Why do people think they can play golf?

[USER1999]

Trying to get a little Friday afternoon work outing organised. I play a bit, one of the guys belongs to a society, and one plays nomadic golf most weekends. Handicap wise we are a 10, roughly 18, and roughly 22. Should be fun if we can ever find a suitable date.

A couple of others are up for it, and want to join us. Have you ever hit a golf ball before? No, but it would be fun to come along and play. Can't be that hard, I reckon I would hit it round somewhere in the 80's. By the way, what does par mean?

I have offered to take one of them to the golf range, but he isn't interested in hitting balls, just wants to get out there and play.

The other one used to play about 3 Fridays a year when he was at school, 20 years ago, and says his overall game is pants, but he can putt. How would he know? He can't understand why I am less than positive about inviting him. Bear in mind we are only going to get about 3 1/2 hours daylight, tops.

Why do idiots think you can just turn up, and play a game of golf when you have never, ever tried to hit a ball. They get upset when you say no.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Because people who don't play don't understand. I mean, hitting a ball with a bat, piece of piss isn't it...



ETA, i'd take them out and then laugh when you've got to walk off at the 8th when it's pitch dark

 

[chrisd]

I know what you mean Murph. I had a company rep in yesterday and golf came up. He said he was going to start playing and was looking at a cheap set from somewhere. I said that he should go to the range for an hour and without worrying about anything technical just try putting a club to ball. After that I said that he should book 2 lessons, the first to get the grip, posture, stance and alignment and religiously major on getting those absolutely ingrained and then take the second lesson to get the swing basics sorted.

Frankly he didn't take in a word of the advice and just wittered on about whether the clubs would be any good and what number clubs he should use etc etc

Gave up in the end and I hope he is never out in front of me!

Chris

 

[Smiffy]

Handicap wise we are a 10, roughly 18, and roughly 22.

Yours should read "roughly" too shouldn't it?

 

[MashieNiblick]

Why? because golf is a really really easy game. I mean look how big the ball is! and the clubs. Can't miss. The hole's massive, over 4 inches wide and usually only about 3-400 yards away, 600 at most and sometimes less than 200! with just a few trees, ditches, lakes and those sand filled things in the way. Game for kids really.

 

[USER1999]

One of my Chinese suppliers has taken it up. He went for a lesson, and struggled to hit the ball. He couldn't understand it, as it should be easy. He based his opinion on how easy golf would be watching Tiger Woods.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Go out and play your normal game. Ince you get to the green (providing you don't shank the chip) stand there and wait while they look for the ball and hack their way up. They will soon get the hint.

On a more serious note though why not say that most clubs won't let beginners out these days and that he should say get some lessons or insist that he goes to the range at the very least before you agree to play. Tell him it's for his own benefit and when he gets to the range and starts he'll see what you mean

 

[haplesshacker]

It's the same as we think a bit of how's your father should be like 91/2 weeks with Kim Basinger. But the reality………

 

[chrisd]

I remember talking golf with a window fitter at work one day where he said that he would be really good at golf as he was great at it on his games consol and it must be very similar in real life!

Is that why I'm S**t at Tiger Woods 10?


Chris

 

[forefortheday]

I remember talking golf with a window fitter at work one day where he said that he would be really good at golf as he was great at it on his games consol and it must be very similar in real life!

Is that why I'm S**t at Tiger Woods 10?


Chris

This was me 4 years ago!

I'm testament that it's a lie!

 

[patricks148]

A bit harsh.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

I used to get invited to end of season cricket club golf outings for years and never had any interest until one of 20 over teams I was I ringer for invited me to theirs.
They were a great bunch of guys and it was a bit of a p*ss up. A few of them were good golfers and it was held at Aldwickbury park golf club. Someone lent me a set, I think they were blades and the woods were woods.

I had never hit a golf club before, sliced the first shot into the trees. But from then on I was hooked. That was only 5 years ago and am now down to single figures. It’s all about fun after all.

 

[Smiffy]

A bit harsh.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

I totally agree.












But preferably not on the course I'm playing on at the time

 

[The_LHC]

Having said all that my step-son-in-law decided he fancied a go a couple of months ago, he's played pitch and putt once or twice in the past but nothing beyond that, so I decided to take him to the local par 3 course.

His stance is terrible, legs too far apart and feet at 90 degrees to each other, he looks like he's squatting to take a sh*te rather than hit a golf ball, he's got very little shoulder turn but he's strong and pretty athletic so he gets the clubhead back to the ball. Doesn't get the same sort of distance I do, but he's pretty straight.

B45t4rd beat me by a shot!

 

[Macster]

I remember years ago, aged 23 saying to my dear old Father-in-law, who was off 5 @ the time, that I fancied taking up Golf, and thought that 'I could get down to Single figures' pretty quickly.
He just smiled, and encouraged me, but never said a word !

24yrs later, I finally managed it, albeit briefly.

We all like to think the game's easy, before we play !

 

[chrisd]

We all like to think the game's easy, before we play !

The game IS easy <u>before</u> we play!



Chris

 

[Oddsocks]

We have the same perception with motocross. because people watch it on tele they assume that they will be as fast as people who are paid millions of pounds a year to win titles. " how hard can it be, site on a motorbike and twist that handle bar thingy in a field "

Like most sports which people havent tried, their guage things on what they watch on a big in the comfort of their own home, the never take into account:

Bad lies, because on TV courses are preped to perfection
Wind, because the TV doesnt show it
Damp heavy ground, because most courses mint condition
Rain, because they can get wet in the chair
Restriction of layers....
Bounces on different ground.....
Duff shots.....
Noise distractions.....
Alcohol effect from the night before.....
Some tw@t in your groups who's phone keeps ringing....

we only guage our perfection on any sport played under extremely controled conditions, on perfectly prepared tracks/circuits/courses, byt athletes who train 300 days a year to be good at it for the 50 days a year that their pair to compete at the level they do.

Now who fancies a crack at formula 1, i reckon i could give that webber fella a run for he's money, my mates TDI mondeo should be plenty quick enough.

 

[colint]

It is strange that some people don't get how difficult the game can be, but I suppose if they don't play they won't know.

A colleague of mine plays rugby and is quite a powerful lad, he came to a night at Urban Golf (the indoor simulator thing) and he couldn't understand why he wasn't getting the longest drive

 

[daymond]

On the origanal post tell them they have got 115 shots incl. putts and when they have used them send them back to the bar to get the drinks in.

 

[Paul_Stewart]

Go out and play your normal game. Ince you get to the green (providing you don't shank the chip) stand there and wait while they look for the ball and hack their way up. They will soon get the hint..

Martin, that is your normal game

 

[ADB]

Things can be different - before I got married I took my then girlfriend to a pitch and putt just outside Brighton, she had never swung a club before. On about the 5th hole she tees one up, takes a swing and the ball sails away on a perfect arc 70 or so yards off, bounces twice and disappears in the hole.

Her reaction was amazing as it was as if every golfer expects that to happen, I think she even said 'was that good then'....

Simple game really.