Filed under: Advice, General | Tags: beginner golf, beginning golfer, golf beginner, golf for beginners, golf instruction, golf slice, golf swing, learn golf, learn play golf, learning golf
That seems so obvious that you must wonder what I am going to talk about. We play golf in the summer and ski in the winter, what else do we need to know? I have always looked at how I learned to ski as being quite similar to how I learned to play golf. When I started writing for beginning golfers I didn’t really think about how different the experiences were.
The point here is that like so many people I learned each sport on my own. I read how to books and articles. I played, and thought my way through what I seemed to be learning. I listened to people who were better than me and again tried to learn. After a lot of time and fun, I realized that I had become better. So what is the point?
Well, let’s start with my first article: Why Not The Pro? In both sports I chose not to bother with much or any professional teaching. I participated and enjoyed my time, probably much more than I would have standing in a beginners class. Then I chose my equipment to fit my budget and not to impress anyone with the latest and greatest fancy name. Wow! I saved some money there!
After several years I became an expert skier, yes black diamond trails, and a competent recreational golfer. I was comfortable with both choices and decided to share the golf experiences. I felt I could shorten the learning curve for golf beginners.
The difference is I never regretted the skiing choice, but I do regret some of the golfing choices. Skiing is a terrifying sport for those who have never tried it. You go flying down mountains with trees and rocks whizzing by. Golf is quiet and reserved in comparison. Skiing is risky and golf is sedate. Very few people ever broke a leg swinging a golf club, Tiger is the exception. Yes, but skiing is simple to learn and golf is not.
Once you can turn to the left, turn to the right, stand up and sit down you are ready to ski. Speed and difficulty are learned skills that come in time. In golf every club is different and every shot is too. You can learn to putt and never hit the driver well. The best person from the tee and fairway may never learn how to play bunkers. The short game is a skill set in itself. Golf is much more like baseball than it is skiing.
I still don’t regret not taking professional lessons. Many if not most amateur golfers will make the same decision. Time, money and ego will all drive this decision. Still, how do we learn to master this complex and difficult game?
The reality is that we can’t without help. We are going to have to spend some money and some time learning this game or we will never be satisfied with our performance. Every time we play with our friends we will have to face this. Every time we hit another drive out of bounds we will face our short comings again. Let’s not even think about taking three to get out of a bunker or taking four to get down from just off the green.
This is my biggest golfing regret, that I didn’t take advantage of effective training aides to accelerate my learning curve. Accept this personal commitment. I am going to spend some time and money with training aides, books and videos. I am going to spend some time and money learning to use additional clubs like hybrid irons, and various short wedges. I am going to spend some time reading, watching, listening and learning or I will never get better.
Please take the time to leave a comment about this post in the space provided below. To review my thoughts, comments and advice for beginning golfers, please continue to review the rest of my blog. If you would like to see suggestions for training aides, videos, books, and clubs please visit my web page. Fix-My-Slice.com
1 Comment so far
Leave a comment
I have to agree in that to progress in golf sometimes you will need to book a lesson with your local clubs pro golfer now and again.
With the emergence of the internet though a lot of the problems that may come to light in your game can be eliminated with some research using Google and a few hours practice time on the course.
Garry
Comment by Garry Booton August 9, 2010 @ 2:50 am