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Conference 7.286::golf

Title:Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2129
Total number of notes:21499

535.0. "Yet another beginner" by PLAYIN::LLEE (In circular search of self) Tue Feb 28 1989 09:42

    I am a new, new, Golfer.  This will be my very first season playing (or
    hacking at) Golf.

    In addition to taking lessons from a pro, I figured the best way to
    learn is to play the game.  So, I am looking for a Womyn's league in the
    South New Hampshire area that will tolerate a new, new player.

    Any suggestions ??

    - Lory

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535.1SA1794::TENEROWICZTTue Feb 28 1989 09:5936
    Lory,
    
    I don't agree.
    
    Before I get flamed let me say ,Sorry but that's my opinion.
    
    I think that five weeks of work every day after work can help you
    become a much better golfer quicker that playing a round of golf
    every day for two months. Here's my suggestions.
    
    First go out and buy a putter and a dozen balls. Find a pro and
    a course that is open and spend a solod week every day after work 
    for 1-2 hours on the practice green just putting. Start short app. 
    12 inches from a hole and putt until your comfortable then go out 
    to 18 inches and so on for the entire week.
      
    Now take a lesson with a pro on chipping. Again practice for an
    entire week. One hour of putting and the remaining time chipping.
    
    Next Take a lesson on hitting short irons. Again Practice the
    short irons 6-PW for the first hour.Then chipping and then putting.
    
    Next take a lesson on the long irons and the woods. Practice driving
    one bucket of balls each day for a week followed by hitting the
    long and short irons. No putting this week. Concentrate on good
    contact not distance.
                 
                               
    
    
    Good luck with your game....
    
    
    
    Tom
    
535.2learn/enjoy "the" GameVICKI::SMITHConsulting is the GameTue Feb 28 1989 15:4036
    re: .1
    
        Tom, I've indoctrinated a few new players into "the" Game,
    	    and your suggested approach seems more like a Military
    	    Drill Sgt's methodology to learning "the" Game. Lory,
    	    I'd suggest that you find a 'average' Amateur Golfer
    	    who plays at least once a week, and let that 'average'
    	    Golfer teach you the "basics", but don't play the League
    	    as a means of learning "the" Game. Learn "the" Game by
    	    having your 'average' Amateur Golfer teach you to Putt
    	    note: a carpeted Living Room Rug is an excellent surface
    	    for Putting and/or the Putting Green at your local Golf
    	    Course. Then, have your 'average' Amateur Golfer teach
    	    you to hit a few balls at the local Driving Range. note:
    	    just use a 5 Iron for the first few "Tee shots", then use
    	    a 3 Wood for the next few "Tee shots". After you've had
    	    a few Putting lessions (as described), and a few Driving
    	    lessions (as described), then have that same 'average'
    	    Amateur Golfer take you to a friendly "PAR3" Golf Course
    	    to play 9 Holes of 'average' Golf. note: It almost like
    	    learning to "Ball Room" dance, just follow your partner's
    	    lead, and use the same Clubs that he/she uses as he/she
    	    plays each Hole. After you've played this friendly "PAR3"
    	    Golf Course at least once a week for a few weeks, you'll
    	    have become a 'average' Amateur Golfer by the process of
    	    "osmosis", and you'll be ready to play 9 Holes of "real"
    	    Golf at a Regulation (full-sized) Golf Course of your choice!
    	    After you've played 9 Holes of "real" Golf at least once
    	    a week for a few weeks, then consider joining a Golf League.
    
    	    OSMOSIS: "a gradual process of assimilation or absorption".
    
    
    						enjoy "the" Game,
    								Bob
    
535.3vardon gave us a grip..WOODRO::GORDONWed Mar 01 1989 16:5411
    .2 is probably better to learn and enjoy but please don't knock
    what was said in .1 ...
    
    If you ever read the book by Harry Vardon who in his time was
    one of the best golfers ever...you'll sense as I did that the
    approach in .1 is exactly as Vardon recommended the game be learned
    if you ever wanted to become good at it...in fact as I recall
    he recommended not even playing during this learning period..!!
    
    for what it's worth..
    
535.4See a PROLDYBUG::SCHLIESMANNBarryThu Mar 02 1989 09:2814
    I take issue somewhat with what has been suggested in .2.  In addition
    to going out with "average golfer", taking lessons from a PRO is
    imperative.  In fact, listening to the average golfer will probably
    hurt more than help your progress.  A total beginner listening to 
    some fairly *good* golfers without professional instruction can
    set you up for failure in this game.  Sure go out and practice with
    friends, but practice what you learned from a recommended pro, and
    not what "average golfer" told you to do.  While .1 may seem a bit
    strict, it is a much better approach to learning the game.  What
    I'm suggesting is a middle ground where you can learn the correct
    way to hit the ball and can also have fun.  So, see a pro every
    couple of weeks, and in between hit the range and the small courses
    to practice what you learned.  You'll probably be happier with your
    progress, and won't end up quitting in frustration.
535.5My thoughtsSA1794::WELLSPEAKHe's old...and his skin is cold...Thu Mar 02 1989 09:4928
    	The only problem I see with the suggestions in .1 is this. 
    While it may be a very good way to learn the game well and to set
    you up to become a better golfer in the long run, most people, myself
    included, do not have the patience, drive, motivation or whatever
    else you want to call it, to endure all this training/practice/drills
    and ect., without being able to actually participate in or play
    what we are trying to learn.  The want and need to actually get
    out on the course and play, far outweighs my ambition to go to the
    drining range and hit a bucket of balls.  While I agree that it
    is necessary for improvement, to go to a driving range and spend
    some time on the practice putting green, I don't think anyone will
    view golf as the fun, liesurely type sport/activity it is and can
    be, if they have to spend the first 5 weeks at it, doing nothing
    but work, work, work at all the skills before they can partake in
    the fun.  If you always view your golf game as something you do,
    ** JUST ** to improve on your last score, or average score for that
    matter, you'll probably never have any fun at it, and end up one
    of those poor soles who just end up swearing and cussing from tee
    to green, and ending up each round with one less club, because you
    threw it and didn't see that pond or tree in the heat of your anger.
    	My suggestion, is practice by spending some time on the driving
    range and putting green.  But also, go out and play 9 holes every
    once in awhile.  Just don't expect to become a pro, or even a good
    amateur golfer in a couple of weeks.  And most of all, *HAVE FUN*
    at it.  Enjoy yourself, and partake in what I have found to be one
    of thos most relaxing and enjoyable activities I have ever tried.
    
                                                       Beak
535.6ISLNDS::GARYThu Mar 02 1989 11:403
    re .5	Amen.
    
    -Alan-