Hit the range, get some practice in, hire the pro there for the first few times to get your grip set and stance, get the basics down.

Nothing harder than going at it yourself and finding out how hard it is to unlearn bad habits.

Starts right stays right
Starts wrong stays wrong...

Enjoy it and have fun, a cigar, beer, golf course and a nice day are well worth the price of the fees.

You can always trade those in and move up to newer clubs the money you have in those are perfect for learning the game.

If those sticks are old, buy some golf pride grips online and regrip the whole set, it's easy, some double sided tape, mineral spirits, a blade, and a vise with the clamp are all you need.

Used to do them all the time when I was in high school...




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1N6KIxE3iY

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Man, that set is practically antique.

I kind of figured that was the case, being as, when I searched on "TM-Tour" and "Titan-Steel II," which is what's printed on most of the heads, all that came up was a set for sale somewhere in Canada for $40.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Not that you can't use them just fine.

That's my thinking.

I couldn't see the make in your photo. That is probably a set made in imitation of some big name club-maker. They look kind of like Taylor Made clubs of that era. They are a little outdated, especially the woods, but still serviceable.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
They look kind of like Taylor Made clubs of that era.

I believe that's what they are.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
They are a little outdated, especially the woods, but still serviceable.

"Serviceable" is good enough for me

The driver is a different brand and looks newer. Got something else I gotta do, right now, but I'll post a photo of that one, later.

Got the putter re-gripped. $15 out the door & five minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:
a driver, a putter,a sand wedge and a 3,6 and 9 iron are all you need to start

I disagree. On one weekend outing with friends, I sucked so bad on the front nine, that after four or five libations on the turn , I played the entire back nine with a '6' iron. Yes, a six iron. I even putted with the back side of it. And ya know what, I didn't do any worse on the back than I did on the front. Even lost a couple fewer balls.

You've gotten some good advise here as well as some poor advice.

Here's my advise and I'll just put the charge on your tab.

Forget the driver when on the course at first. Tee off with a 3 or 5 wood to begin with. If you start out with a driver be sure and wear a good pair of hiking boots because you'll be spending a lot of time in the woods looking for your ball.

When I was new to the game I carried a 3 wood, a 7 wood, 5 threw pitching wedge and a putter. I got that advise from a 3 handicapper and it paid off.

When practicing, spend 40 minutes in every hour on the short game. That's where the scoring is. 9 threw putter.

Don't get frustrated. You'll get better and you'll have more fun if you just don't get too serious. Have fun. That's the main goal.

Jim

quote:

Hit the range, get some practice in, hire the pro there for the first few times to get your grip set and stance, get the basics down.

Did that with my wife, started her at the hole and worked out from there. Her swing is MUCH better than mine because she learned from the start to swing correctly.
She thought that it might be something we could do together.
Then she found out how freaking hard this game is and never touched a club again.
I asked her, “Did you think I was out having fun all this time?”

ETA- ask your friend before you play when you should pick up your ball and move on...
Enjoy the day! It’s satisfying and maddening all at the same time.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
You've gotten some good advise here as well as some poor advice.

Just so we're clear, mine wasn't 'advice'. Mine was simply an attempt at passing on a humorous outing with friends losing balls and drinking beer.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
You've gotten some good advise here as well as some poor advice.

Just so we're clear, mine wasn't 'advice'. Mine was simply an attempt at passing on a humorous outing with friends losing balls and drinking beer.

Never thought otherwise.

Jim

They are Taylor Made alikes (knockoffs if you prefer). Still perfectly useful for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
Forget the driver when on the course at first. Tee off with a 3 or 5 wood to begin with. If you start out with a driver be sure and wear a good pair of hiking boots because you'll be spending a lot of time in the woods looking for your ball.

Yeah, I discovered that today having a beer with my next-door-neighbor. Said the driver was a real nice one and he wanted to try it. Once he got the feel for it he drove one a looong ways.

I couldn't do squat with it

I didn't try the 5-wood off a tee, but I was able to hit the ball fairly well, for me, anyway, with it off the surface of the practice carpet piece he has.

I do much better with the 7- and 8-irons.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
When I was new to the game I carried a 3 wood, a 7 wood, 5 threw pitching wedge and a putter. I got that advise from a 3 handicapper and it paid off.

Noted.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
When practicing, spend 40 minutes in every hour on the short game. That's where the scoring is. 9 threw putter.

Noted.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
Don't get frustrated.

*nod*

That session with my neighbor, plus some playing-around with some limited-flight balls I bought earlier in the day, when I was at the golf shop getting my putter re-gripped, they're going where I want 'em to go about two out of every five strokes. The others are going every which-way. I don't care. The ones that go right more than make up for the ones that do not

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
They are Taylor Made alikes (knockoffs if you prefer). Still perfectly useful for you.

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, they'll be all I'll need for the foreseeable future--particularly given I'm not even sure I'll ever get to far as to ever actually play the game. Right now I'm just having fun smacking balls around the back yard. It's cheap entertainment

In other news I found out the "7" on one of my irons was really an "L," so I have a lob wedge, rather than two 7-irons.

Closed a few years ago, really enjoyed it when it was open, a short nine-hole course near us. Par 3 for every hole, so 27 for the course.

My wife and I liked to go there. Both of us kind of suck at golf, I suck more than she does, my goal was always to break 40 on the par 27 course. Came close a few times, but never made it.

I did enjoy an hour or two, walking the course, searching for my lost balls in the overgrown weeded areas, looking at the 18 inch baby alligator in the pond near the first tee, a cold beer after a circuit of the course.

Kind of sad now to see the closed course, overgrown with weeds, when I pass by.

Enjoy the addiction that is golf! Its worse than guns and shooting. My best friend got me playing with him while I was going through a divorce in 2013. Funnest game I love to hate!! I break 90 pretty regular now, but there are days when I swear I have no idea how to swing a club!! LOL

The time outdoors with my buddies is worth the frustration. No of us are really serious competitors, we just enjoy the game and camaraderie. Give it a try, you may love it...if you hit 1 good shot you will be hooked for life!!

I played a lot of golf in my life. A. Lot. What burned me out wasn't playing, it was how expensive it was getting. $100 for the privilege of playing a course became too much to bear. Then being forced to rent a cart. And then the $10 cheeseburger at the halfway house.

I lost my love for the game after I'd see how much I spent on a weekend of golf.

One will try literally a lifetime to master and still not succeed.
However, it is a great addiction for a lot of reasons as well as a feast or famine in success.
I will say while you will blame the equipment and it does make a difference with what you use ~ GET SOME LESSONS early on and you will cut way back on your frustration level.
Love GOLF!

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
I played a lot of golf in my life. A. Lot. What burned me out wasn't playing, it was how expensive it was getting. $100 for the privilege of playing a course became too much to bear. Then being forced to rent a cart. And then the $10 cheeseburger at the halfway house.

None of that is gonna happen.

That's one of the things that kept me away all these years: The greens fees. We've got a couple of public golf ranges nearby, that I drive by regularly. I'll have to check out what their fees are.

I'm not too concerned about it. I'm nowhere near even considering getting on a course, yet. Other than my one neighbour, I don't even know anybody IRL that plays regularly, and lately he's been playing at a fancy-schmancy club as a guest of friends of his.

If all I ever do is smack some balls around in the backyard and play with the little $14 putting practice toy I bought, probably I'll eventually return the golf bag and just pick up a 7- or 8-iron and a putter.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
... GET SOME LESSONS early on and you will cut way back on your frustration level.

Big local golf store charges $65/half-hour and $120/hour for private lessons. That ain't gonna happen. They do offer an adult beginner class that's $90 for four 1-hour lessons. Perhaps I'll call and inquire about that.

I'd approach this differently if my wife could play, but she has a back issue that precludes her being able to twist/turn they way you have to when swinging a club , and I don't want to be turning her into a golf widow, even were I willing to spend the money.

$90 for 4 1 hour lessons is a very good deal. Go for it and hopefully they'll touch on the rules and etiquette involved with golf. Of course, being from a golf store they will try to sell you new equipment. You've been forewarned.

Jim

Welcome to the club. I started back playing a couple of years ago and got addicted big time. I play at least 3 times a week a couple of those days in a golf league. It is really a good social activity but you can play alone as well, I do both.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
$90 for 4 1 hour lessons is a very good deal. Go for it and hopefully they'll touch on the rules and etiquette involved with golf.

So I did

Course synopsis:

quote:

[The] beginner class is for those who have little or no experience with the game of golf. The four one hour classes will prepare you for the course by covering all aspects of the game. Instruction will cover the fundamentals of the full swing with all clubs, the short game (pitching, chipping and putting), etiquette and the rules of golf.

If that goes well, they have adult intermediate classes for $100.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
Of course, being from a golf store they will try to sell you new equipment. You've been forewarned.

Oh, I'd expect that They may succeed, too. It'll all depend on how I feel about moving forward and whether-or-not they offer a discount for class members, as such places often do.

I've fairly complete set of clubs, but it seems a 3-wood and a sand wedge might be useful additions. Conversely: I'm in inexpensively, so far. Might be wise to keep it that way

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:
Welcome to the club. I started back playing a couple of years ago and got addicted big time.

Thanks! I'm going to try to avoid addiction. We shall see

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I've fairly complete set of clubs, but it seems a 3-wood and a sand wedge might be useful additions. Conversely: I'm in inexpensively, so far. Might be wise to keep it that way

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:
Welcome to the club. I started back playing a couple of years ago and got addicted big time.

Thanks! I'm going to try to avoid addiction. We shall see

It sounds like you're well on your way to getting addicted already.

Now for more free advice. I wouldn't spend any more money on clubs until you become somewhat comfortable with the equipment you already have. I threw away hundreds of dollars on clubs and whatnot when I got into golf early on and it took awhile for me to realize I didn't need all the new stuff. Just say'n.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
It sounds like you're well on your way to getting addicted already.

Not yet, I'm not. But it could happen. Wouldn't be the first time

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
Now for more free advice. I wouldn't spend any more money on clubs until you become somewhat comfortable with the equipment you already have.

Or, put another way, until I use what I already have. Way ahead of you. Was just thinking ahead. I won't spend another dime until I see how it goes with the classes. And maybe not even then.

This could all be a flash in the pan. That, too, has happened numerous times.

We shall see.