Golf Thread

[Wanten]

So on Saturday i had my first golf lesson, was totally awesome, they guy was great (PGA lvl 3, dunno what that means though). Thinking learning to play will be good for socialising at work and with my mates who currently play. Was quite successful got a basic swing sorted and was hitting some nice shots by the end.

Sunday went to the range and hit another 100balls with some whelps and some good'uns. Just looing at booking a second/third lesson now.

But before i get carried away how much does shit like club membership cost also are measured/custom clubs worth the extra cost?

In before: lolgolf and "waste of a good walk" etc

[Laundry]

So on Saturday i had my first golf lesson, was totally awesome, they guy was great (PGA lvl 3, dunno what that means though). Thinking learning to play will be good for socialising at work and with my mates who currently play. Was quite successful got a basic swing sorted and was hitting some nice shots by the end.

Sunday went to the range and hit another 100balls with some whelps and some good'uns. Just looing at booking a second/third lesson now.

But before i get carried away how much does shit like club membership cost also are measured/custom clubs worth the extra cost?

In before: lolgolf and "waste of a good walk" etc

My membership costs around £350 a year but im a student. If i was 25+ i think its around £550.

I wouldnt bother with custom clubs right now, when i started i bought a standard set just to get me going. You dont want to waste hundreds of pounds and in a few months realise golf sucks. If you get good at it then itll be worth it.

[Mangala Solaris]

I took up golf a few years ago - lessons and everything. Really does help in certain work environments, and given some of my mates play, socialising on the green is fun too.

As for costs. It really depends on the local courses to you - the more upmarket they are, the higher the fees. For example, Im 30mins away from Royal Birkdale and they dint actually publish their membership fees, but green fee's for visitors are 150ish a day... Course closest to me charges a £800 a year for access to the greens 7 days a week, but you get quite a lot of extras in that, it is very much worth it.

Clubs - again, you get what you pay for. You can source them through the large golf stores that are cropping up, or ask around your local club. Doing the latter may get you ex demonstrator sets on the cheap and so on.

[cheeba]

sup wanten o/

- unless you really get into it, custom clubs are v expensive. A nice regular set will put you in a good stead. I have had the same set for 5+ years but then again I play less than once a month.

- Membership... no much idea. Can p expensive depending on the club you want to join. Make sure to check out the 'extras' Ie you pay X amount per year - but is there a green fee? do you have to have a caddie and if so how much do they cost? locker rental etc?

[Mrenda]

No need for custom clubs, they won't make a difference to your game until you've been playing for years. Go into any golf shop and ask for a decent beginners set, they'll be able to help. Don't pretend to be pro, beginner's sets are a good thing. The golf clubs the pro's use help them, they get better distance and control, but they're a lot less forgiving should you make a mistake. Beginner's sets will result in less distance and control, but they'll go easier on you if you do make a mistake. If you're a weird height the shop should be able to sort you, they'll probably have something in stock, but at most they'll just cut the shaft length.

For golf course, there's a couple of ways to go. There's probably a public course near you, they'll charge green fees (pay once play once) and should be cheap. The course probably won't be as good as others. Then there'll be places that are private clubs, but get a lot of business from walk ons. So you could join and have no green fees, or you could just pay per play. They'll have amenities of the more private courses (bar, pro-shop, food, etc.) but they won't be as expensive, I worked on one of those for a few years. Their course quality could be anywhere from awesome to complete shite. (The course I worked on was a young course(small trees, not-developed roughs) but we had the head green-keeper from the Kay Club come up to us and say our greens were the best greens he has played on in the entirety of Ireland, including the Kay Club.) Anyway, look at these places green fees, weekends will be the most expensive, mid-week will be cheaper, early morning and mid-week will be the cheapest. You could join somewhere like that, but make sure to work out how much you'll be playing and see if it's cheaper to just pay as you go rather than getting a membership. Then there's the "traditional" courses/clubs. These will have high membership costs, high green fees for walk-ons, and will probably limit walk-ons to early morning mid-week or something. Here not only are you paying for the course, but you're also paying for the "club" aspect. And that includes everything from your own club bar, any extra facilities, club events (ranging from tournaments to bbq's) as well as the old-boys network you get access to. Not only will membership be high for these, but generally you won't be able to join until you at the very least proove you're an upstanding member of society (decent job, regularly discipline your wife, non-scumbag haircut, somewhat decent golf game) and most will require you to have someone already a member of the club to vouch for you. And even then you can get black-balled if someone objects to you (hopefully you're not working for Inland Revenue, they're routinely blackballed.)

For the meantime, anyway, you should really be concentrating on driving ranges. Get good enough to get onto the green before you worry about "total" play. After that I'd look for public courses, or clubs with cheap walk-on fees (sub €25, as opposed to the €50+ even average private clubs will charge. And as others said what extras they charge, some will charge none, others will demand you have one of them wheely things for carry your clubs, the expensive one's will demand you rent a golf cart, and the srs pro ones that cost €500 a round will demand you hire a course caddy and a cart for him to show you the course.) Also, if your friends or workmates play at a club hook up with them. If they're regular players chances are they're a member of a decent club and can get you on the course with them for cheaper than normal and without you being restricted to off-hours. If you're getting regular game-time after that, I'd probably go for membership of one of the cheaper places, for a few years anyway. Although if you decide you're really into it, look for joining somewhere that you would enjoy. That could take into consideration a lot of things, like are your friends or work colleagues members, what's the general age profile, what facilities does it have (which can range from a pool table, to a snooker table, to bar and restaurant, all the way to fully equipped gym and swimming pool,) what kind of events does it organise (tournaments, trips to other courses, holidays, etc.,) and of course how challenging/fun is the course to play.

Golf and course membership is a whole other world, there's fuckloads to it and going on in the reasoning behind it. If I were you I'd stick to getting a cheap set of beginners clubs for bashing away at the driving range. Then look at getting on a public or cheap walk on course for a few games. Early morning mid-week is best, it'll be cheaper and there'll be less people for you to annoy with your shitness and bad play. (People will complain if they see a noob hacking up the course.) After that start hooking up with your brosefs and they should be able to introduce you into the golfing social aspect.

And just to let you know, golf has the highest death rate of any sport in the world, so watch. (all the old-farts dying of heart attacks from the long walks)

[Wanten]

Bro-post

Would of repped your arse so hard if we could you wouldnt be able to walk for a week.

Awesome, well i booked some more lessons and he said he would do me a deal 7 for 6 hours which isnt too bad.

The club im taking the lessons at is some oldschool one in deepest darkest Surrey, rocked up and parked my Corsa between an Aston and a Porshe then proseeded to hunt for the lavatory/changing rooms which was full of golfing sorts dressed like this:

http://www.jockweb.com/randy/golfer.jpg

Fortunately i can act like a right Chap when required so was treated to handshakes and all, will report back on lessons.

[Blutreiter]

This thread smells of gynecologists and plaid vests.

I was once invited to a golf session.

I brushed up my collection of terrible golferjokes and was never ever invited again. Success!

[RazoR]

fuck yeah

http://www.autowhy.ru/pics/2008/10/vw-golf-mk1.jpg

[Mimiru]

[youtube:3hriwk7e]lZaqXSzF-ic[/youtube:3hriwk7e]

[Lorkin Desal]

Believe it or not, golf is the reason that lots of people get promoted. I made sure that I at least knew how to play properly at 17.
Also helps dad is a golfing nut with memberships to everywhere in the region and yearly trips (and a solid friendship) with the master caddy and the pro at the old course.

[Liare]

fuck yeah

http://www.autowhy.ru/pics/2008/10/vw-golf-mk1.jpg
fuck yea.

the other kind is just a excuse to fondle oversized buttplugs.

[Light Darkness]

I have been playing golf for about 15-16 years, dont judge my faggotry on that this is an internet spaceships forum ffs!

For clubs I used my beginner set of Fazer clubs Driver to SW that cost me £125 for 5 years and got my handicap (more jokes please!) down to 15 with them. I then invested in some more expensive but off the shelf Titleist clubs and Ping woods, once I bought these my handicap went back out to 20.This was due to them having way better distance and ball control (lol) but being far less forgiving, as mentioned earlier. After 3 years with these clubs I traded them in for a fully custom set of Irons with custom grips, shafts (more lol?) and then got customised Woods. At the point of getting the custom clubs I was playing off 12. I recycle my clubs now every 18 months, and it may sound terrible but once you get into it start using better balls. At high handicaps the balls are just expensive tree magnets. If you are a 24 or higher handicapper just use lake balls.
You should join a club as soon as possible, as there is no better practice than real golf. Being at the range, you always have a flat lie, or more likely the ball tee'd up. A famous golf phrase is "Drive for show, putt for dough" if you can drill the drive 400 yards, but putt like shit you will never have a golf handicap of note, and chipping and play round the greens is where scores are made.

Golf is a very expensive past time but joining a club reduces the cost as no more green fees, most have gyms, pools etc, so offset that saving to make it more appealing.
Another way to socialize is to join a golf society, which in the UK usually means a load of average golfers go to a great course and play cheaply and have lunch thrown in. In societies I have played StAndrews and The Belfry, I even got thrown off the Belfry for puking in a bunker, at the first hole.

[Sacul]

Believe it or not, golf is the reason that lots of people get promoted. I made sure that I at least knew how to play properly at 17.
Also helps dad is a golfing nut with memberships to everywhere in the region and yearly trips (and a solid friendship) with the master caddy and the pro at the old course.

Its not golf its the old boys network. Golf is just a fad, used to be hookers and blow and before that beating & raping darkies.

[Laythun]

Need some advice on clubs :-/ my first time

[SteeleResolve]

I played whilst I was posted in scoootland for a few years. Buceph is totally correct with regards to custom clubs. Its like buying a ferarri for your first car: you won't be able to use it properly and will make a dick of yourself trying to.

The phrases "all the gear, no idea" and "all the clobber, what a nobber" are very apt in this sport.

Don't buy fancy stuff for your first set. Buy second hand off a mate if you can. It's definately an "upgrade" sport and you will be forever buying fads off the interweb to try and gets your drives longer and straighter.

I'd personally avoid using a driver for a while as more distance == more slice/hook if you cant use it properly.

I remember spending too much time on the range hitting long shots, when actually, most of my shots were lost on the green or being unable to use a wedge properly.

:monocledowns:

[Torothin]

In college I used to work on a golf course and got to play here for free. A nice 9 hole executive. These are holes 1 and 8 tell me what you think.....

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii275/torothin/Holenumerouno.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii275/torothin/Hole8.jpg

[Torothin]

Basically, if you slice you lose your golf ball because ti goes down a mountain lol.

[Mrenda]

lol

[SteeleResolve]

At Forres in Morayshire, if you sliced it slightly on the 1st, you hand to cross the road and knock on the rather grand house for your ball back.

Was a p.good and easy course though tbh.

[Mrenda]

There's a course in West Cork where to be a member you have to be slightly mad. One of the greens is in a little lake, where you have to pull yourself across on a boat to get to it. Another is only accessible via ladder.

[Laythun]

Help with clubs? as I do not know what im looking for

[Mrenda]

Go to a golf shop. Tell them you want cheap clubs for starting out with. ????. Profit.


Seriously. Golf shops have a tendency to try and keep entry levels to golf low, as they want to turn you into a faeg who will keep coming back to buy kit to improve your game. It's like drug dealing, the lure you in and wait to get you hooked.


If you wanted to go really cheap and just plan on using the driving range you'd just ask for a 3 wood, 2 iron, 7 iron, and pitching wedge. That'd do you for learning on a driving range. However, I'd imagine you could get a good full set, for the same cost it would be to buy those separately.

[Wanten]

Golf is going pretty well, had like 4 lessons now and been to the driving range/ practicing in the garden. Had my swing complimented by people which seems good.

I got pretty good directional aim always seem to get it in the right direction but need to work on my power as i often over hit the target, suppose that just comes with practice. Another lesson next week if i can fit it in.

Lay, you can get seriously cheap clubs at places like sports direct (£8 for an iron) so a good place to start, get a 8 iron or something they are easy to learn with.

[Gralg]

R.I.P Seve Ballesteros (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/13311206.stm)

Arguably one of the greatest golfers to ever live. :(

[Spawinte]

Bollocks, I used to play and this thread makes me wanna buy a cheap set and go for a round. Thats money I don't have right now fuckers. +1 for RIP Seve.

[balistic void]

I never played gold in my life. But where I'm from in meath is basically surrounded by courses >.< This is the newest one: http://www.killeengolf.com. Championship standard blah. Few other famous ones nearby too.

[SebN]

This should probably go in the youtube thread or one of the lolus threads that pops up but i felt it was relavent to this thread also. i.e. how NOT to play golf..... :psyduck:


[youtube:27gqer3g]kxY_stQWudc[/youtube:27gqer3g]


I play golf quite a lot, I would also second getting a cheap starter set or a cheap second hand set to start you off, there are some REALLY good deals around, have a look in your local papers etc.

also RIP Seve


SebN

[Mrenda]

Looking for some advice in return for the bollocks I've been spouting.

I went down to the driving range last night, had a good time. Quite relaxing, the sun was shining but there was a bit of a breeze. I'd say about a quarter of my shots came off good, another quarter came off ok but with some hook or slice, and the other half were kind of crappy.

Anyway, I'm going to be having lessons, but I was wondering if it's worth watching a few videos and reading a few books before I splash out cash for the lessons. I figure there's no point paying for a lesson only to have him spend the first three teaching me things I should have read in a buke.

Anyway, I have a bit of time to kill before I do get those lessons, either way. So are there any good sites, books, videos or anything for learning the basics?

[Gralg]

If you have satellite TV you probably have the Golf Channel. Not sure if its available on freeview, but they usually make up a lot of the daytime hours during days there's no golf on live (so basically M/T/W) with various shows that give tips and such. And a whole load of infomercials about clubs and such. Other than that, try youtubing it up, there's bound to be something useful on there somewhere. Also, having lessons and then not going and playing for a long-ish period of time can fuck your game up worse than it was before you had the lessons, as you try to emulate the lessons, incorrectly while gimping your old style, at least in my experience.

[Mrenda]

Any decent instructional websites? The Golf Channel isn't available with what I have, and I can't afford to be buying any more books.

[Right Rudder]

http://www.callawaygolfpreowned.com/ is a solid site for newbie purchasing if you want a legit brand, plus you won't have to upgrade for a long while. Just started 6 months ago, but the 400 I spent there will last me years. Helps having a free teacher though, wife ftw.

All you really need starting out are 9,7,5,3 iron, a driver, 3 and 5 woods, and a putter. Only once you get good enough for small clubs differences to matter then maybe consider investing in more.