Golf

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skeggysteve

Original Poster:

5,724 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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Can't remember it being discussed on here before so I thought I'd comment.

When I met Mrs Skeggy she played golf (off 4 eek) and convinced me to have a go.

I did and liked it. Played badly but still enjoyed the couple of shot I got/hit right in a round.

Then we didn't play for years, kids/work/etc. got in the way.

But oldest Son has got into it - lessons in 6th form at school - and we have started to play again.

I still like it, and still play badly biggrin

But this evening I went with my, now 19yo son, and had 9 holes.

It was great, he plays very, very well, but he was talking to me like a mate and helping me with my game.

I've decided I'm going to play a lot more.

So come on give us your golf stories/tips/etc.

Steve

central

16,744 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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Blue Meanie

73,668 posts

256 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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I took up golf at the local driving range. I am very, very, VERY bad! I can whack the ball a good distance, but no telling which way it's going to go. Very enjoyable, especially if you don't take it too seriously, like some of the chequered pants brigade.

SS HSV

9,642 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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Had a MK1, bit rusty round the arches but went like stink. Wish I kept her as she would be worth a fortune now.

edited to say

Ah beer, wonderful thing really biggrin

Edited by SS HSV on Saturday 4th August 01:58

yeovilmac

11,858 posts

216 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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Nice going Steve.

I started playing about twelve years ago after several aborted attempts on pitch and putt courses. I got myself a cheap set of clubs, a bag, a trolley and other assorted golf clutter and found myself some mates who played.....

Best decision I ever made. Eventually joined a club for £28 a month for unlimited golf and used the membership to its utmost, often playing four or five times a week. Often played three rounds on a Sunday ( 7am medal round, 11am bacon butties, 11.30am second round to mark someones scorecard, 3.00pm lunch then 3.30pm a friendly "try something different" round ) and was hanging when I got home. Played in the County Championship for my handicap (14) and played Gleneagles in 1999 shooting a gross 89 after not touching my woods all the way around.

Now twelve years on I hardly play. Just started going out with a new g/f who likes golf so will probably try to start up again. Last played three years ago and won the competition I entered on a par 3 eighteen hole course. I know, more than anything else I've done as a hobby, that I'm good enough to be satisfied with my game. It is such an addictive game to play though and the beauty of it is that the next shot you play could be an absolute blinder that even Lord Woods himself couldn't replicate.

Enjoy it, Steve, it really is a great game. Good luck.

kylemrushall

1,922 posts

205 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
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Hi

I have been a PGA Pro for 15 years and have played since i was 11, so i would say the game is in my blood. I have recently taken on a new job away from Golf, i am now playing again for fun and starting to love it again!!

The game is all about accuracy, power is a huge asset but is useless without the former. If you hit it straight and putt/chip well you will beat most people.

You MUST take lessons from a good PGA PRO and learn the grip, setup, posture etc. 80% of the faults in your swing can be traced to a poor setup!! Until you do this you will never reach your full potential. Admittingly it will feel ackward at first but dont give in else you will never improve.

I hope this helps?? It is an awesome game but it is also the hardest and most difficult game to master to any degree.

skeggysteve

Original Poster:

5,724 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th August 2007
quotequote all
kylemrushall said:
learn the grip, setup, posture etc. 80% of the faults in your swing can be traced to a poor setup!! Until you do this you will never reach your full potential.
The first thing Mrs Skeggy did was to take me to a lesson with a Pro. Very worth while.

But...

Not long after I started playing I was on the tee and Mrs Skeggy was telling me what to do.

There was a guy watching me tee off and heard what she was saying.

I hit a near perfect shot, his response to Mrs Skeggy - do you give lessons biggrin

Playing yesterday I noticed that whilst I didn't hit the ball a long way I was reasonably straight but some other players hit their balls a long way but not in the right direction.

Now I've just got to have the confidence to believe in myself to hit the ball further.

As has been said - one good shot is worth it..

yeovilmac

11,858 posts

216 months

Sunday 5th August 2007
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As far as hitting the ball far goes, as has been said before, it isn't everything. I'm 6'4" tall and should by rights be able to belt the ball as far as I go on holiday. I could try to do that but I would lose all my accuracy.

Sorry to sound like a boast but when I played Gleneagles, I purposely ignored the woods in my bag and just used irons all the way around. The plan was on the par fours / fives to hit a long iron, leave myself a short / medium iron onto / near the green, chip on and maximum two putt. That would get you a 5/6 on most of the long holes and 4's on the short holes, giving you a round of circa 90 on most courses. That would be good enought to win a fair few of your matches and keep your score down to a good level.

Power isn't everything, it helps certainly, but without the ability to harness it, it's worthless!

kylemrushall

1,922 posts

205 months

Sunday 5th August 2007
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Being 6 4" is irrelavant in golfing terms it is a handicap as you are always going to struggle to maintain good posture and as a result you swing plane will suffer.

Im sure Mrs S is a tidy player but with up most of respect she is not trained to teach you, a lesson a month for a year and you will be a different player................. I PROMISE

Tycho

11,648 posts

274 months

Wednesday 8th August 2007
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Hitting @ 80% of your full power will probably give you most of your full power distance but much more accuracy. When I realised this, my handicap dropped by about 3 or 4 shots immediately.

Also, practice your putting!!!! It is probably the least interesting thing to practice when all you want to do is belt it as far down the range as possible but it will knock strokes off your handicap.

As has been said, get lessons. When I started I had 1 lesson a week and practiced twice a week and within months I was on par (see what I did there biggrin) with my mates who had been playing for 10 years.

riwiho

3,798 posts

216 months

Thursday 9th August 2007
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Tycho said:
Hitting @ 80% of your full power will probably give you most of your full power distance but much more accuracy. When I realised this, my handicap dropped by about 3 or 4 shots immediately.

Also, practice your putting!!!! It is probably the least interesting thing to practice when all you want to do is belt it as far down the range as possible but it will knock strokes off your handicap.

As has been said, get lessons. When I started I had 1 lesson a week and practiced twice a week and within months I was on par (see what I did there biggrin) with my mates who had been playing for 10 years.
Putting and my short game are the areas where I have developed the most over recent times. About 5 minutes from the office a new short course opened up a year or so ago with holes ranging from 90 - 130 yards. Its kept in amazing condition and the greeens are very good (big, undulating and fast), heading down there once a week really does my short game the world of good and its here where shots are gained.

Tycho

11,648 posts

274 months

Thursday 9th August 2007
quotequote all
riwiho said:
Tycho said:
Hitting @ 80% of your full power will probably give you most of your full power distance but much more accuracy. When I realised this, my handicap dropped by about 3 or 4 shots immediately.

Also, practice your putting!!!! It is probably the least interesting thing to practice when all you want to do is belt it as far down the range as possible but it will knock strokes off your handicap.

As has been said, get lessons. When I started I had 1 lesson a week and practiced twice a week and within months I was on par (see what I did there biggrin) with my mates who had been playing for 10 years.
Putting and my short game are the areas where I have developed the most over recent times. About 5 minutes from the office a new short course opened up a year or so ago with holes ranging from 90 - 130 yards. Its kept in amazing condition and the greeens are very good (big, undulating and fast), heading down there once a week really does my short game the world of good and its here where shots are gained.
Exactly, I can play once every few months and my long game is probably at 80%-90% of when I play once a week wheras my short game is extremely poor compared to when I play regularly. Having said that, my putting is shite whenever I play cos I don't practice....

riwiho

3,798 posts

216 months

Friday 10th August 2007
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Tycho said:
riwiho said:
Tycho said:
Hitting @ 80% of your full power will probably give you most of your full power distance but much more accuracy. When I realised this, my handicap dropped by about 3 or 4 shots immediately.

Also, practice your putting!!!! It is probably the least interesting thing to practice when all you want to do is belt it as far down the range as possible but it will knock strokes off your handicap.

As has been said, get lessons. When I started I had 1 lesson a week and practiced twice a week and within months I was on par (see what I did there biggrin) with my mates who had been playing for 10 years.
Putting and my short game are the areas where I have developed the most over recent times. About 5 minutes from the office a new short course opened up a year or so ago with holes ranging from 90 - 130 yards. Its kept in amazing condition and the greeens are very good (big, undulating and fast), heading down there once a week really does my short game the world of good and its here where shots are gained.
Exactly, I can play once every few months and my long game is probably at 80%-90% of when I play once a week wheras my short game is extremely poor compared to when I play regularly. Having said that, my putting is shite whenever I play cos I don't practice....
Practice is needed.

This sport is not like riding a bike is it. Because of the rain I had not played for a good 8 weeks and when I finally got on the course earlier this week my game was so bad I could have cried.

skeggysteve

Original Poster:

5,724 posts

218 months

Friday 10th August 2007
quotequote all
Many thanks for all the advice.

To answer a few points:

Kylemrushall: I know what you are saying. Mrs S is still very good but as you said is not a 'teacher' but she can look at my swing and tell me what to do, but, unlike a pro lesson, she 'can' get annoyed when she thinks I'm not doing what she tells me biggrin

Tycho: If I don't try then I nearly alway hit a good shot, trouble is I get carried away and try to hard mad
Of course when I try to hard I screw the shot up frown
I've always been good at putting, don't know why or how I do it, I just get it right. Getting to the green is my problem.

Riwiho: Yes I agree, practice is the secret.

So a couple of questions:

How do I keep my swing consistent?

Why does the ball go to the right when I hit a good tee shot?

Thanks to all,

Steve

R1 GTR

2,152 posts

214 months

Tuesday 28th August 2007
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Just started browsing the sports forum as i only normally look in my favourites.

I started because my dad plays. TBH im getting to the stage where 3 or 4 lessons and a handicap would probably see me playing better than him.