Learning to play Golf?

Question

I want to learn how to play golf. I'm middleaged. I picked up a club for the first time and started to hit some simulated golf balls (wiffle balls). I had about 20% success of hitting a good shot. The other 80% of the shots I either completely missed the ball , hit the top of the ball (roll) or hit the ground. I never had a lesson.

Maybe my swing is wrong.

Do you think if I had some lessons that I can actually play?
Did anybody else struggle the first timed they tried golf?
If I can hit in the 90's I would be happy.

Answer 1

sure lessons would help you a great deal, even buying a golf magazine or two, or even watching the pros on tv can help, the more you practice the better you will get, just have fun

Answer 2

Don't give up... My (hopefully short story)

I played tennis for ~30 years and injured my back around 5 years ago...Can't serve or overhead.

~18 months ago my wife bought me a set of clubs. I had played maybe three rounds in my life before, no lessons, nada.

So, I head to the local driving range and just start swinging away. About the same results early. Lots of topps, lots of slices, hozzel hits, misses, skies, etc. Basically nothing going forward. It was pretty painful...

BUT, slowly I started to figure this thing out.... So now I have about 25 rounds in so far, I have hit under 100 on three occasions and have a 25.3 handicap. (low round is a 95.)

FORGET the score... Learn to hit the ball the first year. Practice with a plan. I will repeat that.. Practice with a plan. Learn to put (over half your shots are on the green, so this can't be under estimated.)

Forget going 18. Find a local executive (par 3 course) and hone your short game....Pitching wedge, Sand Wedge, maybe an 8 or a 9 iron and your putter. Get that down, before you think about hitting a longer iron or a wood. (my lowest is a 32 on a par 27 which is a GREAT score as far as I am concerned.)

Forget about going to a tough course. Hit the local municipals once you are comfortable and won't delay any players behind you. Go for 9 holes the first few times. Play OFF PEAK, and the pro's will appreciate your not slowing down play for any others.

Golf is neat in that if you watch and mimick what you see on TV, your brain and body will work to immitate it. OF course close your eyes when you watch pro-ams and in particular, get a drink if you see Charles Barkely with a club in your hands.


Last item - IF you can coach yourself and have decent athletic or gross motor skills, you can learn this pretty easy. If you don't then run to the best PGA pro you can find/afford.

Improvement is 100 related to practice. More = More.

Learn the rules

Fix your divot (and two left by others)

Rake the sand

Have fun! Even the worst round of golf is a heck of a lot better than the best day at work.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Ava, you have the right attitude about learning golf. The best way is to watch the professional golfers in tournaments and find on line golf instructions that teach from the beginner up. Try the golf courses that have putting greens and drop 6 - 8 balls around the hole about 12 - 20 feet away. When you can get most of the balls within a foot of the flag then drop the balls again at three foot from the flag. Then practice theses shots and then move off the green and chip to the flag. I know this is a lot of information but you must continue practice on the driving range with all the clubs that you can use. Now the basic golf method is to address the ball in a stance about shoulder width. This gives balance, and then with your hand grip stretch the arms straight until the club head is in back of the ball. This is your stance. Now remember that the shoulders drive the club and the arms guide the club. Take a slow smooth back swing over your right shoulder, bending your wrist so the club is almost parallel to the ground. Now use your shoulder as well as your hip to move down into the ball with the club and end up with the club over your left shoulder. Spartawo...

Answer 5

Of course you could learn to play and shoot 90’s golf and definitely within a year. You definitely need lessons and I would suggest taking group lessons with a friend. My dad is 50 something and just learned. I pretended like a beginner and went to group lessons with him. Group lessons are usually cheaper and there’s a lot less pressure. There are going to be 10 other people flubbing the ball too.

Here’s my general map to golf and score:

100s golfers have fundamental problems and need lessons.
90’s golfers play within themselves and make realistic course decisions (teeing off with 3 wood only, using more club, punching out of trouble…)
80’s golfers have better short game (fewer three putts, better up and downs, can hit decent sand shots… ) and drive more accurately.
70’s golfers have great short game, have great distance, hit most of their greens and can shape shots with any club.
60’s golfers make 90% of their putts within 15 feet and chip or pitch in the hole at least once a round.

If you think about score from different perspectives, 90’s golf is a very reachable goal. All you have to do is shoot bogey or double bogey golf. 18 + 72 = 90. The real difference between 100’s golfers and 90’s golfers is that 100’s golfers have the few bomber holes where they shoot an 8 or 10.
After you get lessons and get the fundamentals down, realistic/conservative decision making is the only obstacle between you and a score in the 90s.

Answer 6

If you have some money for lessons, they're well worth it. Just ask around and find a good instructor or facility. Practice the drills they give you. In about 6 months to a year you could be shooting in the 90s or even 80s depending on how much you practice.

Everybody struggled the first time they played golf.

Answer 7

The answers to your questions are "yes" and "yes".
A lesson will definitely help you. Even the pros get lessons regularly.
Everyone struggles with golf, no matter what level they play at. For example, once you start scoring in the 90's, which will make you "happy" (so you say), it won't be long before you will want to shoot in the 80's and eventually break into the 70's. You think that is too lofty a goal? Think again.
This is what makes golf so great.

Answer 8

I just taught my friend, who's 33 and never picked up a club, to play golf. Learning is easy but the key to getting better is to stick with it. Taking a lesson always helps. Be sure to get a PGA teaching pro (ask around at your local golf courses or golf clubs) for recommendations. Sounds like you did pretty well for a newbie. I've been playing golf for 27 years (leisure) and although I haven't taken a lesson in a long time, even I could benefit. Even the pros take lessons.

I took my friend out on the course literally the day she learned, and she did okay...she even had some better shots than I did. Then I took her out for a round of 18. It took us damn near 8 hours but she finished .... albeit with a 167. So the only place to go is down!

Just keep in mind that as you learn, practice to get better. you might not get in the 90's but with tenacity and practice (and some lessons!) you'll get there. Good luck and have fun!

PS: You'll probably be addicted in no time.

Answer 9

I think that if you are committed and take lessons from a quality instructor you can easily expect to be playing in the 90s in less than 2 years. I think everyone struggled their first time trying to hit the golf ball. So my advice is to go get lessons, read Ben Hogan's "Five Modern Fundamentals", and practice a lot.

Answer 10

The easiest way to learn golf like a pro is by following "The Simple Golf Swing" program. It's primarily a 31 page eBook that teaches golfers how to make solid contact with the ball, how to avoid hitting fat, how to avoid slicing, how get more power, accuracy, and consistency in your swing. Consistency being the number 1 golf skill.

You not only get the eBook though, you also receive a ton of extra material including video, lessons on putting, driving, chipping, sand play etc. Here is their official site: http://www.golfswingguru.net

Answer 11

Yes, of course you can actually play. It just takes practice. Lessons will always help your swing no matter what level you are. Before lessons though, there are plenty of good books, internet info, videos, etc that will give you the basics. Feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, head down, left arm straight should get you started. But seriously, I'd get some videos or read some good articles, then get comfortable at your local driving range. Golf is a skill game so its all practice, practice, practice!