

Can remember the first time I hit a ball, 1983 summer hols,
was playing football when one of my mates turned up with his Dad's 7 iron, first hit went miles arrow straight.The the harder I tried to hit it the more air shots I did...back to football!
Fast forward to my 21st birthday and my Dad had been on at me to play 18 with him. Well I did not want to disappoint him (thinking old mans game). Well 134 shots later and just one wedge out of the middle and I was hooked. Just that one shot did it for me. Football was getting harder (well my waist line was getting bigger) so went for a game with some work mates. That was it - hooked! First HC was 18, joined a club and now off 10. Now play and practise as much as I can (kids allowing!)love everything about the game.

 

[Dodger]

Started when I could 1st hold a club apparently,my old man plays so he had me down at Goswick as soon as I could walk!
Have played all my life at Goswick and couldn't wish to play at a better place,good golf,good weather usually and good mates to play with.
I managed to get down to 1.4 briefly(very briefly) aged 17 and won our club championship and managed to represent my county a few times at junior level where we came up against David Howell representing Wiltshire while we had a certain Ken Ferrie in the team aged 13!By christ he was even good at that age!
That year has the best achievments in my golfing life but golf takes a bit of self discipline and maturity(esp at the weekends) to succeed in and sadly those are not 2 of my finest qualities so it's been a steady decline handicap wise since!
I still love nothing more than playing competitively and captain our league team(usually to 2nd fu++ing place sadly)each season and play most club comps throughout summer and winter and enjoy the yearly boys foreign tour where everyones golf seems to start well and get worse as the trip goes on,funny that,must be the sun!
Hopefully health will let me keep playing the game I love til I'm so old that I have to purchase 1 of those things that you stick on the end of your putter grip cos your too stiff to bend down to fetch it out the hole!

I've been lucky enough to play over 125 courses by my rough reckoning, some great some not so great but most have something that I manage to remember them by,that's why it such a great game...the variety.

My top 3 Fav courses would be:

1:Royal County Down-Simply superb,a great test of golf with,great views to the sea and the mountains of Mourne, lovely shaggy looking bunker faces and the 1st to the 10th are the best run of holes you are ever likely to play and the rest of the holes aint to shabby either!

2:Old Course-I must have played here over a dozen time and each time I go there I get more and more excited and each time I play I learn something new on how to play it,I defy anyone to stand on the 1st tee and not feel like you are the most special place on golfing earth.

3:Goswick-No,maybe not the best course top 3 wise, but for me it's the place that will forever have a big place in my life and another course I will never tire of playing.

 

[ricardodaintino]

Up until I was around 21 I had only ever really hit a golf ball on pitch and putt, crazy golf and the occasional trip to the driving range. I had the most appalling baseball style grip and could only slug the ball happy gilmore style (without the yardage!).

The local pro gave me a quick 10 minute pointer on gripping the club and really helped me out ( ithink he was worried I'd kill someone!).

I never really picked up a club again though until I was about 25 and hacked it around a municipal for a friends birthday. I did however enjoy it so much I bought some cheap dunlop clubs and started to learn the game properly.

I have still only been able to afford 1 lesson in the last 2 years and need help to get my handicap under 20 but I love the sport.

Play once a week in the summer and range twice a week in the winter but struggle to get out on the course more then 3 times a month this time of year.

But the game has totally got me! I love it. I read magazines constantly go to all the shows, read books about the history of the game and try to get out to at least 1 pro event a year to see how its really done...

... I also spend a stupid amount of time on a certain Golf Forum reading about and discussing the great game!