When you first started playing golf what did you....

[Region3]

My Dad played before I was born, but then packed up.
In the school holidays, before the internet and 'no ball games' signs went up on every local park, I took my Dads old 8 iron over the playing fields and just tried to hit it.

The head was really thin, had a hickory shaft, and dimples instead of grooves!

My only goal when I started was to 'hit the ball in the air' every time.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You know what, I don't really know. I've always been intrigued by things I can't do. I didn't really know anything about the game, I knew nothing about handicaps or stableford or nett scores. It was just a fascination with getting the lowest score possible and hitting what I considered at the time to be good golf shots.

Thinking about, nothing much has really changed. I still play golf for the same reasons. I still play every round to get the lowest gross score and even if I scramble a good score I'm not happy if I don't hit the ball well.

 

[kid2]

At first i just tookm it up for a hobby.....I played alot of football when i first took up golf but since having a bad injury last year playing ball iv had to retire...Earlier than i wanted to......

But in saying that it has been a blessing in disguise.....
Im now posessed with the game and and stared with an official handicap of 21 10 months agon and i have dropped 5 shots since...Currently of 15.8

With all the football i have played some 29 years of it i have brought my competitiveness into my golf....

I apply myself to golf the way i applied myself to football
I practice twicea week and play every weekend and more in the summer......

My goal is to get to and maintain a single figure handicap one day and hopefully with some hard work i will.....I have the ability i hope and the desire and passion for the game and im a stubborn **ck as well....I hate giving into something and ill keep at it until iv grasped it.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Like a few others I started playing because I stopped playing Rugby after an illness.

I had played golf when I was younger but not to any real standard.

I took it up in March as I needed a sport, a hobby, something to focus the mind on away from work. It was to get some exercise and relieve stress. Thankfully it has achieved both! I now am a lot healthier mentally and physically.

Since then it has become a big part of my life.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I took it up because I wanted to play with my dad. Had a bit of talent and wanted to get as low as I could. Did ok for a few years and then grew disenchanted with not being able to take it any further. When I got back into it I thought I was still capable of playing to the standard I once had and its only in the last six months that that particular penny has finally dropped once and for all. I still want to achieve single figures again.

Did I get everything I wanted. Probably not. Was I capable of getting it anyway. Again probably not. What it has done is givine me some great pleasure, extraordinary amounts of heartache and grief and the chance to meet lots of different people and so I think thats a fair return

 

[Golfmmad]

After trawling the Country for the best part of 6 years driving my Daughter to Table Tennis tournaments, she discovered boys and a social life!

Then it was my turn, so I took up Golf and absolutely love the game. I play more for the enjoyment rather than worrying too much about scoring. Although I would like to get down to 18. But only playing once a week and no practice, it could take a while.

To me the social side is important and have made some good friends over the years. And the wonders of modern technology have brought me to this place. Have met some top blokes and played some great courses - long may it continue.....

So James, what's your story good buddy?

Golfmmad.

 

[USER1999]

My names James, coulda been a contender, but I'm made of chocolate.

Oh, me, no expectations from golf. My sport was fencing, Epee to be precise. Was rocketing up the rankings with realistic expectations of making a top 5 nationally, got married and quit. Women heh? And she was ranked 5 in the womens. Coached me too. Once married, mortgage, flat to do up, no time and no money. Last year seriously contending did 55k miles in my car.

Golf, meant to be fun. Yet to find it so.

 

[JustOne]

My names James, coulda been a contender, but I'm made of chocolate

I played in a society game and played really well... was totally hooked from day one, thought I could get quite good at the game until I realised my wrist is really a Wispa Bar

At the time I was running my own business and I just wanted to get good enough not to make a knob outta myself when playing... still trying to achieve that

 

[Smiffy]

Had no interest in golf at all until I started working in a car showroom in Tunbridge Wells in the mid 80's. The finance rep at the time asked me if I played, I said "No" but he convinced me to go out and have a try.
My older (snobbish) brother played to a reasonable level, and I thought "if he can do it, so can I".
Borrowed my Father in laws set of rusty old 60's blades with worn out grips and went out and gave it a bash.
After about 3 months I bought my first "proper" set of irons and woods and carried on playing friendly knockabouts, hitting the odd good shot but loads of duff ones (a bit like today really) and by that time the bug had got hold of me. Joined Crowborough Beacon as it was fairly close to me, I didn't realise at the time what a great course it was, it was purely for convenience!
I don't know what it was that I was looking to get out of it, maybe it was a hidden sibling rivalry that one day I could take on my brother and beat him. I did a few years later but very rarely played with him due to his aforementioned snobbery. I dislike him intensely for that.

 

[Billysboots]

I first picked up a club way back in the late 70's, and started playing because a few of my mates did. I never really had any goals other than to go out and have some fun.

I gave up when I started working in the mid 1980's because it was either football or cricket at the weekend, with no time for golf, and didn't start again until 12 years ago. My goal then was to get back to the 11 handicap I had as a junior, and I naively thought that would be easy, but equipment had changed so much (as had my swing) that it was a real struggle.

Once I got there two or three years ago, the aim was single figures. I wasn't bothered about winning comps, I just wanted to be a single figure golfer. I got there about a month ago!

My aim now has to be to stay there. I am never going to be a scratch golfer, but if I can get to 5 or 6 I'll die a happy man.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[viscount17]

I would like to be the best I can so that's still a work in being but there was no 'goal' - I'm not goal oriented anyway.
I was given a chance to play one afternoon, loved it and just kept going.

 

[Swinger]

Only ever wanted perfection really. Just leaning to care less when it doesn't happen. Sometimes nowadays I can even accept the fact that bad breaks just happen, but only sometimes.

Never happy with a round of golf and very rarely with any shot.

The game is my religion and has been ingrained in me from a early age. I have no choice but to blindly follow this instinct that tells me to keep playing.

If I have the choice again I'd have put that 7 iron straight back down. Still think I'd have found my way out on the course though.