Do you Golf?

[moonlight]

Admittedly the weight loss journey is running on 5 years now. I'm on my last 50lbs to go and getting closer every week. In the back of my mind I thought my DH would eventually join in but I guess he's been a tab busy. Ok, I'll give him that! I don't want to push him into anything about losing weight because that never worked for me and it feels terrible when people do that. I'm ready to give him a little nudge. Last week I came up with the idea that we could learn to golf together and start playing. Other than mini golf (which he freakishly LOVES) we've never really played golf. He was very happy about the idea and I'm pushing forward.

Where do we start? What do I need to expect? How can we start out in an inexpensive way and then build up when he finishes training in 1.5 years? How do we have fun at this even though we will really suck at it to start with??

[SuzySunshine]

You can try to teach yourself by going to a cheap golf course and just playing -or- you can find someone to give you lessons. Usually local parks and recs that own golf courses offer lessons as a class in the spring or summer but it would have to work with your schedule. I had to high school friends that played that took me out once, no lessons, just kind of figured it out on my own. Now I'd like to take lessons and hope to someday but you can do it on your own. I would look at resale sporting good stores for clubs, they can be pricey but you should be able to find a used set for a good price or maybe keep an eye on craigslist or something like that.

We find it hard to play together because we have to find childcare but we hope that when the kids get older it will be something the 4 of us can do together.

[SoonerTexan]

When forced by my DH haha. Though I do enjoy the driving range. I'd start there because playing actual holes is hard if you can't hit it at all. It took me awhile!

[spotty_dog]

I did in high school. One of the perks of my dad's job in South America was that his compensation included some benefits like a country club membership. I took a few lessons and read a LOT of Harvey Penick (the Little Red Book). Practiced a lot on the driving range and putting green and then just had fun and tried to relax on the course.

[JDAZ11]

(btw - I'm really not very good.., realized i probably shouldn't be giving you advice after i wrote this... But figured something might be useful, so posted anyway...).

I've had lessons, but i usually forget everything I learned a few weeks after! Most of what I actually remember is the stuff I've learned from my dad, sister, or sisters BF (who is actually really very good). Dragging any good golfer you know to a course or driving range is a great starting point. (people seem to love giving pointers - even when you don't want them!!).

I remember watching the golf channel the day before my first lesson, just to make sure I had some really basic stuff down - I didn't want to waste the lesson learning how to hold the clubs (or relearning - I only play like 4 times a year, for the first few years it was like starting from square one every time!). But there are def some basics you can probably master by watching YouTube (I do this now for tennis - lessons are freaking expensive!!! We also tape ourselves occasionally - just on a phone- to attempt to figure out what we are doing wrong. It's actually very helpful. There is a tennis coach app that is really useful for analyzing your strokes - I'm sure they have the same type of thing for golf.).

Here there are a ton of people offering lessons at very reasonable rates on Craigslist and quite a few all day adult clinics. You don't even need a course for lessons. I had a few great lessons at Chelsea piers in NYC.

I play with a box set I bought at Costco. They kind of suck, but whatever. My DH (not a golfer) plays with an old set my dad wasn't using anymore. We arent nearly good enough to invest any $$$ in it at the moment. I do check Craigslist every so often hoping to find an amazing deal... No such luck yet. If you'd rather just acquire individual clubs as you go, buy a used driver and mid-iron (5-7) and hit the driving range for a bit.

I also rarely end up wearing golf shoes - I usually only golf when I'm visiting my parents (free), and never pack them. I'd wait a bit before you invest. But I absolutely recommend getting a glove - I end up with blisters any time I attempt to play without one.

For me I think the driving range was a good starting point. The pitching field is also really helpful. I get too upset if I'm playing really badly and it seems like I'm holding up the people behind us, so I enjoyed actually golfing more once I had a better handle on driving etc. (I still can't putt... But it's easier to just cheat a bit there, ha!).

Oh - and, particularly when I was just starting, I usually played best ball - so we would just all take the second stroke from the point of the longest drive in the grp. It makes things move along more quickly.

[GrayMatterWife]

only

When forced...

Oh, I hate golfing. so so so much... But I know a lot of people for whom it is a passionate religion!

[JDAZ11]

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[niener]

I'd definitely start out on the driving range and on a practice putting surface until you get the hang of it, otherwise your first time on the course will be a completely miserable experience. To start out, you really don't need a full set of clubs. Go to a used sporting goods store and get a driver, a putter, and a couple of irons -- that's really all you need to start (and a good glove, as some one else recommended). Taking a friend with you that knows how to play is a good idea too -- apart from giving you tips on how to swing, they should know the course rules and courtesies of the game, like where you should and shouldn't drive your golf cart, when to let people play through, etc.

[moonlight]

Wow, thanks for all the helpful advice! DD's godfather has worked at a country club golf course for several years now and I think he's going to take us out for a lesson over Thanksgiving. Sounds like I we should get a glove for each of us before our trip. I called local Parks and Rec Dept. The clinic is over now because we're in winter season but he offers lessons. $99 per person for 5 lessons that last a hour, all equipment provided. Does that sound right? I'm kind of bummed because there's a beginners ladies league that just ended for the season but starts back up in March. $15 for 9 holes, $3 for the social hour afterwords... known as the Nine and Wine group. Sounds like my kind of group.

[oceanchild]

That price sounds reasonable. I paid $100 for 4 lessons for DH (of which he only used 2... don't get me started) a few years ago.

[moonlight]

That price sounds reasonable. I paid $100 for 4 lessons for DH (of which he only used 2... don't get me started) a few years ago.

Oh I would have been upset! I'm excited because I bought one of those coupon books from a local school kid. I have several Buy1 Get 1 Free greens fees at the local country clubs near the hospital. Its enough coupons to get us through the rest of our time here.

How does it work at a country club or golf club? You buy into the club, then there's monthly dues, right? Then do we pay for each time we would play? It's too bad we didn't get into this sooner. There is a golf and country club in our little town (pop. 5K) its $500 to join, $95/month. Then you pay extra for a locker ($5/mo.), storage for your cart ($40/mo.), etc.