Contemplating golf...

[mancity68]

I've got a bit of an urge to learn to play golf. Is that wrong? It feels wrong.

How would I do it? Where would I go?

Anyone want to share lessons?

Or should I just lie down in a dark room til the moment passes?

[Loz]

Golf is the the most wonderful, frustrating, amazing, terrible, brilliant, awful thing you can ever do. You can go from heady highs to brutal lows and back again in such a short space of time, it's probably the sporting equivalent of manic depression.

[rendelharris]

I've felt so much happier since giving it up (arthritis in many times broken wrists from motorcycle and rugby incidents)...but conversely I loved playing it for twenty odd years - the frustration of never being able to get below a 16 handicap got to me in the end. Just be warned, once you start it's the crack cocaine of sports! The World of Golf places (there's one in Croydon and one down the A3 in New Malden) are good places for lessons, and you can rent clubs inexpensively to have a whack on the driving range. If you do get into it the one piece of advice I'd give as a mediocre player is buy the best clubs you can afford, they're daft expensive but good kit does make a massive difference.

[womanofdulwich]

THe world of golf place quite often runs group 6 weekly sessions which are "free" but you pay for the balls. There is also a crazy golf nearby too. The lessons are a good way of seeing if you like it - and you might meet some potential gold buddies

[Mick Mac]

Most driving ranges have golf shops and coaching staff associated with them. There is one on the A20 and there is one slightly closer towards Croydon. Both have Adventure Golf (putting) which is good fun for children if you have children who are interested.

Most private golf courses will be willing to give beginner lessons, and once in touch with the club professional you will be linked to a club, which takes away some of the dread about visiting a private golf club.

It takes a while to get to the standard of a members club - once you can hit it consistently well on the range, you could progress to a public course, and then later join a member's club. Alternatively you can start at a members club for coaching and play that course and the professional will guide you as to whether you are good enough to go on the course, or take you round for a playing lesson.

[maxxi]

I love it too.

The windmills are tricky little beggars and the ramp up in to the clown's mouth has defeated me on not a few occasions but I guess it just gets in to your blood.

My favourite is the indoor Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham (with realistic earth-quake tremors) but it is not for beginners.

[red devil]

Don't turn up in your Citeh top...bad form old chap

[Mick Mac]

I reckon I play more adventure golf than proper golf these days.

[DaveR]

A good walk ruined.

[Mick Mac]

Spoiled.

[mancity68]

Brilliant, thank you all for these insights and tips. Updates will follow if I take the plunge...

Perhaps I could borrow your plusfours Red Devil...?

[Seabag]

Donald Trump has destroyed the last vestiges of credibility for this 'sport'

Find something else to do

[maxxi]

Seabag Wrote:

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>

> Find something else to do

Nooooooo, in Nottingham they have coloured balls. Coloured Balls!!*

*I always play magenta, it's a style thing.