Tell me all about golf

In My Humble Opinion
1

Initially I’d decided to take up classical guitar and (downhill) skiing* as my “I have a job, now what?” activities for the year. The guitar playing is going quite well, but I’ve hit a snag on the skiing in that I neglected to take into account the fact that I live in Southern California.

Anyway, I’ve switched over to golf, have researched a nice course in my area and am planning to set up the lessons this weekend.

My parents, for some reason, are unusually excited about the golf thing. Probably because they feel it’s a valuable career skill** and will encourage me to go into the private sector or something. I’m not planning on enlightening them because they have very generously offered to buy me clubs for my upcoming birthday. They’ve also requested that I figure out pricing and what I REALLY need (as in essential gear/clubs) to provide them with a list, including brand suggestions.

  1. What are the really essential clubs and accessories I’d want to pass the buck along on? I’d say I’m looking for about average quality. I know this equipment can get very very expensive. My parents told me they’re willing to pay for “decent but not obscenely expensive”.

  2. I’ll rent the clubs etc. while I’m taking the lessons-but what type of shoes do I need? Should I invest in proper golf shoes? Anything else? I’m not a big fan of shorts. Are these really essential to wear? What type of clothing is considered “appropriate”? Generally, I dress in very thrilling ensembles cobbled together from the sales racks at J. Crew and the Blandana Republican. Is this is okay?
    *I grew up doing cross country.

**I have no intention of getting off the dole, aka, my job.

2

As far as clothing goes, it depends on where you play. I could play in a bathing suit and a picture hat at the little par 3 I mostly go to if I wanted, but there are courses in the Lowcountry that would actually require I wear a skirt. (I have adorable golf skirts, but that’s just for the fun of it.) You do not have to wear shorts, but you should remember that it can get pretty hot out there.

You will want golf shoes, but when you start taking lessons I’d say it isn’t absolutely necessary. However, this is a great time of year to buy golf stuff, it’s generally on sale. ( Right after Christmas is absolutely the best.)

As for clubs, I’d say ask your teacher for advice. You want clubs that fit you and your abilities and style.

Lessons, IMHO, are a must. You don’t want to pick up bad habits.

I haven’t played in a while, but I’m seriously itching to get back out there. It’s so much fun I can’t even stand it.

3

I am definitely taking the lessons-that’s just a given!

Thanks for the advice. I guess I’ll wait a bit and see what the teacher says, though I have this vague feeling that if the course has a shop they’ll just try to sell me on buying from them. I’d like to know what types of clubs/gear the average individual considers absolutely essential to have, and what might be considered “chaff” or “I’ll buy it when I get better”.

4

As far as clubs go, the putter is most important. On a par 72 course, 36 of those shots are supposed to be putts, so finding a putter that fits you is a very high priority. After a few lessons and some hours at the putting green, you will begin to form an idea of what you like in a putter… weight, touch (softness), etc. Then try out dozens of putters at your local golf retailer (Nevada Bob’s or some such place). Putters range in price from Walmart clearance of around 20 dollars, give or take, to very pricey professional-style putters (I believe Tiger Woods’s Scotty Cameron putter by Titleist is in the three-to-four hundred dollar range).

So practice with a rental set or whatever, but find a putter you like. I’m partial to Ping, myself (my putter cost around $125, but had some credit in the pro shop!)

Another thing you might want to consider is a five dollar investment on a golf glove. Without one, my hand would be terribly blistered from the rubber grip. Make sure you try it on before you buy it.

Balls… Don’t go buying 50 dollar boxes of Pro V1’s. You can’t tell the difference when just starting out. Play with old, cheap balls (but not Driving range balls!). Look for extra balls when you are in the brush looking for your ball. They’ll clean up and play just as nicely.

Another important thing is (after you actually pick up the game and form SOME consistency) is discerning how far you can hit a particular club. Courses have markers on the hole to indicate range, so it would be good to know that you can hit a 5 iron 150 yards, or whatever. Just because your golfing putter can put the ball on the green with his 9 iron and you feel you need to use your 7 iron, don’t let that bother you. The important thing is making it to the green, not what you use to get there.

You mentioned attire… Most courses require a polo-type shirt (collared golf shirt). Many require khakis, but others allow denim. Golf shoes are not required, but help for traction when making shots in various lies.
The main thing about golf is practice. The more you go out there, the better you will get. It is good to have somebody to tell you the basics of the technique though, so a lesson or two is helpful. After you get your stroke down, play a round of nine holes. You won’t better your game on the range alone.

Lastly, it’s good to have a buddy to go out with you on the course. Not only for company, but there will be shots that you never see… your partner will be able to watch where your ball goes.
One final bit of advice… KEEP YOUR HEAD STILL! Look at the ball when it’s on the ground. Don’t move your head until you finish your swing. You will want to look at the ball fly high and far, but believe me, there will be time for that. So for the love of all that is holy, KEEP YOUR HEAD STILL!

5

It’s considered acceptable to thieve other people’s golf balls as you’re playing? That’s just plumb hilarious.

Thank you for taking the time to respond in depth-I really appreciate it.

6

There’s not much to “buy when you get better”. The most rank amateur should have a full set of good quality clubs, shoes, glove, bag, tees, balls, ball marker, divot tool, towel and umbrella. The other stuff is not really necessary at all, you might decide to have fun with a range scope or ball balancer, but nobody needs it.

Better quality clubs are generally going to be more forgiving, so slight mis-hits won’t send you into the woods (or as far into the woods), and will give you some more length. These days, though, even modestly priced clubs are light years ahead of clubs from 20 years ago, and people still enjoyed golf in the 80’s. Your pro should be the best resource for determining a set of clubs that fit your swing and skill level, at the price you want.

I’m going to sort of disagree with feppytweed on the putter. It’s true that you “drive for show and putt for dough”. Putting will generally have a bigger effect on your final score than the long shots. However, nothing makes golf less enjoyable than playing the entire time out of scrub brush, long grass and sand. Extra shots on the green suck, extra shots out in the middle of the hole are completely frustrating. So, I’d say that a top notch putter is one of the “when you’re better” purchases, when you really care about what number you get when you add it all up, rather than when you’re still trying to get on the green in under 5 shots.

7

ETA: Upon seeing your reply to ZSofia, gear that is necessary would be:

Driver, Fairway wood (3 wood and 5 wood), 3 iron to 9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, putter.
There are other clubs, such as hybrids, various irons and extra wedges, but these
above are all you need, club wise.

I mentioned golf glove…
Some tees (insanely cheap)
Sharpie (something to mark your balls with)
A coin (to mark your ball on the green when playing with others)
Balls- When you find them halfway in the dirt in the middle of the woods, they are up for grabs, but when they are obviously new, and marked, and you see someone looking for it, then it’s not up for grabs. You’ll be able to tell the difference easily though.
The golf bag…there are two types… cart and carry. If you play with those who walk the course, a carry bag would be better, as it is lighter and has shoulder straps that are better designed for carrying long distances. Also, carry bags have legs that extend when the bag is set down to keep the bag upright. Cart bags are bigger, but sturdier, have more pockets (usually), less straps, and are made to be carried on the back of a golf cart.
Golf towel- to clean club faces and balls. This attaches to your golf bag
Water- you’ll get thirsty

Unnecessary equipment
Range Finder. As I mentioned, there are several markers on each hole to indicate distance
Expensive Balls
I’m sure I’m leaving something out.

Enjoy the game! It’s great. Just don’t let it frustrate you. You’re out there to have fun. When you’re so mad you throw your clubs, you aren’t having fun, so just take it easy and enjoy it.

8

Oh, and you won’t need your driver for a while, so if you’re buying separately you might not even want to get one yet.

9

Ooooh, thanks, feppytweed.

I think I’m going to buy the shoes, glove and collared shirt this weekend and set off on the lessons. But that list is very helpful, basically what I was looking for (well, what my mom and dad are looking for).

10

Cheesesteak mentioned a divot fixer, which I neglected to do. This is about the size of a business card, usually metal, and has two or three prongs for fluffing up the green when your approaching shot “dents” it. Usually a chip won’t make a divot, but a shot from, say, an eight iron would.

For shots on the fairway, most golf carts are equipped with sand to fill the area
removed be your stroke (replacing the turf, if it’s a large, solid piece, is good too).

Golf shoes, as I see you plan to buy, have plastic spikes on the bottom which must replaced every so often. A golf shoe has about seven spikes or so, and replacement spikes might cost as much as a dollar apiece, so just be prepared when it comes time to replace them. They should last a good long while though (several several months).

11

One of the best things about golf shoes is that (at least some of them) they are waterproof. I tend to play a lot in the early morning, or in/after a rain, or I step in a puddle, etc. So I always get ones with 2-year waterproof guarantees. But if that doesn’t matter to you - or certainly just starting out - any court shoes would be fine.

Finding balls isn’t theiving. I can’t remember the last time I bought a ball. Its all in knowing where to look. But most new balls are pretty good. Mainly, you’ll want to choose between one with spin and one for distance. And as a beginner, it won’t make that much difference. Top-Flites or Pinnacles will do you fine for a couple years.

Of course some times an idiot will hit someone else’s ball. No matter how good or bad you are, it is a good idea to mark your ball with a sharpie. Just a dot or line somewhere - so you will always be able to definitely tell if a ball is yours.

Clubs, well, there are all kinds of choices out there. One really neat recent thing is the hybrid club. Often called a rescue club, or an iron wood. Basically takes the place of a long (1-4) iron. Much easier to hit. Any beginner and most accomplished players should carry at least 1.

The least important club for you will be a driver. For many people, driver is a very difficult club to hit. You’d be fine for a year or so teeing off with a 3-wood, a hybrid, or even a 5-iron.

I’m also a fan of Ping putters, and mine cost around $100. The main thing is to learn the difference between face-weighted putters like mallets, and toe- weighted blades. And which is better for you depends on whether you stroke straight back and through, or in an arc like a swinging door. Whatever you do, don’t get one of those belly or chest putters!

If you can rent clubs for a while, by all means do that. Your first goal should be to find one club - any club - that you can hit pretty straight pretty predictably. Maybe a 5 or 7 iron. IMO, most beginners would be fine starting with no more than 5 or so clubs. Maybe a putter, a wedge, 7 and 5 irons, and a 3 wood. So it is kinda silly to spend a lot of money on a nice set before you even know how to swing them. You don’t even know what might feel or look good to you.

OTOH, if you buy a cheap starter set and find you like the game, you are going to want to sell them immediately.

Clubs are not 1-size fits all. Have your pro “fit” you. And if you don’t trust him, go into a Golf superstore over lunch some day, or early in the morning when they are not crowded. What is best for you depends on how hard you swing, how long your arms are compared to your body, how straight you stand, etc. Get 2 or 3 opinions before spending a couple hundred dollars on clubs.

You can buy a lot of clubs used, and buy various parts of the set individually. For example, you could start off with a set of irons - say 5 through pitching wedge. Add a putter that feels good, and maybe a used wood, driver, or hybrid. Then, as you get better, you can buy a couple of fairway woods and/or hybrids, and a nice wedge or 2. You can start with a cheap $10, or buy something decent for $50 or so. As far as putters go, it is all about what feels and looks best to you.

Then when you are comfortable, you might want to spend a bit buying LAST YEAR’S new driver (the most recent clubs are always outrageously pricey!) Heck, if you want to try a big driver, get a knock-off for $30 at K-Mart, and if you like it, ask for the real thing for your birthday or something.

Clubs also fall into 2 main categories, for forged blades for pros and those for the rest of us. What you want is the club that is the most forgiving and easiest to hit. Your pro should be a lot of help for you.

Try to find a place to practice, and practice a lot before you hack up a course. Hopefully you can find a practice green to work on chipping and putting. And many stores/ranges have demo days and loaner clubs you can try.

I’m buying a 3-wood this spring, and have it narrowed down to a Titleist, Taylor-Made, Ping, or Tour Edge. My local club has demo days, where I will be able to go to the range and try them out, and simply buy the one I like best. IMO, the only way to go. Of course, I already know how to swing a club, and what I like and don’t like in clubs.

Somewhat counter-intuitively, often times the pro shops at courses will have prices as good if not better than the big boxes. So you might want to shop around (if you want to save mommy and saddy a few bucks.)

Final point, I have long been a BIG fan of Tour Edge clubs. I do not think they make a bad product, and all but their top of the line are very reasonably priced. Unbeatable guarantee and service as well. Just my $.02.

Dress - be comfortable. Women have more leeway than men. If you want to wear slacks, that’s fine. Basically think what you would wear to a casual picnic, where you might be playing horseshoes or volleyball. Something that allows free movement, and doesn’t make you sweat overmuch.

But since you are an attractive young woman - and there aren’t enough of your species on golf courses - o/b/o male golfers worldwide I beseech you PLEASE SHOW US A LITTLE LEG! :cool:

And the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS - keep pace and HAVE FUN!

  • I almost forgot, if you have not done so already, you must rent/buy and memorize Caddyshack. “Noonan!”
12

Final thing to add - I never wear a glove, never have. Personally, I think a lot of golfers wear them just because they see the pros do so.

13

I love the “drive for show, putt for dough” folks. Most of my bad holes are caused by bad drives. Sure, they’re roughly 300 yards out there, but 3 fairways over doesn’t help me much.

I get blisters until my hands get used to the pain every year. Sometimes I break them in. Most times I break them in, but gonzomax tends to make fun of my “little girly hands” because I get sore spots/blisters on my hands early in the year.

Be comfy out there, try not to get in the way too much (that goes for everyone, it’s not a women-only comment) and have fun.

You can’t spend enough on a good pair of shoes. Etonics tend to give my heel a little blister until I break them in, but FootJoys and Nike shoes haven’t ever done it to me.

14

Thanks to all of you for taking the time and typing out such extensive responses. The two times a year I make use of the Dope knowledge base always re-confirms why I pay the fee :cool:

I’m very excited. The guitar playing has been great fun and really perked me up, and my parents are so obscenely excited that I’m taking up golf that they’ve even gotten off my back about getting married. As to my “seriousness” you can be sure that if they keep OFF my back on that subject I’ll be taking it very seriously…

Oh and no problems on telling me not to get in the way of the serious golfers. I’ve heard the stories that newbs are out there clogging it up or whatever. I did request that you tell me upfront about the etiquette so that I can AVOID these types of issues/confrontations and not piss people off accidentally.

15

One thing to add - be prepared to give up all your spare time and cash! If you’re at all competitive it can be extremely addictive. I took up the game two years ago and only the birth of my first child slowed down my vain pursuit of golf perfection.

16

If you want to be able to play with other people at other skill levels, don’t worry about playing well. Learn to play fast. Women aren’t really slower players, they just stand around talking more! Learn when to give up on a hole. Learn when to take the drop, whatever. Don’t beat your head against a wall any more than you need to. Golf can be very frustrating - the great part about it is that it can be fun at the same time. Don’t just keep chunking balls into the pond if that vein starts to pop out of your forehead.

Oh, and get some cute golf skirts. It makes me want to get out and play when I have darling little clothes to do it in. Also, they’re comfortable.

And wear sunscreen and a hat.

17

Zsofia, where do you buy your golf clothes for women? Is this something I could pick up at the local sporting authority? I’m kind of in horror of polo shirts and khaki myself because I think they’re horribley unflattering to the female body so I have no problems buying a dress/skirt. At the same time, I’ll be honest, I refuse to do anything like buy PINK golf clubs or a golf bag with gigantic daisies on it or something like that. Have they made golf clothes reasonably attractive yet still sporty? Still, my intention here isn’t to look hot so I don’t particularly care.

Oh and maybe this kind of a dumb (and mildly embarrasing for me) question to ask but since you’re the only woman on the thread other, you’re probably the only one who can answer it…do you wear a sports bra for golf or is it a light enough activity that any old bra will do?

18

I’ll just throw out my thoughts on clubs:

As a rank newcomer, you should expect to buy a fairly cheap set of clubs that you’ll use for about two years, maybe three at the outside. If you continue to play golf after that, and so long as you continue to take lessons and improve, you’ll certainly outgrow your first set of clubs in that time.

I disagree with the suggested set above. I would recommend getting a three wood, a five wood, hybrid clubs to replace your 3 and 4 iron, 5-9 irons, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a putter. Don’t get a driver, it is simply to hard to hit with a bad swing, but if you absolutely must get one, it ought to have 13 degrees of loft. But guess what? That’s the same loft as a standard 3 wood, but the shaft is longer on a driver, making it harder to control. Buy a driver when you can hit the 3 wood well. Similarly, the 3 and 4 iron have too little loft for a beginner to hit well. Lots of folks like hybrid replacements.

In terms of irons, look for the term “super game improvement.” There are also an increasing number of sets sold with a mix of super game improvement irons and hybrids.

You’d do better to get a fitting with a golf pro. In a fitting, a pro will help you select the clubs that are right for you. Although many of the aspects of a fitting are for players who have some experience under their belt (hard to measure the lie angle if you’ve never swung a club before), it is an interesting process, and some places will do this for a very nominal fee provided that you buy the clubs from that place. Ask your pro at your first lesson for suggestions.

19

They’re right.

20

I think what I’m going to do is print out this thread, go to the lessons, ask to get fitted by a pro and come back and review this when I have a better basis…then send the list to my parents. They’re coming out here to see me reasonably soon, so we can go to buy them together.

Oh and I’ll be sure to tell you all what the instructor (is that the individual you guys are referring to as the “pro”?) says about what I need club-wise. Then you can weigh in with your opinions on that.