Golf

[Roger H. Sterling]

Noticed that there's a fair number of golfers in amongst you lot. I picked up a club properly for the first time in September there, and have been playing every few weeks since. Finally getting pretty competent and have fully caught the bug. Can't get enough.

Played Silverknowes on Monday, Kilspindie on Tuesday, and Braid Hills on Saturday. Scoring around the 100 mark as my putting is absolutely abysmal and I'm 3 putting pretty much every hole.

Anyone into it seriously? Best/worst part of your game? Favourite course?

How did most of you get to a decent level without giving up? I started using it as a way to see my grandad more often, so was worth doing it even when I was shit. I can only imagine if I was doing it off my own back I'd have given up pretty quick due to how steep a learning curve it is. No idea how people stick to being shit for so long, in the hope that they'll eventually get it.

[Charlie Kelly]

I've played on and off since I was about 15 and I'll be honest I've not got much better since. I'm a member up at Glencorse and I'll be honest I'm not a fan of it purely because I struggle badly on the front 9, but my old man and a lot of my mates are all members up there so always get a good laugh when going up for a round. Probably the only reason I stick at it tbh, that and the yearly golf trips away.

Since I got back to playing regularly my short game and putting have been good but my wild tee shots are killing me, if I got them under control I'm confident I'd be shooting late 80's/90's but I'm 3 off the tee on far too many holes these days. Soul destroying at times but I always end up finishing like a champion so I always end up going back.

I've not played many courses but Haddington is probably up there as one of the best I've played, played Kilspindie when I was a junior and loved that as well.

[Mr A]

I was thrust onto a golf course at the ago of about 8 and have played irregularly ever since. I have never been particularly good.

I am horrendously inconsistent. I can go birdie, par, birdie, quadruple bogey, double bogey, pick up etc. The only way to get any good unless you are naturally talented at it is to play a lot. I just dont have the time or desire to do that.

Play mostly with work now - I would advise anyone to get competent at golf as the amount of 'networking' days I get out of the office is great.

Get buggies when I play with work. Buggies are awesome and make it much more bearable if you're playing shite

[Roger H. Sterling]

What are you struggling to improve on? I'm at that noob gains stage where the swing is just starting to click, so I'm connecting with most shots rather than scuffing every single one. I take it this is where most folk will peak? I can't imagine anyone goes for years still topping/slicing every shot, that would be soul destroying. It's really not a forgiving sport for learners.

Think I can get myself to your level, at the 80s/90s if I improve my putting. It's just a completely different game to learn.

[Picards Forehead]

I used to go to the driving range or the pitch and putt as a kid but I never caught the bug and don't think I ever broke 100. My putting was quite good but with the driver I would be bombing it straight as you like one minute and skittering along the ground out of bounds the next.

My dad fucking loves it and plays 2-3 times a week. Think in his younger days he was off 2-3 but now sits around 14. Total golf wanker who cuts about in chinos, polos and pringle jumpers at any and all social gatherings

[Charlie Kelly]

Another problem I've got is when I hit a bad shot, I'll go on a run of hitting bad shots and it just kills my round. A lot of it's mental as well as physical, if you can shake off the bad shots quickly then you can limit the damage but it's hard not to just completely lose the plot.

[Mr A]

You will quickly get past the scuffing/topping stage. But when you start to hit the ball further your problems increase - a gentle slice over a long distance can put you in the trees, lost ball, penalty strokes. Hit the next into a shitey bunker that takes two or three to get out of.

My main issue, though, is my short game. I can drive the ball a mile and my mid-long irons are mostly fine but chipping and putting takes a lot of work. Near the green in two and take 4 or 5 to get it in from there is not uncommon for me.

I played a round with a bird last summer (for the first time ever). She couldn't hit the ball far at all- but it was always straight. No lost balls, rarely in bunkers. She beat me comfortably.

[Mr A]

Another problem I've got is when I hit a bad shot, I'll go on a run of hitting bad shots and it just kills my round. A lot of it's mental as well as physical, if you can shake off the bad shots quickly then you can limit the damage but it's hard not to just completely lose the plot.

and very much this

[The Great Khali]

I'm pure pish at golf. I really want to play but I'm fucking gash and it just annoys me.

[Johnny]

My Dad and older brother are mad golfers. Play every week. My Dad's the president at our local club Two of my best mates are really into it too. They've been at me for years to take it up. Played a wee bit when i was younger, but I always grew way too frustrated with inconsistency. Said recently I'd take it up, at least go to the driving range a few times and see how i get on. Will be spectacularly pish but im going to stick with it, the social side seems pretty decent. My mates go golfing holidays and weekends away quite a bit, id'd like to get involved with that. The social side is the thing i miss most from when i played rugby. Never going back to that, so golf seems the best alternative

[Roger H. Sterling]

I'm pure pish at golf. I really want to play but I'm fucking gash and it just annoys me.

This is why I've never taken it up. Tried a few goes at the driving range with absolutely no direction or teaching and just assumed I was pish, because I was. You've really got to stick at being pish for ages before you get better, which is why I've no idea how most folk get into it. Got to really want to get good to even get near being mediocre.

My Dad and older brother are mad golfers. Play every week. My Dad's the president at our local club Two of my best mates are really into it too. They've been at me for years to take it up. Played a wee bit when i was younger, but I always grew way too frustrated with inconsistency. Said recently I'd take it up, at least go to the driving range a few times and see how i get on. Will be spectacularly pish but im going to stick with it, the social side seems pretty decent. My mates go golfing holidays and weekends away quite a bit, id'd like to get involved with that. The social side is the thing i miss most from when i played rugby. Never going back to that, so golf seems the best alternative

As good an incentive as any. I've been lucky that a few of my pals are either getting into it as well, or are already keen golfers. Makes it much easier to keep the momentum going. I'd get into it if I were you, go out there with your dad or pals. They'll be delighted and happy to help you get better. I wouldn't go near a course for a while though, just go get a lesson from a pro or your dad and smash some balls at the range. Hitting a sweet shot is one of the best feelings.

[Jack D and Coke]

My Dad and older brother are mad golfers. Play every week. My Dad's the president at our local club Two of my best mates are really into it too. They've been at me for years to take it up. Played a wee bit when i was younger, but I always grew way too frustrated with inconsistency. Said recently I'd take it up, at least go to the driving range a few times and see how i get on. Will be spectacularly pish but im going to stick with it, the social side seems pretty decent. My mates go golfing holidays and weekends away quite a bit, id'd like to get involved with that. The social side is the thing i miss most from when i played rugby. Never going back to that, so golf seems the best alternative

The social side of it is basically why I took it up tbh. Mates were always going away places and I just went for that reason alone. That was about 15 years ago and although I'm not great I'm a 16 handicapper these days. Occasionally I threaten to break 80, haven't ever managed it yet but I'm getting closer[emoji1]

Get a couple of lessons Rog and basically it's just perseverence after that. I still have the odd game where everything goes to shit and I have complete nightmares but I've got a couple of mates who are 3 and 4 handicappers who have the same kinds of days, it's just that kind of game.

[Pete Seeger]

I played a lot as a kid and got my handicap down to single figures but it's all gone now. I can still strike a ball reasonably well but any consistency I ever had has gone. It's something I'd like to get back into but I don't really have the time just now so limit myself to a few rounds with my brother and jollies with suppliers.

Plenty good courses through in the East. Particularly down East Lothian and Fife. My favourites being Gullan and Elie but any of the links can be good and it's 12 months of the year playable unlike parkland courses so if I was joining anywhere through your way it'd be links.

Prepare to be patient because you'll get worse before you get better which is when you'll find out if you want to stick it.

[Zizou]

I just can't be arsed with a game where even the best player in the world can be amazing one day and terrible the next.

It's quite a good pass time as well, but it's a fucking joke of a sport to get any good at.

[Roger H. Sterling]

Hit the driving range today, then played the 9 hole Melville course then jumped on the Porty 9-holer after it closed. I didn't know that was a thing. I played stinkin.

Prepare to be patient because you'll get worse before you get better which is when you'll find out if you want to stick it.

What do you mean by that? I'm at that stage where instead of raging because I can't hit the ball because I'm not able to, I'm raging because I know I can hit the ball but I'm not. I've gone from being an ignorant learner, to being acutely aware of how far away I am from being competent. Is that what you mean?

[Cheeky Gnando’s]

I am absolutely horrific at golf, just no technique at all, which means I can't hit the ball very far off the tee and regularly play myself into trouble, which creates a horrible snowball effect resulting in me rummaging about the tall grass looking for my ball and getting utterly fucking seething

I played quite regularly when I was about 16/17 and while I was never good, I could get round a course without embarrassing myself completely. Any time I play now though, it's clear those days are long gone

[Morgaro Gomis]

Used to play a lot when I was younger, had a handicap of around 18-20 as a 15-16 year old, which I think was pretty good. Not played properly in about 6 years and played about twice in 3 years, bit of a shame because I enjoyed it and was okay at it, had even won a few competitions.

Gave up cos I was going to uni, which, looking back at it, was a really stupid decision. Regret it now, and doubt Id be able to do much with a Golf club these days - which is a shame, and probably the reason I haven't went back to it.

[pondlife]

Porty after hours. Can't count the number of times I did that when I was young. I assume you joined on the 2nd; pitching wedge?

Like Pete, I played a lot as a junior although never made it to single figures. I found that two issues came into play : physical fatigue around the 14th, and just plain concentration. Simply concentrating on what you were to do for every shot (external factors aside - lie, distance to pin, wind, etc) was beyond me.

I absolutely love battering the ball with a three iron off the tee.

[Roger H. Sterling]

Nah, I joined on the 1st. Driver.

[Rebenga]

I got the pish ripped out of me for being cack handed (whatever that is) and decided not to go back.