Forum > General golf topics

Daniel Cotter

Hello 

I have just started golf and i want to do my local 18 hole but not sure if i should do it or pactice a bit more on the 9 hole?

Any thoughts on what I should do?

Thanks dan 

David Marshall

Best to practice on the 9 holes first, Daniel...No point in trying to run before you can walk.

A full 18 might just put you off.

How many strokes does it take to get round the 9 hole course you currently play? And is it a par 3 course or does it have a few longer holes? 

Wayne Santorini

Hi Daniel and can I say well done to asking a question as a "new starter" to this lovely (and frustrating) game, far too often people take up the game and play for months or even years before seeking advice or lessons and invariably develop bad habits that take time to eradicate afterwards.

My advice simply is book some lessons Daniel and use what you learn to play and practise on the 9 hole course, it will set you up for life and give you a far better chance of getting to a very high standard sooner rather than later.

Daniel Cotter

Thanks.

I done the nine hole in a not so good 48. There was one par 4 and one longish par 3 the rest were all reachable with my iron.

Just wondered how much you would expect to pay for golf lessons?

Thanks Dan 

Wayne Santorini

Sorry if this seems a sarky answer (it's not meant to be).

It's down to how good the Coach/Pro is and how determined you are to learn, as part of my pre-course work (before I passed my Coaching diploma) I had to take a lesson from a pro and report on the lesson (in all it's aspects), having paid £19 for 1/2 hour....the lesson I got was so poor that as a comparison I could have charged £40 for the 1/2 hour and the client would have been ecstatic at value for money. I don't charge that but the point I'm making is my sessions are thorough and achieving, something very sadly lacking from that Pro.

The Pro i saw was doing nothing to help me or anyone else that needed their services, as an average around £30 - £40 an hour is a good rate, but you can gain a discount Dan by booking a block of say 5 or 6 or even 10 lessons, you don't have to take them weekly you can organise them around the games you play. If you only play once a week then 1 lesson every 5 weeks is sufficient, if it's more common then less time between lessons. 

Pete Weston

I went out and played 18 holes... at the Forest of Arden.

Apparently one of the best courses in my area. It certainly hasnt put me off Golf and I cant wait to go round there again.

It depends on who you are playing with and if you feel comfortable in my opinion. Am still yet to have a second round as I have no-one local to play with really but have 3 rounds booked up for later this month.

EDIT: Wayne, nice one on the lesson "guide" it makes sense I suppose, in tat you get what you pay for.

Wayne Santorini

Daniel Cotter

Thanks for the help. Im going to do a couple more 9 hole rounds before i do the 18 holes just to get a bit more confident.

Thanks Daniel