New to golf

Aevian Dreaklear · Post by **Aevian Dreaklear** » June 4, 2006, 9:37 pm

Recently I've moved and the apartments where I stay, The Links, offers free golf. Golf is something I've been wanting to take up for a while and I basically could use advice on how to get started. I have no clubs so that's probably where I should start. I'm looking for any recommendations on a brand name or type of set to start with. Also what type of places would you recommend I'd look at for lessons and such?

Just looking on the internet I found Nike Beginner Tour and it seems like a good deal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 4, 2006, 10:19 pm

Costco has a set of Golden Bears for less than $200. Great clubs and more than enough for a beginner. I had started playing again last year after a 16 year hiatus and use that set. Man o man, clubs are way better than they used to be! Good luck and have fun!

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 5, 2006, 12:05 am

keep your head down, drink beer and have fun!

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » June 5, 2006, 11:11 am

Don't just buy cheap.....buy cheap and smart. As a beginner, buy knock off clubs that are molded exactly the same as major brands of the cavity backed forgiving clubs. An example of those would be the 2006 Big Bertha irons.....you will find tons of copies made and many of those are forged at the same place as the real thing and then a different name put on them.

Aevian Dreaklear · Post by **Aevian Dreaklear** » June 5, 2006, 8:21 pm

Do you have any examples of different names that are pretty much just the same?

retiredwikit · Post by **retiredwikit** » June 5, 2006, 8:32 pm

start out the way my parents started me. Buy some clubs at the pawn shop for cheap... once you learn about the game, get some lessons, then start to replace clubs after you find out what kind of grip / brand of club you like.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » June 5, 2006, 9:06 pm

UGLY PANTS WILL SHAVE TEN STROKES OFF OF YOUR GAME!

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » June 5, 2006, 9:26 pm

Intech has some nice sets that don't cost a ton and work great for just starting out.

cid · Post by **cid** » June 5, 2006, 9:53 pm

buy cheap, but for god sakes get them sized to you.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 5, 2006, 10:01 pm

cid wrote:buy cheap, but for god sakes get them sized to you.

he is a gnome

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » June 5, 2006, 11:50 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-XL-8-PRO-GOLF-C ... dZViewItem

there are tons of brands.....this is a link to one that is basically one of the callaway sets. I will almost guarantee that unless you have been playing for years that you would not feel a difference. Hell, most players cannot feel the difference in balls either even some people that have been playing for 10 years or more.

I would not get crazy into getting all the high tech swing speed analysis or crap like that for a beginner. They will use that to sell you things you don;t need right now. Once you have been playing 2 years or so and want to have them do that and buy a really nice set, then go for it.

For the first year the only thing you need to worry about are making the swing and grip feel comfortable. Don't even tempt yourself with a driver....just don't buy one. Stay with a good 3 wood until you learn to hit it...then move on to a driver with a very high loft....11 or 12 degree.

The absolute most important thing you will ever learn right now is the grip. Everything relating to a golf swing starts with the grip...if you have it screwed up, you will compensate everywhere else and really make things tough. Go get a couple lessons and then WORK on what they teach you.

Personally I had one lesson in my life and that was when I was 15 or so. I have no idea what the man even said. I have completely rebuilt my swing over the last 3 years by mainly reading and watching and then working at the range on it until the new swing felt comfortable....and I am sure I am the rare one to be able to feel when something is not right. My automatic recommendation to a new player is to not even hit balls the first week.....take a 7 iron or 8 iron in your backyard and take 100 swings a night after your first lesson....just swing the club over and over using the grip they showed you to make it feel perfect.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 6, 2006, 12:13 am

The clubs mean so little when you are starting out. You had the right idea when you started this thread. Go do the Nike Tour thing. You'll have a great time and get a set of clubs to mess around with this summer while you decide if golf is for you.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » June 6, 2006, 12:26 am

Getting clubs sized to you when you first start out pointless honestly. You will be changing your swing so much when you first start out the sizing will change. Wait until your game is consistent then get clubs fitted to your size and swing.

I will agree with the balls statment also don't go out and buy the good balls because your just going to loose them and spend a shit load of money and chances are you won't even notice a diff in them. When you start getting consistent with your shots then buy some decent balls if you want.

Golf is not a cheap sport to play but you can make it much more afforadable when you first start out by not trying to buy all the name brand expensive shit.

retiredwikit · Post by **retiredwikit** » June 6, 2006, 8:57 am

Only reason I say to get a lesson, is so that you learn the mechanics and the "proper" way to swing the club. It only has to be one lesson then you can go out by yourself and work on it.

cid · Post by **cid** » June 6, 2006, 1:44 pm

Denadeb wrote:Getting clubs sized to you when you first start out pointless honestly. You will be changing your swing so much when you first start out the sizing will change. Wait until your game is consistent then get clubs fitted to your size and swing.

I disagree. Years ago when I started out I bought a set of clubs off the rack. They where a tad too short which made me tend to whif or top the ball. Then I had a set made for me and I was a lot better ball stricker.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 6, 2006, 1:48 pm

Swing as hard as you can. Crush that ball!

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » June 6, 2006, 4:19 pm

There are always exceptions to everything. If your pretty tall or really short your going to need to get the clubs sized but if your avg hight then there is no need untill you have a consistent swing.