Hey everyone, new to the page and new to golf so just thought i’d say G’day!
I’ve only been playing about 4 months (but try and get out atleast once a week). I stick mainly to par3’s to try and work on the short game to start with. Should I maintain this for a while or start looking at playing full courses on a more regualr basis (I usually play a full course every 6 weeks or so)?
Yeah, new means i’m crap (for now), but keen as, just bought my first set of clubs for $150, brand new Wilson Firestick steel shafts(right place at the right time I hope!). Any other advice (besides lessons) would be great!

g’day schmian. .

i started playing mostly the short game, it is good and bad. Good that i know how to chip and pitch better than most newbies but bad for my longer game when i moved on to full courses. It all depends on if you are getting lessons or not. if you are than stick to the short game it’ll build confidence that can lead you onto a greater long game.

You are starting the right way, learn from the green back.

There is no rush to play longer courses. Keep working at it and keep asking questions.

When you say any advice (besides lessons), do you mean that you don’t plan on taking a lesson at this stage, or that you know lessons are important so you don’t need us to tell you again? I ask this because it can be underestimated quite easily how important lessons are. Forking out the $$ now for a couple of lessons is a really good idea because it will get you headed on the right track. I remember wasting the first 4 or 5 months I played golf (not really wasting, but could have been used more efficiency) because I thought I would just learn it all myself.. After getting lessons I could take my game to the next level. Besides that, the golf school articles are great and if you go onto youtube.com and type in Shawn Clements, he is a very good instructor that is easy to understand that has a range of vids. I would also agree that you are starting in the right way. You can play lousy all the way to the green, but if you have a killer short game you will score alright.

Sounds like you are keen on golf, welcome to our obsession.

Putt at home whenever you can until you have a consistent putting stroke. Focus on recognising and controlling the speed of your putt rather then accuracy to start with (i.e don’t be too concern with the misses but as long as you stop the ball near the hole that’s good enough). You can either buy a cheapo golf ball returner from Rebels or aim at something e.g. a tea cup. You will earn instant respect from real golfers if you can consistently two putt (or one putt on odd occasions) on the course.

Welcome to our mania, I totally agree with the others about the short games importance but learn how to swear for the bad shots;)

Cheers for the input guys!
I have had 1 lesson with a pro which made a noticable difference straight away, and will continue to have them as and when I have time and can afford it. I checked out the golf school articles which seem really good.
Thanks again!!

I would also add, just go out and have fun mate and enjoy the game for what it is. The harder you try, the harder it is at times. Smell the roses for a while and get a feel for the game before you start getting too caught up in all the instruction and mechanics of the game. You can only digest so much information over time and implement it into your game as you get better at at.

Have fun.

When you say any advice (besides lessons), do you mean that you don’t plan on taking a lesson at this stage, or that you know lessons are important so you don’t need us to tell you again? I ask this because it can be underestimated quite easily how important lessons are. Forking out the $$ now for a couple of lessons is a really good idea because it will get you headed on the right track. I remember wasting the first 4 or 5 months I played golf (not really wasting, but could have been used more efficiency) because I thought I would just learn it all myself.. After getting lessons I could take my game to the next level. Besides that, the golf school articles are great and if you go onto youtube.com and type in Shawn Clements, he is a very good instructor that is easy to understand that has a range of vids. I would also agree that you are starting in the right way. You can play lousy all the way to the green, but if you have a killer short game you will score alright.

Sounds like you are keen on golf, welcome to our obsession.

The REAL Mr Consistency

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Mr C
I m with you on this :))

A few tips for starters;

1. If you get a chance to bone Racinfarmer’s missus – go for it.

2. Never play at Southern unless you own a flanny shirt and denim jeans.

3. Try to out-post KYC

4. Start a thread telling everybody how far you hit it off the tee.

Fyiripu….hmmm, a comedian you are, I like it.

Cheers for the input guys!
I have had 1 lesson with a pro which made a noticable difference straight away, and will continue to have them as and when I have time and can afford it. I checked out the golf school articles which seem really good.
Thanks again!!

Do what the pro is teaching you & continue the lessons I can not stress enough how important those lessons are early on. & remember you are joining the ranks of those that are obsessed with the most infuriating , & downright frustrating game that anybody has ever invented, ( Must have been a scotsman!!!)
Just make sure you enjoy the experience, We all do, I think!!

i have to say, lessons should be number one. get some professional input early, that way you don’t feel like you’re changing too many things later.
but i would also suggest playing long courses too…