Swinging in the UK
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Discussion

UKbob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

294 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
quotequote all
Who plays Golf, and what do you like about the sport? Ive been trying to decide all year about which new sport to take up, Id never considered golf till today, suspect I might enjoy it :yes: and could do with some convincing. Id imagine the clubs dont get much use in winter months in this bloody country though?

ZR1cliff

17,999 posts

278 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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Shucks,thought you were talking about something else

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

275 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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I play golf, dont know why bloody hate it!

I think its something to do woth everyone at work playing it.

Good way to hang out with all the big knobs.

groucho

12,134 posts

275 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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Swinging, big knobs. What's this double-entendre land?

LRdriver II

1,936 posts

278 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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same here.. very frustrating game (I own clubs and enjoy gardening)

Yet, its a great way to hang out with your friends and waste 4 hours followed by a few pints in the bar

bmgm3

10,480 posts

272 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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ZR1cliff said:
Shucks,thought you were talking about something else


a misleading thread title from bob ....never !

UKbob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

294 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
quotequote all
bmgm3 said:

ZR1cliff said:
Shucks,thought you were talking about something else



a misleading thread title from bob ....never !
What in gods name are you two on about? I think im going to pootle along to driving range this afternoon, check out those big knobs, kit on offer, and whack some balls

raf dug

3,515 posts

283 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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UKbob said:
Who plays Golf, and what do you like about the sport? Ive been trying to decide all year about which new sport to take up, Id never considered golf till today, suspect I might enjoy it and could do with some convincing. Id imagine the clubs dont get much use in winter months in this bloody country though?

I used to until I got the saab(you can only get one set of clubs in and no trolley).If your good at it it can be a very relaxing game.I'm not good at it I can hit the ball a long way but not in the direction I wanted it to go, which is no good if there are houses, cows(don't ask) or horses in the field next to the course(all things I have hit in the past.
It can be a very frustrating game I remember waiting 180yds from the green for the players in front to move only to hit the by thing 6 feet, hence my 4 iron is now shaped like a boomerang where I smashed it in to the ground.
Don't let me put you off though I will be taking it up again when I change the car.Hopefully I will have forgotten all my bad habits by then.

Nuggs

4,640 posts

263 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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Bob, it's a great game but can be utterly frustrating (most of the time). Thing is, that a good shot feels so good, it keeps you coming back for more punishment.

One thing I will say is that it's a very difficult game to get into. It takes a lot of practice before you even start to look like you have a remote idea of what you're doing.

My big advice would be to get a couple of cheap clubs (but not too naff - Ben Sayers do good quality budget clubs), get a couple of lessons (not doing this could be fatal; it's so easy to pick up bad habits and almost impossible to get rid of them) and then practice your arse off at a driving range before even heading for a course.

If you go to a course too early, you'll hate it. You'll most likely be crap, hold everyone else up and generally have a stressful time.

If you can find a par-3 local to you, that would be a good stepping stone to going for a full-blooded 18 holer.

Take it easy, at your own pace and it'll be a game for life

rich 36

13,739 posts

295 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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Helpful and easy handicap guide to be had at a local level try these

play through

UKbob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

294 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
quotequote all
Cheers Nuggs, good advice. Lessons would definitely be on the cards! At one point I was paying tennis 8 times a week - technique is everything, its all about ironing out bad habbits and forming good ones etc. I hit 2 buckets of balls this afternoon, didnt know what I was doing but it was fun spoke to the local pro, gonna sign up for lessons (6 half hour lessons for £80! ) and see where it goes. I'll only know if its for me after Ive started.

andy4200

5,125 posts

302 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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I play occasionally, I'm still pretty bad though and try and play bogie golf.
I play because if the wind isn't right to go out paragliding we'll have a game of golf while we wait and see if the weather gets any better.

rich 36

13,739 posts

295 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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Perhaps i'm doing it wrong, got all the right sticks and things, but get some funny looks when it gets to the windmill bit

$lowpoke

1,855 posts

263 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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There's only 3 activities that count as sport: Huntin' shootin' and fishin'.

Myself, I've always thought golf is a waste of good fishing time.

rich 36

13,739 posts

295 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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and walking

Mikey G

4,891 posts

269 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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[quote=$lowpoke] There's only 3 activities that count as sport: Huntin' shootin' and fishin'.
[/quote]

Why not combine the three? hunt the fish and shoot it, dont waste your time with a rod

I work with a bunch of golf mad people, i just wind them up calling them ball chasers

>> Edited by Mikey G on Sunday 31st July 19:49

wedgepilot

819 posts

312 months

Sunday 31st July 2005
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I tried playing golf for a few years, and absolutely hated it. Without a doubt the single most frustrating thing I have ever tried. The only thing that has since come close was trying to remove a seized stud from an alloy cylinder head.

Standing in the bloody freezing cold rain, chopping lumps out of the ground as my ball either trickled a few yards up the fairway or flew off into the woods.


And they say it's a relaxing game!

UKbob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

294 months

Monday 1st August 2005
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Had I known the replies would have put even an avid lover of the sport off the idea, Id have posted elsewhere

Praps I should have posed in the chimera forum

vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

282 months

Monday 1st August 2005
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I used to play and have a lovely set of clubs cluttering up a corner of the garage.
Haven't swung a club in ages.

agree with the other guys that it can be the most frustrating game in the world, but when you hit a decent shot (about twice a round in my case) it does make it worthwhile.
Be warned though it will take up all of your spare time and also some of your other time.

UKbob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

294 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
vetteheadracer said:
I used to play and have a lovely set of clubs cluttering up a corner of the garage.
Haven't swung a club in ages.

agree with the other guys that it can be the most frustrating game in the world, but when you hit a decent shot (about twice a round in my case) it does make it worthwhile.
Be warned though it will take up all of your spare time and also some of your other time.
I like the idea that its a game for life, even if you only go on the courses once every 3 weeks, you can still practise on the driving range every week, with a lesson every other week.

Is anyone willing to admit their handicap here?

After 100 hours on the driving range, and 25 lessons over a few years, would the average talented sportsman be any good? I heard that there are more crap golfers out there than good ones... by a long shot.

How much does a good set of clubs cost, with your irons and woods etc. And when choosing clubs, are there any which are more forgiving than others, do different brands perform differently?