Where to learn to play golf

[lukatmyshu]

I decided that I want to learn how to play Golf. Now I just need to know the best place to learn ... did you guys take lessons at first or did you just go to a driving range and start hitting? Any one in the bay area know of a good academy?

 

[Gyrene]

The driving range. Seriously, go to the driving range, hit the ball. That's the only way to learn. Then go to an instructor, have them set your form up the correct way, then go back to the driving range. Only about 2 or 3 lessons are worth it, after that it's all practice. Don't expect to get good for at least a year.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

golf course

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: dtyn
The driving range. Seriously, go to the driving range, hit the ball. That's the only way to learn. Then go to an instructor, have them set your form up the correct way, then go back to the driving range. Only about 2 or 3 lessons are worth it, after that it's all practice. Don't expect to get good for at least a year.

Depends what you mean by "good." Good to me is 5 handicap or better.... which requires a hell of a lot more than just a couple lessons.

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: Spac3d

Originally posted by: dtyn
The driving range. Seriously, go to the driving range, hit the ball. That's the only way to learn. Then go to an instructor, have them set your form up the correct way, then go back to the driving range. Only about 2 or 3 lessons are worth it, after that it's all practice. Don't expect to get good for at least a year.

Depends what you mean by "good." Good to me is 5 handicap or better.... which requires a hell of a lot more than just a couple lessons.

That's absurd. A 5 handicap or better is great. Good would be anything sub-85. That requires a few lessons to know the correct form, and then hours upon hours at the driving range and golf course. Lessons aren't as great as everyone thinks.

 

[Queasy]

Usually driving ranges will have a golf pro that can help you get the mechanics of the swing down. Start out playing Par 3 courses if you have any in your area then play 9-holes when you feel you are ready.

 

[axelfox]

GET LESSONS.

Trust me.

 

[PoPPeR]

I was in the same situation as you only a month and a half ago. I went to the driving range, and picked up one of the clubs that they let anyone use (pos old wooden Wilson driver, about 1/4 of the size of those huge ass drivers that people use today). My first time there, all my shots went to the right and most of them fell at about the 100 mark. After about 2 or 3 more trips to the range, with about 100 balls each time, I finally was able to hit 150 with the pos driver about 1/4 of the time. I've gone the past two days, and I finally have a decent driver (although it has a 5 on it, whatever that means), and I hit 175-200 consistantly now in a pretty straight line. It was really frustrating but it was worth it. Now i'm gonna go sign up for lessons and before long hopefully I can actually play a game

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
I was in the same situation as you only a month and a half ago. I went to the driving range, and picked up one of the clubs that they let anyone use (pos old wooden Wilson driver, about 1/4 of the size of those huge ass drivers that people use today). My first time there, all my shots went to the right and most of them fell at about the 100 mark. After about 2 or 3 more trips to the range, with about 100 balls each time, I finally was able to hit 150 with the pos driver about 1/4 of the time. I've gone the past two days, and I finally have a decent driver (although it has a 5 on it, whatever that means), and I hit 175-200 consistantly now in a pretty straight line. It was really frustrating but it was worth it. Now i'm gonna go sign up for lessons and before long hopefully I can actually play a game

The 5 means it isn't a driver. That's a 5-wood. Drivers are 1-woods. The lower the number, the less loft the club has, and the further it will go.

 

[PoPPeR]

yeah I knew it wasn't a driver, but I thought there were like different types of drivers or something for different distances and things like that, so I thought the 5 was still a driver, but now I know I'm wrong heh.

 

[przero]

See a PGA professional at a driving range and start off with a couple of lessons. Good fundamentals at the very start are where it's at! Then practice, practice, practice!!!!

 

[ucdnam]

If you're beginning, don't go onto a golf course. Stick to the range. If on a course, learn proper etiquette or you'll have a club shoved up your ass in no time.

Was playing a round today, behind a tournament, and this guy, who is participating in the tourney, hits a drive right at my playing partner and I, and didn't say fore. Hit the tree we were under, and no, he couldn't have miss us because we had a cart.

Anyway, we went back to the cart, drove over his ball, and it was embedded pretty well. I doubt he found it either, so lost ball for the poor guy.

Anyway, that was off topic, but the range and lessons are a lot more helpful to someone learning the game than actual course play. Group lessons are fairly cheap. If you're lucky, you'll know someone who plays golf and they can teach you. Don't just learn from anyone though, most don't know what they're talking about

 

[speg]

Hehe popper you sound like me I'm gonna go hit some balls around my property, then maybe try the range. And then a par 3 before i try the front 9 on a "real" course.