Tell me all about golf

In My Humble Opinion
41

I was playing on a public course with a couple of relatives and hooked my drive a bit and it would up in the area between my hole and the adjacent one. One of the golfers on that hole (coming the opposite way, of course) hit in the same direction. I found my ball, and hit it just before they arrived to look for his.

You would have thought that I had been caught red-handed stealing the crown jewels. I got a curt “Did you check that ball?” and replied that it was indeed mine. Not believing me, they drove their cart all the way to where my ball and landed, picked it up and verified that it wasn’t his. :rolleyes:

Most people are really nice, though.

42

Ok, I’m finding out way too much information about golf. It bores me to tears, Does this make any Female Dopers happy?
I’m willing to change my game plan.

43

Really? I think you all sound like ball thieves.

Get a sense of humour, Dangerosa.

Because I don’t want to and I don’t like pink.

44

The pink balls do make it a whole lot easier to find yours, I find. The guys will never hit them accidentally. I also have bright yellow Spongebob balls.

ETA - my point originally was supposed to be, no, you don’t at all have to go pink. There’s cute golf stuff in every part of the girly spectrum. Personally, I like the Nike Golf stuff for fit and quality - it’s very important that whatever you wear you can bend in it and move well. It has to have stretch to it. And it has to have pockets you can put your balls in without looking more hilarious than necessary.

45

They seem to recoil in the very horror of the idea of hitting a pink ball. Its the golfing equivalent of asking a guy to pick up tampons at the store.

I usually buy white ladies balls - but I do buy ladies balls, simply because it saves me the effort of having to mark them. Apparently, they are supposed to go farther - I’m not a good golfer, a ball is a ball, and I can kill gophers with expensive balls or cheap balls or found balls.

White, tan and baby blue are the other common choices in golf clothes for women - should you choose to invest in the look. I have lots of tan

46

Let’s start with a few basic “ettiquette” rules.

Most importantly, keep pace. That means, know when it is your turn to hit, be ready when it is your turn, and hit. Generally, whoever is furthest from the hole is up. And whoever has the lowest scor on 1 hole has honors - hits first - on the next. So that is the basic ettiquette to avoid hitting out of turn. But if mediocre golfers (most of us) strictly adhere to this, it can cause delays. You should at least know how to play “ready golf” - essentially, whoever is ready, hits.

When you hit your ball, watch it all the way until it stops. Pick out a landmark - a tree or something - and walk right to it. If you hit your ball to the right and your partner his hers to the left, don’t stroll over to her ball chatting with her, and just assume you will be able to find your ball when you cut back across the fairway. There is little more frustrating than a not-very-good golfer repeatedly hitting lousy shots, and then saying “Where did it go?”

Most golfers have a pre-shot routine, if only a practice swing or two. But if you have an involved routine, you don’t need to wait until the guy before you has hit before starting it. Walking up to your ball, you should be thinking about what club you might hit. And you should have it in your hand before the last guy is finished hitting. It really slows things down if you do not even start thinking about club selection until it is your turn to hit.

Be aware of where the next hole is, and leave your bag where it will not delay things. For example, if the next tee is behind the green and to the right, don’t leave your bag at the left front of the green. Little things like this can really slow things down and annoy your partners and the folks behind you.

What is best is if you can find a group of golfers who know the game, but also know how to enjoy themselves on the course. Playing regularly with a group like that is the easiest way to learn the ettiquette an how to enjoy the game while improving. Most of all - have fun. Remember, it is just a nice walk in the park.

Re: clothes, personally, I always sorta shy away from dressing too nicely. IMO, if I see someone wearing the latest most expensive golf fashions, they’d better be a damned good golfer. If they aren’t, they look kinda silly, as tho they are dressing up and playing a part. Believe me, a knit polo shirt and shorts/slacks/skort are just fine, and for the first year or 2, you’d be better off spending your $ on lessons. Just my opinion.

47

I was a caddy at a ritzy club from age 12 to 16. During that time I also played quite often, and here’s what I’ve learned about golf:

The most fun you’ll ever have is sneeking onto the course at night to play throw golf, where you throw the ball with your hand, rather than hitting it with clubs. Some guys would use slingshots and one even used a bra to increase distance in throw golf. The results were unpredictable and usually hilarious. Scattering and hiding in the bushes when some old security guard comes roaring out in a golf cart is a blast. Little equipment is needed. Throw golf typically begins with a sunset slog through the rough, weeds or creeks to find balls that were lost during the day.

If you’re not into throw golf, then get yerself the clubs and tees, and gloves and shoes and all the stuff other people mentioned above.

48

A couple of things:

  1. Golf is basically a nice long walk spoiled by a little white ball.

  2. Read Harvey Penick’s “Little Red Book”.

49

A few years ago, the Lady Precept golf balls were the biggest thing. They have a relatively low compression, had a nice feel to them, and a lot of guys would use them in tournaments. Almost all of the markings on the balls had some variation of “LADY” scribbled out in lieu of a sight line. Precept, the next year, started playing up that new fact, running ads towards guys that were playing the “LADY” golf balls. Apparently there was a little push back, because the next year, they kept the “LADY” golf balls, but also added a new golf ball to their line: the “LADDIE”. You can guess what that ball was, but with a different name.

50

Wanting to waste a little time here at work, I googled my fave club manufacturer, to see what they had to offer in women’s clubs. I found this set. Man, they are offering a 460cc driver with 15 degrees loft, 3, 5, 7 woods, 3 hybrids, 8, 9 irons, and 2 wedges. Not exactly what most of us have been describing as conventional sets, but I can imagine those clubs would be pretty easy to hit.

Yes, anu, your teacher is (hopefully) a pro - a teaching pro associated with the PGA.

Here’s another tip when starting out. Forget about par. Par is just an arbitrary number for beginners. Perhaps for you “par” on a particular hole should actually be 2 over. So be happy if you get a couple of nice shots on your way to a 6, instead of being pissed that you didn’t get the 4 that the scorecard says you should. It’s all about having fun.

(You realize, of course, that I wouldn’t have mentioned the bra-thing if you hadn’t previously described yourself as all perky from your guitar playing!) :o

51

Those are some super-cute clubs, man.

52

I always tell beginners - look at par, double it - if you get that number you are doing really well for a beginner.

53

Saw them listed on-line a couple of places for $599. IMO, that is considerably more than a beginner needs to spend, but if mom and dad are flexing the plastic… :wink:

54

I need some longer ones. I started out with an inexpensive women’s set, but I need an extra inch or so. Hard to justify it since I haven’t played in a while, though. I’ve been considering taking lessons again if only because it got me out there a lot more often.

55

Slip your rings onto your watch band while playing. Safe, convenient and I don’t have to wonder where the hell I put them this time.

Is this the time to admit I have pink towels, tees, gloves (with nail slits), balls and bag? My clubs are club-colored, but only because Taylor-made made them that way. :smiley:

56

Also, for what it’s worth, I’m playing these for my irons. I wouldn’t suggest even touching them until you have a few years of lessons.
Also, I’m a masochist, and I still have a 2-iron in my bag.

57

Sometimes I marvel at my self-restraint.

58

I was good with the self-restraint up until now. I was fully prepared to let that comment gloss over.

59

Still bored here at work. Did a quick search at one retailer to see what women’s sets went for. If you want to buy a full set, looks like you would have a bunch of options between $200-500. And a set like those will last you several years. Heck, if you wanted to go the used or cheapie route, you could spend under $200.
Note that most of these sets do not include putters - you can get a good one for around $50.
And if they don’t include a bag, that might be another $75-100.
Golf shoes, you should be able to get a decent pair for well under $100, provided you aren’t bent on a certain color or something.

So - how much do you think you can soak the ps for? :wink:

Looking at that list, do you guys think too many women are going to buy “Hippo” brand clubs?

60

I can’t believe you bitches missed “lady balls,” actually.

My parents told me they were willing to go to about $300-$350. I may be able to weasel a putter out of sis & bro, but I don’t know. They’re selling the condo in Chicago and running off to Boston again. I told them not to worry about getting me presents this year until my sister starts earning.

Incidentally Dinsdale, I knew you were joking :cool: