Anyone for golf?

[JCase]

I gave up for 4 years ago because it got to serious. People putting to much preasure on me. I got down to scratch and the Island selectors were watching me with the view to going away and playing in the Island games (can't remember where it is was but this year it's in Rhodes). I was playing in a big Island comp and I went round in 72 (it was a par 70) I was gutted and never got picked. I only hit 4 greens in regulation all day and scrambled like anything and I just thought **** this I'm only 22 I don't need all this **** and gave up. I never picked a club up for 3 years. Now I'm back playing but I don't want to play for the Island I just play for fun.

Feck, playing for competition is a;ways tough and places undue pressure to perform. I always enjoy playing for a small personal wager when I golf with mates. Makes it more fun.

[Taffy]

Just noticed this thread now, and had a good laugh reading some of the stories.

I play off 10 myself but haven't played much in the last four years. I joined my local golf course, Aberystwyth, about 18 years ago and played regularly every weekend and more during the summer months, competing for the club in the county league on occasions. I won a few club competitions over the years but only joined once in the last three years due to a lack of time to play etc..

Played a few times lately (won the works competition last Friday for the fourth time) but don't expect to play much for the coming years until the little 'un's a little older. Golf's a great game that really tests you as an individual but yet can be so frustrating.

I remember a little story from years ago in a big club competition where one of the guys playing was hacking around as usual and in the end managed to go round in 125 - he was from then known as 'inter-city' (after the train 'inter-city 125' to those who wouldn't know about it)!

[Rowan]

I'm not sure I like the look of the Callaway X-20 Tour. Before I bought my set I always used blades however the pro series were a nice looking cavity back. I think after the x-14's the Callaway's went too chunky and I don't like the look of them when I stand over the ball. Taylor Made are nice but I thinking of looking at more of a blade club for my next set.

I need a new driver first I've got a Callaway ERC2 at the min but I need to upgrade I'm thinking of the new cleveland one.

I just got some new clubs and looked at the X20's and the X20's Tour. They were too forgiving or a bit too hard so I plumped for a set of X-18's in the end (last years model but a much better for shot shaping). The Srixon's are supposed to be mighty nice (think its the 506's not the others) though and my mate has just got a set of Cobras that he loves.

The Cleveland Hi-Bore driver is class but the XL isn't much better than last years (other than being black so it looks cool). The Taylormade R7 is awesome. I think you can pick up a Cobra F Speed for under £100 from direct golf as well so worth a look.

[PTP]

My offical handicap is 9, tho the last two years or so I have hardly played so i'd struggle at the moment. I started golf when I was about 12, played throughout my junior years at Prenton golf club where our junior team completly ****ted everyone in the area - i was the tenth man in the team playing of about 12 when i was 15/16 - basically we had 8 young lads with handicaps between 2 and 10. I played pretty much every match tho due to people with work/holidays etc etc - I played in various county events like the Cheshire Boys, Cheshire Inter Team and Weetabix national malarky.

Also played all over the place in various opens and was quiet successful. Reason being I was a bit of a bandit, I used to have a saturday job so couldn't play in any of the mens comps and as a result couldn't get my handicap down, so i would practice loads during the week and then turn up for comps/junior opens and rip it up. Eventually got down to single figures when i was about eighteen, shot a 74 gross in a big comp at my club and got my handicap cut down to 7 -

Then my golfing career went tits up, i went to uni and started to play footie again, cause I played golf competively and to a high standard i stopped playing footy when i was about 13 - when i went to uni i got the hunger back and eventually started being player/manager of a team. I never played golf for three years, returned to my golf club to find all the lads i used to play with were no down to scratch/1/2 handicaps - i played a few rounds with them but couldn't compete, they play 4/5times a week where i wasn't even playing that a month - had a few **** rounds and my handicap started to rise, i had carried on with the football and now play three times a week plus player/manager again of a sunday league team. I am a very competive person and was getting frustratered with not being able to compete at golf - in all honestly I really needed to play 2/3 times a week to do myself justice and I felt i just didn't have the time to do both golf and football, and if i can't compete/play to my ability i can't enjoy it - the way i looked at it is i was really enjoying my football and probably only have a few years left of being able to play competivaly at a decent standard, so i might as well make the most of it while i can.

I still have the odd knock now and then, and I can feel the bug growing again - a few of the lads from footie have started playing but i'm not going for a round until i can do myself justice so have decided that since there is no football for a while, plus now i'm single, i have a bit more spare time - i'm going to be hitting the practice ground twice a week for a month and looking to hit at least 100 balls each time, then play a round or two on my own, after that i reckon i should have swing back.

I was very lucky as junior with my golf experiences - I got to play all over the place on some great courses inlcuding Royal Liverpool(played regularly) St Andrews, The Belfry, Carden Park, Wentworth, Birkdale, Hillside, the list goes on.

I was also lucky enough to get a hole in one at my home club prenton on the 3rd and got a trophy of the club plus i blagged titliest i used one of there golf balls and the sent me all kinds of gear.

[Mumsafan]

Leadbetter DVDs are worth a punt. He's a good coach and his presentation style is easy to understand. Try to get your hands on "Beginner to Winner" for a start.

He was the pro at our golf club for a few years. He actually taught my mother to play. Every year there is a comp in his name - July usually I think. Nice fella.

[Pacman]

I just got some new clubs and looked at the X20's and the X20's Tour. They were too forgiving or a bit too hard so I plumped for a set of X-18's in the end (last years model but a much better for shot shaping). The Srixon's are supposed to be mighty nice (think its the 506's not the others) though and my mate has just got a set of Cobras that he loves.

The Cleveland Hi-Bore driver is class but the XL isn't much better than last years (other than being black so it looks cool). The Taylormade R7 is awesome. I think you can pick up a Cobra F Speed for under £100 from direct golf as well so worth a look.

I ordered one yesterday

[Pacman]

He was the pro at our golf club for a few years. He actually taught my mother to play. Every year there is a comp in his name - July usually I think. Nice fella.

Bloody hell

I would pay a lot of money to have a lesson from him. He's the best golf coach in the world. He taught Nick Faldo and now teaches Ernie Els that's some claim to fame for your ma.

[Colemere]

He was the pro at our golf club for a few years. He actually taught my mother to play. Every year there is a comp in his name - July usually I think. Nice fella.

What's your mum off then?

[JCase]

He was the pro at our golf club for a few years. He actually taught my mother to play. Every year there is a comp in his name - July usually I think. Nice fella.

His instructional DVDs are really good. Very clearly explained and demonstrated. He comes across as very sincere.

[Spionkop69]

I tee off in an hour.

Played for my handicap the the last few weeks and its looking like it will be around 13. First round was poor but the next two were better.

I'm aiming to be in single figures by this time next year. As for balls, the better you get, you'll find that the more expensive balls serve you better.

Titleist are not the number one ball for nothing. Calloway, Srixon and nike are good as well.

When playing concrete hard greens, using the balatas (softer balls) will help although I find that they lose me distance.

Don't try and be the longest off the tee, try and be the most accurate off the tee and play to your yardages with your clubs not to what your mate hits. Oh and don't forget to practise putting. You drive for show and putt for dough. High handicappers will come down significantly if they improve the short game.

My strength is my tee shot, be it driver or long iron. Around the greens I'm very average but my putting is improving. Long/medium irons off the fairway are good too.

Need to practise more from 70 yards in and I'll get really low. Best ever score is 81.

Love the game!

[Liverpool]

I did used to get very nervous myself, mind, especially teeing off in front of all the really good players. Couldn't be doing with tournament golf anymore. I used to play in a few medals at my club but always hated it.

I hate playing in front of people, have played 1 club comp in 2 years, but play in comps for the school when i dont know anyone and ended up school captain

[Pacman]

I tee off in an hour.

Played for my handicap the the last few weeks and its looking like it will be around 13. First round was poor but the next two were better.

I'm aiming to be in single figures by this time next year. As for balls, the better you get, you'll find that the more expensive balls serve you better.

Titleist are not the number one ball for nothing. Calloway, Srixon and nike are good as well.

When playing concrete hard greens, using the balatas (softer balls) will help although I find that they lose me distance.

Don't try and be the longest off the tee, try and be the most accurate off the tee and play to your yardages with your clubs not to what your mate hits. Oh and don't forget to practise putting. You drive for show and putt for dough. High handicappers will come down significantly if they improve the short game.

My strength is my tee shot, be it driver or long iron. Around the greens I'm very average but my putting is improving. Long/medium irons off the fairway are good too.

Need to practise more from 70 yards in and I'll get really low. Best ever score is 81.

Love the game!

I tee off at 5.45 2nd round of a big club comp I'm 4 shots back at the min but it's windy here today to I think I'll be able to pull that back if I play well.

[Rowan]

I tee off in an hour.

Played for my handicap the the last few weeks and its looking like it will be around 13. First round was poor but the next two were better.

I'm aiming to be in single figures by this time next year. As for balls, the better you get, you'll find that the more expensive balls serve you better.

Titleist are not the number one ball for nothing. Calloway, Srixon and nike are good as well.

When playing concrete hard greens, using the balatas (softer balls) will help although I find that they lose me distance.

Don't try and be the longest off the tee, try and be the most accurate off the tee and play to your yardages with your clubs not to what your mate hits. Oh and don't forget to practise putting. You drive for show and putt for dough. High handicappers will come down significantly if they improve the short game.

My strength is my tee shot, be it driver or long iron. Around the greens I'm very average but my putting is improving. Long/medium irons off the fairway are good too.

Need to practise more from 70 yards in and I'll get really low. Best ever score is 81.

Love the game!

Give Taylormade TP Reds a try. Bit more durable than the Nike Platinums and some crazy geezer on ebay is selling them for £22 a box. They are pretty long too.

[lfcruleus]

what golf balls do you all use? I prefer anything nike but i am also partial for a bit of titleist also. Is there really much of a difference between them all?

Deffo Titliest Pro V1 or Nike One, there is more feel in the putting and more distance and hold in the drive

[JCase]

I tee off at 5.45 2nd round of a big club comp I'm 4 shots back at the min but it's windy here today to I think I'll be able to pull that back if I play well.

How did it go mate?