Never ever buy a Scotty Cameron putter. They're expensive and I now have 5. Wanna buy one?

Stop by a Golf Galaxy or PGA store. They have great simulators you can sign up and test clubs. They will also help you size clubs. You can try a few different brands both new and use to get a feel with clubs fit and you like. Don’t get too hyped on the name of the club.

Then as all have said a few lessons are great. Not sure what your pros are in the area. But make sure one matches your outlook and goals

Not right now, could be hard to do. But I have used a few college teams golfers for lessons and like other have said to play a couple rounds with.

Finally the accountant in me likes to cost out my game. So the more swings I take the lower cost per swing. Second the pros have take it easy by using the fairways. I like to up the challenge by not using them.

quote:

Originally posted by TexasScrub:
Never ever buy a Scotty Cameron putter. They're expensive and I now have 5. Wanna buy one?

Congratulations! Have fun!
If you get tips online or in magazines remember, FEEL ISN’T REAL! What you think you are doing may not be at all what you are doing.
Your friends will tell you what they think you did wrong, a coach will be able to tell you *why* it happened.
Start with the basic fundamentals - grip, alignment and posture.
Without nailing these, golf can be a cruel bitch.
(It’s cruel enough as it is)

Putting is key and takes zero athletic ability but takes good touch to do it well.
An old guy who can barely hit the ball out of their shadow but sinks 8 footers like it’s nothing will kick your butt.

Looking back now over the 50 years of joyful-frustration I should have just went to my local course pro, had him fit me for some clubs and started with some lessons on the fundamentals.
But NOOOOOOOO I bought the hardest to hit blades with a dime-sized sweet spot and started hacking on my own.
Ultimately, I figured it out but I could have saved a lot of money, time and STROKES.
That being said perfectly "fitted" clubs with zero experience are of minor utility except for extreme statures ~ tall, weak, female, short etc.
You could just buy some used clubs off the rack and start getting used to the swing.
Clubs today are light years ahead of when I started ~ so it is much harder to buy bad ones.
However, the short-cut is to get fit (clubs), lessons and then just practice.
It is HARD, very hard but very satisfying (and frustrating too).
Love Golf.
Good luck.

I agree with the advice on the lessons. Best thing I ever did. And practice your short game. Several years ago I belonged to a local club where I could go play any time I wanted. I took a vacation from where and played golf every day. I was at the club at 6:15 every morning and had the entire course to myself. I got on the back side of the course, set up 100 yards from the green, and hit 100 shots to the green. I did the same with chips around the green and putting. My short game was so good that summer I had an immense amount of confidence in my short game. If I was within 25 yards of the green I knew I had a good chance of being in the hole in 2 shots.

Golf is a great game. Don't buy expensive clubs until you've developed your swing and built good habits.

Oh, and follow Willie Nelson's rule #8.

Rule #8

No more than twelve in your foursome.

Drive for show;

Putt for dough.

... and be the ball.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Lessons.

Take Lessons.

i agree here

my wife got me lessons years ago and they were very helpful. unfortunately i didn't stick with it long-term for a couple reasons (time / work schedule...)

cool sport though imo

------------------------------------

Dang! OP here, and I am not sure if I am more excited or more scared from reading all the responses. Thank you! Great feedback!

I can see how it can get real expensive real quick.

Golf and shooting are very similar. People focus on the equipment when they should be focusing on getting some proper training. The best equipment in the world won't fix a bad swing. You'll start seeing results and start having fun a lot sooner if you get the swing basics properly ingrained early on.

Start with a local pro and a set of used clubs, relax, and have fun.

And don’t forget why it’s called golf.

Why? Because “shit” was already taken.

Yep, lessons. Be patient and realistic and don't listen to anyone else except your qualified instructor. Other than that, practice, have fun and get ready to get addicted.

quote:

Originally posted by mojojojo:
And don’t forget why it’s called golf.

Why? Because “shit” was already taken.

Horses, boats, & golf. Black holes for money! Making poor men out of not so poor men daily.

Take lessons, get a good start with good form and habits.

Advil or Motrin, and a good warm up.

Apparently all you need is one putter.
This fella won a tournament with only one club...a putter.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/...izona-amateur-event/

.

Easy.

First off, DON"T GO OUT AND SPEND A FORTUNE ON CLUBS AND STUFF.

That's what everyone wants to do.

Find a store that can actually fit you. Get a cheap set of clubs that actually fit your body (shaft length, angle of the lie (the way the club sits when you address the ball), and the flex of the shaft for your swing speed)

They clubs don't have to be expensive, they have to fit.

Then go take some lessons from a local pro. THey have lots of places that can give you some basic lessons. Do this before you get a bunch of bad habits ingrained.

Then play. Hit the driving range. Find some friends or family to play rounds with (golf is a social game)

THEN... You an go out and spend a fortune on clubs and equipment... and TRUST ME, you will.