What would you differently

[HomerJSimpson]

OK we all know that we cannot change history and having regrets is futile but if you could change one thing about your golfing career to date what would it be?

Do you wish you had invested in lessons as a beginner? Would you play that crucial hole in a competition differently? Would you have changed golf clubs? Do you want to replay a specific shot again?

Personally I regret not being proactive in finding a way of paying to take my PGA exams when I was 16 (extra jobs, canvassing members for investment etc). My parents couldn't afford the cost and my club wouldn't sponsor me (it was the 80's and not really done - certainly in my neck of the woods). As a result I continued to work for a while as an assistant before becoming disillusioned and quitting altogether for a number of years

 

[madandra]

I would put 'DO' in your title

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm sorry. Not long in from work and full of roast beef carvery and apple pie and thick creamy custard courtesy of my employers. Think it has started to seep into the remnants of my brain. But thank you for picking me up on it. I will write 100 lines and try and be more careful when opening a topic

 

[madandra]

Just edit it and I will delete mine.

 

[hellbunker]

pushed my dad for lessons..Dad was a scratch golfer who played in many Amateur tourneys but didn't spend the time teaching my brother and i. My brother is a 4 h/c, i'm 13 down from 18 '06.
My father passed away recently, but hey!, he's an inspiration everytime i pick up a club....

 

[RGuk]

I wish I'd started younger and golf lessons were a bit cheaper......it kind of grates that I have to pay my pro more than I pay myself.

I had a man come once to ask for my help (I've told this before!!). He wanted to know how much my services would cost. I enquired how long he had studied, to which he replied "6 years". I said, "hmm, 6 years, same as me!" I then enquired what he charged per hour, to which he replied £150.
I toyed with what to ask for......then said, "£150 per hour....sounds fair to me".

You can imagine what the reply was.

 

[pierreman]

started younger, would hopefully have a better handle of the game and be young enough to soak up all the advice given during lessons. if i had i would not be as bad as i am now

 

[RGuk]

"Je tiens je n'avais pas visité l'eau."

"I wish I had not visited the water."

Jean van de Velde

 

[MVP]

Bought my clubs of of titleist inastead of ping! and got them custom fitted properly!!

 

[viscount17]

definitely started earlier, preferably where I could play all year and never see winter tees or greens.

 

[TonyN]

Yep, starting earlier for me too. And maybe even tried to follow a carear in it too. Its just so hard to get into.

 

[HTL]

Started earlier.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There are a number of you that wish they had started earlier and given what a persuasive temptress this game is that is understandable. What else do you wish you had done differently.

I wished I had entered more opens when I was at my competitive best. I know I could play well at that time but only really played in club competitions, matches and pro-ams (where the atmosphere always seemed quite relaxed and not as competitive as I thought they would be)

So apart from the early beginnings what else have you done that you wish you could change.

 

[minty18]

I alway wish I had played out sideways rather than trying the fantasy shot through the tree's! Damn, it gets me every time, when will i learn.

 

[Mr_Top_Shot]

A lot of you guys say start earlier, at what age would you liked to have started playing?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I started about 10. Went to Sandown Park with my dad. They were running a week long clinic for an hour. They taught the basics day by day and we had a dustbin full of balls for the group to use. I stayed behind every day hitting extra balls with my dad watching and helping.

Not sure I wanted to start much earlier. Had played kiddies sunday morning football, was in an athletics club, in scouts etc so golf never really featured on my radar.

Mind you once that bug had bitten everything else began to fall by the wayside as I got better and my handicap tumbled.

 

[viscount17]

Late, very late, very very late starter - so 20, 30, 40 years ago.

New motto for us all? Do something useful - encourage the kid who is annoying you on the range.

 

[mass]

i stopped playing when i was 17, you would think having a car would be better so you didn't have to pushbike to the course!!
wish i had kept on playing

 

[GB72]

I too wish I hard started earlier in life, but not by much. My ability to play rugby to any decent standard had been dwindling for a good 2 or 3 years before I finally gave up the oval ball and picked up a golf club. The experience of improving at a game again as opposed to getting progessively worse is superb so wish I had given up rugby a bit earlier and moved onto golf 2-3 years ago.
Have also been to some wonderful places on holiday in those years and now regret that I did not play some of the superb local courses.

 

[TonyN]

i would of love to have been as little as like 3 or 4 when i first started so a club would of been natural by time iwas like 7 or 8. I must admit i played so much other sport and football at a good level that i never had time for golf. Now i work and football can no longer be concentrated on, golf fits in perfectly. Rather than wishing on what i could of done though i am gonna make a promise to my self to

A) join a club
B) get handicap asap
C) play asmuch competitive golf as possible
D) Go to a ryder cup before i die.