2blue
Journeyman Pro
I think that this observation is aimed at those who are already 'golfers' not your absolute beginners.
Learning to play golf on the course.
- Thread starter Golfnut1957
- Start date
timd77
Assistant Pro
Fair play to him for having a go and not holding anyone up, but I personally couldn’t think of anything worse. 3-4 hours on a course when you’re not playing your best as an experienced golfer can be absolute purgatory, but if you’re having air shots and tops as well, yikes, no thanks.
Off to Portugal with a group of lads next week, a couple of the sons are coming (early 20s) and are booked in to play. They’ve never played on a course before, only the range. Bricking themselves. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re stopped from playing, we’ll see. Seems crazy to me.
I started off hitting balls with a 7 iron in a field, then went to a pitch and putt, had lessons at my local muni and started playing there too.
Off to Portugal with a group of lads next week, a couple of the sons are coming (early 20s) and are booked in to play. They’ve never played on a course before, only the range. Bricking themselves. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re stopped from playing, we’ll see. Seems crazy to me.
I started off hitting balls with a 7 iron in a field, then went to a pitch and putt, had lessons at my local muni and started playing there too.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
Turning up to a full length 18 hole course as a complete beginner on your own is probably the fasted way to put yourself off the game.
Something similar to arriving at a black run in skiing without even doing a ski school.
You won't enjoy it, you will get "looks" from experienced players, likely feel embarrassed and maybe even put yourself in danger.
We had 2 Italian students turn up after Molinari won the open and decide they would try golf. Took them 7 hours to get round. Backed up the place a fair bit. Had to get a new golf buggy delivered to them as they had ran out of juice.
We managed to get past them on the 10th.
I had a chat to them and they told me why the decided to give it a go. I wished them well but I did inform them about replacing the sizeable divots they were extracting. They were having fun but I don't think they ever returned.
It's not always possible but seasoned golfers should take new players under their wing and advise them on how best to get into the game properly.
Something similar to arriving at a black run in skiing without even doing a ski school.
You won't enjoy it, you will get "looks" from experienced players, likely feel embarrassed and maybe even put yourself in danger.
We had 2 Italian students turn up after Molinari won the open and decide they would try golf. Took them 7 hours to get round. Backed up the place a fair bit. Had to get a new golf buggy delivered to them as they had ran out of juice.
We managed to get past them on the 10th.
I had a chat to them and they told me why the decided to give it a go. I wished them well but I did inform them about replacing the sizeable divots they were extracting. They were having fun but I don't think they ever returned.
It's not always possible but seasoned golfers should take new players under their wing and advise them on how best to get into the game properly.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
There’s a chunk of difference from hitting on the range to on the course, even experienced club players would admit that about their own game
So maybe the bloke did put in several range sessions, maybe even a lesson etc, but standing on that 1st tee (maybe first time) and he’ll have been cacking it. Then trying to hit an actual real-life target on the following holes will still be daunting
It’s the same when you start a new job, no matter the training period your first ‘live’ situation will have the butterflies going, but like the first round on the course it has to be overcome
Its handy if there’s a muni/par 3 or a 9-holer nearby for breaking the duck, but they’re maybe not as thick on the ground as they used to be
So maybe the bloke did put in several range sessions, maybe even a lesson etc, but standing on that 1st tee (maybe first time) and he’ll have been cacking it. Then trying to hit an actual real-life target on the following holes will still be daunting
It’s the same when you start a new job, no matter the training period your first ‘live’ situation will have the butterflies going, but like the first round on the course it has to be overcome
Its handy if there’s a muni/par 3 or a 9-holer nearby for breaking the duck, but they’re maybe not as thick on the ground as they used to be
Golfnut1957
Newbie
My son in laws father has just taken the game up. He's joined the club, had a couple of lessons, and spent some time on the range. I've offered to take him out on the course during quieter times, but he is adamant that he wants to go out on his own during the really quiet periods, like almost empty, good on him, we'll be there when he's ready.
The guy in my OP went out at 12:20 on a Saturday afternoon. Maybe that was a lesson learned.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Yeah another one of the things new players wont have much of a clue about is, when is the best time to tackle the course? (& that'll vary from course to course too)
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Coincidently we had a 3 ½ ball in front of us yesterday morning
The half was the teenage son clearly starting his golf journey and even on the warm up range he near skulled me twice in the next bay when he hit right off the toe
We could see he didn’t take all shots or finish out the hole and the group were nice folks and let us through on the 4th but on a Sun AM the teesheet is pretty busy so I’ve no doubt they will have let several groups through
If they’d tee’d off after 1pm the course was much much quieter with plenty daylight time to get round but who knows if that was even an option for them
The half was the teenage son clearly starting his golf journey and even on the warm up range he near skulled me twice in the next bay when he hit right off the toe
We could see he didn’t take all shots or finish out the hole and the group were nice folks and let us through on the 4th but on a Sun AM the teesheet is pretty busy so I’ve no doubt they will have let several groups through
If they’d tee’d off after 1pm the course was much much quieter with plenty daylight time to get round but who knows if that was even an option for them
IanM
Journeyman Pro
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 13,872
- Location
- Monmouthshire, UK via Guildford!
I'm learning golf ever time I go out!
If we're talking about virtual beginners, going on the course right at the start is a big ask.
I do however think some folk could go on a course earlier than they actually think. They tend also, to be courteous, sensible folk.
The converse happens too!
If we're talking about virtual beginners, going on the course right at the start is a big ask.
I do however think some folk could go on a course earlier than they actually think. They tend also, to be courteous, sensible folk.
The converse happens too!
We have a very academy at my club which will give people lessons and then get them onto the course a hole or two at a time to build up towards a 9 hole assessment lesson to see if the professionals think they are competent to be out unsupervised. We also have a couple of good pitch and putt course which I always think is a far better introduction. There is also a very good 9 hole course at Sandown Park (about 45 minutes away) which is where I learned to play and Hoebridge Golf Centre (about 25 minutes away) that are far better suited to brand new players where they can learn in far friendlier circumstances.
Jigger
Club Champion
Absolutely and golf should be open to you to do that.
yep but still quite relevant.
