[retired_rondaw25]

Seriously, I replaced my long irons with hybrids last year and they have made my game sp ,uch better.

I mean I am fairly brilliant with woods off the deck but hybridds have given me a degreee of confidence that I no longer have to fear 150yds+ Can't reccomend them enough despite being hammered.

[retired_salemcobol]

Originally posted by Emersonlfc:
Play off +1.

Play for Ulster.
Play for Ireland.

Hit pretty Big.
Love Putting.

Golf is all about practice lads. If you stay committed to it, and try your best and listen to advice others give you, you'll get better. Hang on in there. You'll see your scores coming down.

My best mate plays for Scotland (Glenn Campbell) He is playing off +4 just now, so you might of played against him if your an international as he has been on the scene for about 5yrs now. I went to college with a guy who played for Ireland as well, his name was Noel, but I can`t remember his second name. He was a greenkeeper at Portrush ( I think)

[retired_kellywinkler42]

Funny, I've not played in about 8 years and have been demanding my mates who play to take me for a round to see if I can still hit it.

Should really hit the driving range first though I guess.

[retired_princesspouty]

So, my favourite protege wants to take up golf?

Sadly, I am not ace at golf, but I'm getting better. I talk a good game though.

I got a professional lesson bought for me for a birthday a couple of years back. I didn't play that much for the first year, but used to go down the range at least once a week.

When I started playing every week (March last year) I was averaging about 115 strokes a round, and now I'm averaging about 95. I don't practice much anymore, since the girlfriend moved in.

I aim to average 90 by the end of the summer.

Anyway, I do recommend a lesson with a pro to show you the basics. The pro I went to gave me the basics of the swing in one hour... and that's the only lesson I've had.

[retired_uxsillyxgoose]

yeah i feel like im gonna just waste my time until i get the really basic stuff sorted out (stance, swing etc) and so have booked a professional lesson for this week, should be a laugh. the flatmates boyfriend is really into golf too and so has suggested he come down the range with me next time hes in manchester so will hopefully get a few tips from him.

also learnt that its easy to pick up extra length clubs so will pop into the american golf by the range and see if they feel any better. so excited!

[retired_princesspouty]

You can get golf clubs custom fitted for free from many places like American Golf and Nevada Bob's.

This not only helps with shaft length (oo-err) but also, more importantly, the 'lie' of your irons relative to the shaft. I'm 6'2" and surprisingly my shaft lengths are normal, but my lie is 2 degrees upright (taller golfers will tend to have more upright lies).

Then there's flexibility of the shaft which is dependent on your swing speed (likely to be slow when you start - around 70mph).

Anyway, if you intend to buy clubs - take advantage of at least basic custom fitting (lie, length and swing speed) as it does make a big difference.

[retired_uxsillyxgoose]

see retro, this is why everyone loves you. i imagine you to be like a straight, less portly stephen fry in real life.

[retired_princesspouty]

I'm trying to remember the things that were really important when I started:

First: I didn't buy a driver until a few months ago. I had some irons and woods, and learned to hit my irons properly first - rarely used my woods even. I even went through a stage of teeing off with my 5 iron and not using my woods. If you can hit a 6 iron well, you'll do okay.

Second: Don't try and hit it too hard. No-one told me that golf was about speed not strength when I started and I have to fight the impulse even now.

Third: Learn to hit your irons first. So many people can't resist hitting the driver down the range, but if you want to improve, learning to hit irons (which impacts on your whole game apart from putting) will have more effect.

[retired_princesspouty]

Originally posted by No Longer Bling:
see retro, this is why everyone loves you. i imagine you to be like a straight, less portly stephen fry in real life.

I'm a lot better looking tbh.

Although my once athletic physique is more portly now.

[retired_princesspouty]

I don't know how I managed to make point 1 and 3 identical there. I got interrupted by my boss halfway through and obviously forgot I'd already made that point!

I'm trying to remember what 3 was supposed to be now.

Oh yeah, third: practice chipping, and the short game in general (which includes putting). Saves lots of shots per round.

I'm so eccentric aren't I?