Six years since I started my crazy golfing journey!

[ChrisB0210]

I was looking at Facebook last night when the memories feature brought up previous posts made over the years. I was surprised to see that six years ago to the day was when I'd dusted the old sticks off and gone to the range to hit my first golf balls in 7 years...

That got me thinking back about what's happened since then, good and bad and a couple of important lessons I've learned in that time.

I suppose the first thing that is now apparent is that I effectively wasted my first 3 years as I had a coach that didn't believe in regular lessons and didn't believe in giving me drills to practice away from lessons. I basically had 3 years making minimal progress and becoming more frustrated. Since changing just over 2 1/2 years ago I've improved beyond recognition and know that there's still more to come. The key has been regular lessons, decent practice plans and decent support and debriefs.

The second is equipment. I made the mistake of getting rid of my original clubs and buying all new before I had a lesson. I should have invested the cash in lessons. I then bought a further set 3 years ago as the first set wasn't really suitable. With hindsight I would have had lessons and then got myself fitted for new clubs once I had got my game to a reasonable level.

I can honestly say I've enjoyed it, even the bad parts and look forward to whatever the next few years have in store for me golf-wise!

 

[huds1475]

Can identify with a lot of that.

Learning how to learn would describe my first 3 years.

Communication with your coach / pro is key. The more the better.

 

[Nobbi]

Iv just started again after 5 years. Was off 12 best before but started going up due to not being shown properly and teaching myself. Gone away, had a family and now Iv been playing again for the last 2 months. Just joined my local club. Had a lesson a month or so ago. I put my cards in and have been given a 16 handicap.
I wasted from the age of 14 until roughly 25 playing golf the wrong way. Used to hold it in my palm. Never started the swing with my legs.
I shot 9 over at the weekend following advice from my pro to play safe golf. Another lesson booked for next week.
I wonder where my game could be if I started off properly.
Good luck and enjoy the next 6 years

 

[ChrisB0210]

Nobbi, thanks for the kind words.

I did similar in my teens. Started out the usual crazy golf, putting, pitch and putt before having a few goes at the local muni. I then didn't play much due to personal circumstances between my early and mid twenties. Following a change of personal circumstances I started to visit the muni again and bought my first set of clubs, although didn't get fitted or bother with lessons. I played as a pay and play hacker for the 4 or so years before running out of pp's due to weddings and kids.

Looking back I should have had lessons when I had to chance to go to a residential golf school in my early 30's rather than waiting 11 years and then managing to effectively waste 3 further years.

Like you I wish I'd got myself a proper grounding in the game at a younger age - that's why my 8 yr old is having (and loving) lessons and is already looking like she could be a decent golfer if she sticks with it!

It sounds like you're making good progress with it all since you came back to it, hope it continues and you carry on bagging the good scores 👍🏻

 

[Oddsocks]

At 15 I was playing off 20 and a friend of 13 playing off 28.

I had breaks from the sport due to other hobbies and he stuck at it. At 35 I got to at, at 33 he got to +3/+4 and played the euro tour for a few years before now just enjoying club golf with his father off +2

Oh what may have been