Hello All,

My grandmother (a highly avid golfer) passed away a short time ago and in a sort of way to remember her I’d like to spend some of my inheritance on getting in to golf.

I’m looking for a bit of guidance as I’m not really sure where to start. I obviously need lessons, but all the (private) golf courses I’ve seen online seem to require membership.

Can I have lessons without being a member? Speaking of membership, it seems that it’s easier for young women to be members, and on that note I’m 27 (well, soon!) and female. Is this an accurate observation?

Can anyone recommend me some particular coaches or golf courses I should pursue? As the title suggests, I live in Melbourne.

Thanks in advance and my sincere apologies if these are blatantly stupid questions but my knowledge of golf extends to knowing Tiger’s last name.

Yes you can usually get lessons at a driving range, which means you don’t need to be a member, but nonetheless most club pros will let you take lessons without being a member.

Hello All,

My grandmother (a highly avid golfer) passed away a short time ago and in a sort of way to remember her I’d like to spend some of my inheritance on getting in to golf.

I’m looking for a bit of guidance as I’m not really sure where to start. I obviously need lessons, but all the (private) golf courses I’ve seen online seem to require membership.

Can I have lessons without being a member? Speaking of membership, it seems that it’s easier for young women to be members, and on that note I’m 27 (well, soon!) and female. Is this an accurate observation?

Can anyone recommend me some particular coaches or golf courses I should pursue? As the title suggests, I live in Melbourne.

Thanks in advance and my sincere apologies if these are blatantly stupid questions but my knowledge of golf extends to knowing Tiger’s last name.

Welcome to the world of golf samiam. Now its just a matter of time before the golf bug bites and you are looking to buy your 12th driver and join your third club. It was not so long ago (December of last year) that I was in the same position as you Tiger Woods was the greatest thats all I knew (Heck I didn’t know who Phil Mickelson was till pretty recently!). You have the same good fortune that I did when I started out as I came across Iseekgolf when I was a bit of a newbie and sticking around was one of the best things I did for my golf!

Good luck to ya.

I didn’t get past 27 and female :)

We golfers don’t see wummin much lol!

In all seriousness you should start by finding a driving range in your area. I think The Dart (Paul Hart one of the resident coaches) is in Melbourne, if so, that would be your best starting point.

Its a great game and you’ll really enjoy the journey.

Paul’s in Sydney, unless he moved since last week. 8)

By the way Styles, Sydney is in New South Wales not Melbourne.

While you wait to arrange your lesson samiam, can I suggest you visit the golf school section. Start here with Fix your swing part 1 and continue with the articles as you find them.

Be patient with your learning.

By the way Styles, Sydney is in New South Wales not Melbourne.

Currently at Stage 0 – Waiting for yellow book to arrive.

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

How far is Sydney from Melbourne?

Over here in N Ireland, everywhere is “10 minutes up the road”

lol!

Closer to 10 hours :O. And actually in my state of sleepiness I mislead you, I should have wrote “Sydney is in New South Wales not Victoria”, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria as Sydney is NSW. So yea… for next time it comes up on a trivia night, now you know. However I am guessing that samiam already knows this, so we should probably just keep to the question that she asked in the first place.

Sam, Welcome to the land of crazies at iseekgolf, there is a lot to learn and plenty on here that will offer great, sound advice. A few others that will just make offers, but you’ll sort that out for youself.

Not being from Vic, I can’t assist, but if you are a bit more specific in the location you come from, there are guys & gals on here from your neck of the woods that will offer all types of info about courses, teaching pro’s, clubs to join etc.

Styles is right tho. While your waiting, head to the golf school section, read the many articles and they will give you a little insight into what is to follow when you take the game up. (Mostly frustration, but keep treating it as a game to be enjoyed)

Above all, enjoy the ride. It’s one hell of a roller coaster.

Welcome Samiam,
Get yourself to lessons first, you are in good shape starting with little or no knowledge. The hardest thing about golf is fixing up the bad habits, and as a learner you have not (yet) acquired any.
Whatever you do, don’t learn to play from a friend, relative, aquaintance, etc., that is worse than your father teaching you to drive a car.
Get ye to lessons. Someone on this forum will have a recommendation for a teaching pro in your area.

Welcome again Samiam.

Yup start up with some lessons to get your train going forward. You already made the right platform to get good info from within the forum here:)

There is no such thing as a silly question. If have no idea, then the more silly the question sounds the easier it is for your coach to know where your mind is at. The second worst thing in golf is a silent student that does not let us know the brain is still not on the same page.

Enjoy the ride.

Thanks guys :-)

Styles, don’t worry… I’ve just moved back from the UK and no matter how often I told people I lived in Bristol everyone just referred to it as ‘London’. Even my mother.

I live in Ascot Vale (near the showgrounds), but I’m happy to travel if it’s worthwhile. I know there’s a public golf course up the road in Essendon, but given their pros charge the same rate as those at Kingston Heath (for example) it seems a bit silly to go for the former regardless as to geographical proximity. Or perhaps that’s just the snob coming out in me?

There are two places you can go where you’ll get quality advice, and neither are private golf clubs….

Albert Park Driving Range
Sandringham Driving Range

Both have quality instructors.

In your area, there is Northern Golf Club close by.

peter

It’s not an easy game to learn.. far more difficult than it looks. But it’s lots of fun along the way and the challenge of improving is a great motivator. You’ll meet 2 main types of people in golf: 1. Absolute snobs who think Tiger should be caddying for them. 2. Great people out for a hit and a chat. Fortunately category 2 people are far more common though you have to choose where you join wisely. Take my advice and don’t join a real expensive club.. you’ll find lots of number 1’s there and egos an A380 Airbus couldn’t fly over. Find a nice playable course (not too difficult) that has a good teaching pro and you’ll make friends and really enjoy it. Visit a few clubs and get a feel from the staff and members standing idle what the 1 or 2 factor is there.. always remember the 1’s & 2’s theory. By the way, the first 30 years are the hardest. Then it gets ever so slightly easier.. usually. Have fun!

Hi Samiam,

The course you mentioned in Essendon, is actually Riverside Golf and Tennis Club. Its a nice little 9 hole course which would be good to learn on.
Ron LeBroque is the coach there. (Well he used to be there) I haven’t been there for a while.

Try and buy a bundle of lessons all at once as it may be cheaper, or another idea would be to join some of the workshops they have at Riverside.
These normally cost around $150 for 5 weeks and teach you form the full swing through to putting. This may ideal to start of with first and then go with the private lessons.

Pete

Welcome Samiam.

I too live in Ascot Vale.

As Pete said, Riverside (just off Stanford St) is a good place to start, its about a 2 minute drive down towards the river.

I believe LeBroque still coaches there, I had a hit at the range a few weeks ago, his name was up on the board.

The course isnt too bad, although I’d get a couple of lessons before tackling it and hit a few buckets of balls on the range.

Theres also Royal Park, which is right behind the Zoo, 9 holes, not too difficult of a course, I often play there.

I know the pro there Michael Lawn, he does lesson and group workshops, the group ones are generally much cheaper.

Hey samiam
Welcome to you
All the above is good advise.
If you look in the isg feedback posts, there are some ladies contacts under “womens forum” posts.
There is a link there you might like http://www.womansgolf.com.au.
Womens golf vic also run 6 weekly lesson packages too.
I live in melb too and like playing northcote, (on moreland road)
it’s harder than riverside but still a nice walk.
Good luck mate

Hey there- welcome to the world of golf- I live in East Keilor and have had some lessons out at Keilor public golf course- (near Calder park racetrack). The pro is Carl Smedley and he is great on the basics- gets your swing right then works on the finer detail.

I play at Medway- its close, a bit tricky and a good social atmosphere. Let me know if you would like to have a hit or look around and I can meet you there.

Good luck- once you catch the bug your weekends are gone.

I am no teacher but I can give you a tip that’s 85 years old and that no teacher will tell you in these prudish times. Many years ago my great aunt, who was a flapper in the 1920s, said she was given this tip by her teaching pro.
“Hold your bosoms between your elbows and throw your hands at the green”
I’m a bloke so have never tried it, but I’m sure it will work for most women. Good luck.

flapper??? Or do I not want to know?

Riverside is a nice quiet little setup. go there and get some lessons from the pro, learn how to hit the ball, then hire some clubs and have a few hits around the course – you won’t spend to omuch $$$ and you will find out if you like it or not.