Golf: Do you play?

So I've just started getting in to golfing...(mostly because the casino sends me free once a month during the season[May-October])
I got a set of older clubs from the high school golf coach (just something so I could at least LEARN to golf)
I'm not going out to be pro or anything, so I'm just looking to get a newer (these clubs are like from the early 90's) set of clubs
I was looking at Big5, and they have a set of PowerBilt clubs for $150 (15 piece; Driver down to putter)
Golf Clubs
I WAAANT to get a set of the high dollar stuff (Callaway Razr-X Irons & Callaway Razr Hawk driver with an Odyssey Putter)
But I think for what I'm going to do (go golfing with casino once a month during the season) the cheapies will be fine (I don't expect to hit a hole in one EVER, in fact, with the set of clubs I got, I got a 98 on my last 18 hole round)

98 is a fine score at this stage. Love the game, but have pretty much given it up due to the time requirements. Maybe in retirement...

98 is a good score at this early stage. For a brand new set, for what you want, I wouldn't pay any more than $500, but it doesn't seem like you are looking to do that. Golf is a game that if you look at it with the right perspective will teach you a lot about life. I know many people who buy themselves a new set of clubs every year thinking it's the club's problem and not in their swing. Also as a beginner, many public courses will offer lessons for somewhere between $30 and $50 a session. It might be a good idea to invest in that to not start getting into any bad habits with your swing.

Quote: midwestgb

98 is a fine score at this stage. Love the game, but have pretty much given it up due to the time requirements. Maybe in retirement...

Yeah, I don't even really play OTHER than going out with the casino..
However recently I found a nice practice facility in town that only charges $9 for a bucket of 100 balls (driving range) and has an awesome putting green and chipping lawn

Quote: Gabes22

Also as a beginner, many public courses will offer lessons for somewhere between $30 and $50 a session. It might be a good idea to invest in that to not start getting into any bad habits with your swing.

Like I said, I got the clubs from the high school golf coach, who also said I could practice any time I wanted to with the high school team. (I got a few lessons from him the first time I went)
My biggest problem is, I LOOK for the ball (I guess it's called the golf bug). Coach said to let me shoulder PUSH my head around when I swing, not to move my head first...

The reason for that is to keep your eyes focused on the ball until you hit it. That is the number one reason for mis-hits on the golf course, lifting your head up and altering your viewing platform. By allowing your head to be pushed on your follow through, you with remain in eye contact with the ball until it is struck, increasing the chances you hit it flush.

Quote: TIMSPEED

So I've just started getting in to golfing...(mostly because the casino sends me free once a month during the season[May-October])
I got a set of older clubs from the high school golf coach (just something so I could at least LEARN to golf)
I'm not going out to be pro or anything, so I'm just looking to get a newer (these clubs are like from the early 90's) set of clubs
I was looking at Big5, and they have a set of PowerBilt clubs for $150 (15 piece; Driver down to putter)
Golf Clubs
I WAAANT to get a set of the high dollar stuff (Callaway Razr-X Irons & Callaway Razr Hawk driver with an Odyssey Putter)
But I think for what I'm going to do (go golfing with casino once a month during the season) the cheapies will be fine (I don't expect to hit a hole in one EVER, in fact, with the set of clubs I got, I got a 98 on my last 18 hole round)

I grew up on a golf course and have been playing since I could walk. Don't get hung up on name brand equipment right now. It's much more important to get clubs that fit you. We don't all wear the same size shoes or clothing nor should we all use the same clubs.

Quote: 1BB

I grew up on a golf course and have been playing since I could walk. Don't get hung up on name brand equipment right now. It's much more important to get clubs that fit you. We don't all wear the same size shoes or clothing nor should we all use the same clubs.

Yup yup, I did the Ping online fitter thingy and it said I measured up to "average/standard"
Funny as it may be..I have a blade style putter, and I'm DEADLY with it...usually people want the really fancy putters with the cool look..but my old school blade really works for me.
Also, my old crappy 3 wood (an old Taylormade Burner) actually is my most useful club (I've hit a couple really nice 175' on's with it!)

Welcome to the looney bin!

When I started, I got a $200 set of clubs from the sporting goods store. I figured all the technology in the world wouldn't help my golf game until I could at least shoot 90. This also served as my first milestone/reward: when I finally shot 90 I bought myself a reasonable set of clubs.

I think its a good idea that your driver have maximum head size (460cc?) and that your irons have cavity backs for maximum forgiveness. As long as the old clubs that you're using have these features, you should be good to go.

I agree with other posters that lessons are important to get you started. I originally had some friends show me the basics, and I was terrible. Gave the game up after about 10 years of frustration. Picked it up again after 10 years and took some lessons on basic swing mechanics from the local public schools' continuing education program. It was like $40 for 5 small group lessons. I was immediately shooting in the low 100's, which was about a 40 stroke improvement from my previous experience. In the last 10 years I've worked my average down to 90 playing 2-3 times per month. I've broken 80 once. I could probably stand to take another set of lessons if I really want to improve from here, but I've found I can have a lot of fun playing golf and shooting around 90.

Quote: PapaChubby

I think its a good idea that your driver have maximum head size (460cc?) and that your irons have cavity backs for maximum forgiveness. As long as the old clubs that you're using have these features, you should be good to go.

haha, they don't...my irons, I don't even know how old, but as for my driver, the head is MAYBE like 230cc (half the size of the current heads)
Currently, like on a par3, I'm probably a 4 (takes me an extra stroke to get down the fairway because I'm more concerned with going straight than going powerful)

When you do want to upgrade (maybe sooner than later), I'd suggest a couple of options. 1st, you can buy "certified" pre-owned clubs. Callaway pre-owned (just google it) has all brands, not just Callaway, and you can get a set that's a couple of years old but still very good technology. 2nd, keep your eye on sites like TGW or Golfsmith. You can often get "last year's model" or even 2 generations ago for a heck of a deal.

I agree with the earlier sentiment, it's pointless to have clubs that aren't fit for you. The _best_ way is to have a dynamic club fitting, not just the static measurements (like you did w/ Ping). That's a good starting point, but you need to see where you are at impact to properly fit. That being said.... while many golfers swear by their non-name brand clubs, you usually get what you pay for. Knockoffs may look the part, but looks do not necesarily equate to performance. While the better player can often discern performance differences, that doesn't mean that a novice should play with "any old crap". Equate it with other activities - skiing, snowboarding, running, tennis, etc... You don't have to get the "top of the line" and spend the most $$, but IMO you need at least decent quality if you're getting into it and want to improve.

If I can be of more specific help, ask any questions and/or PM me. I'm a PGA Professional :)

I hereby grant you permission to partake of the 19th hole without all that silly stuff on the first 18 holes of hitting a ball, chasing after it, hitting it away from you again. At the 19th hole if you wish to gaze over the three knuckles of your left hand, its likely you will be gazing at an attractive female, not a stupid golf ball. Good luck.

Quote: TIMSPEED

Currently, like on a par3, I'm probably a 4 (takes me an extra stroke to get down the fairway because I'm more concerned with going straight than going powerful)

That's not a bad strategy. If it takes you an extra shot to get to each green, and you can figure out how to two-putt, you can shoot 90. As long as you don't make any mistakes. That's how I got there. I broke 90 hitting a 5 iron off the tee on par 4's and 5's. And I spent all my time on the range figuring out exactly how to hit a pitching wedge 50, 75 and 100 yards.

Just came in from playing 18. Watch out, this can be an addictive sport. I play 4-6 rounds per week. It has really messed up my hunting and fishing.

You've gotten some good advice here. Get some basic lessons and learn a good grip. Good used clubs can be found on craigslist and garage sales. Newer clubs are wayyyy better than 20 year old clubs. The hardest thing to find is good golfing buddies. Enjoy it and if you find yourself wanting to improve, then get properly fitted by someone that knows what they are doing.

In the old days you would buy a good set of clubs, and then go to a pro to get taught how to hit them. Science has changed the game. Now, you go to a pro, learn how to hit a ball with your swing, and then a good club fitter will be able to give you a set of clubs, 'that works for YOUR swing'. For instance, if you naturally swing over the top with your driver, and slice the hell out the ball, like most beginners do, your club fitter will give you a driver with a closed club face. You make the same swing, and it goes straight down the middle. Makes the game fun. Of course, as you learn to swing right, that same club will now cause you to hook the ball far left of left.

As others have said, there really is a difference between name brand irons sold in a golf store, and those found in dept stores. Look for Golf Magazine issues around March time frame. They rank a lot of the clubs. You want to look at the Maximum Game Improvement clubs. They are the easiest to hit high and straight. By the way, the most important part of the club is the shaft. Getting the correct shaft length and more importantly, the correct shaft flex is very important to your ability to hit a ball straight. If the shaft is too long, the club head will be too far from your body, the shaft will be less vertical, and the toe will be in the air a bit. All of those items cause the ball to go LEFT (assuming a RH swing). Shafts that are too short will cause you to bend too much, probably swing too vertically, and the result will be balls that fly right. And that is assuming the swing was a good one! What I am saying is, you could make a very nice swing with an ill fitting club, and the result will be a horrible golf shot, and you will think it was your faulty swing that caused it.

Here's a great example. A friend had a nice large headed Mizuno 3 iron that I liked. His shaft flex is weaker than mine, but just by a .5 rating. I would hit his club, sometimes hitting it good, but I always had to guard against hitting a hook with it. When he bought a new set of clubs, he gave me the 3 iron. I took his 5.5 shaft out of the club, put in the same 6.0 shaft that I use in my set, and started hitting that club like a missile launcher. The shaft made a HUGE difference in my ability to hit consistently good shots with that club.

My advice is figure out now how serious you think you might get. Since you are talking driving range already, I think you have the bug. You will want to improve, and that will be hard to do with a cheap set. You can get a good set for less than $600, and lower if you buy used.

I golf once a year to appease my buddies. Shot 128 at Stallion Mountain on my recent Vegas trip. heh.

When I play Golf I use a baseball bat and a pool cue. That's the was Golf is meant to be played.

Quote: TIMSPEED

I got a 98 on my last 18 hole round

That doesn't exactly make me feel good. I've been golfing off and on for 25 years and 98 would be about my handicap if forced to play by strict rules (meaning every stroke counts until you get the ball in the hole + penalty strokes). Frankly, a beginner shooing a 98 makes me want to throw my clubs off of the Hoover Dam bridge. I really could get into the whole lifestyle and culture of golf, but no matter how hard I try; I am just terrible at it. Off the tee, I sometimes don't even make contact with that ball (does that count as a stroke?).

Anyway, sorry for my whining and self-pity. You seem like a natural and I am sure you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of the game.

Quote: Wizard

That doesn't exactly make me feel good. I've been golfing off and on for 25 years and 98 would be about my handicap if forced to play by strict rules (meaning every stroke counts until you get the ball in the hole + penalty strokes). Frankly, a beginner shooing a 98 makes me want to throw my clubs off of the Hoover Dam bridge. I really could get into the whole lifestyle and culture of golf, but no matter how hard I try; I am just terrible at it. Off the tee, I sometimes don't even make contact with that ball (does that count as a stroke?).

I've also got about 20 years on ya Wiz...
My gf made me want to punch her in the throat...She'd NEVER been golfing, so we go out to the driving range last week, I let her use MY crappy clubs (They're regular mens clubs, and she's 5'3"!) and first shot, 150 yards with my 3 wood!

Played today. Shot 82. I'm stuck in the 80's. It sucks.

I used to be a 6 handicap, now I break 80 only once or twice p/year.

It's a very lonely place when your game goes south. I don't know what to do?

Thinking about quitting. Maybe take up bowling, or fishing, or ?