Had a Break From Golf? This is What You Must Do

By: Derek Clements | Fri 11 Aug 2023

I HAVE played golf all my life. It is a sport that has brought me untold joy and life-long friendships. I have been fortunate enough to have played at some breathtaking venues. I have even picked up a few trophies along the way. I count myself lucky.

However, I have played very little golf over the past couple of years due to chronic shoulder pain. It has been caused by a combination of things, including spending too much of my life hunched up in front of a computer. Throw in thousands of rounds of golf and a touch of arthritis and it’s no wonder that it all eventually took its toll.

But I have now had cortisone injections in each shoulder and feel like a new man. The pain has vanished.

So, after a long lay-off, what do you need to do?

If it’s been an injury lay-off, you need to work out whether your old clubs are still going to do it for you. I knew that mine were no longer suited to me so I have a new set of custom-fitted clubs.

I sold my old ones on Facebook Marketplace - if you should ever be tempted to do the same thing, prepare yourself for a flurry of scam messages!

I used to carry my bag. Those days are gone. My bag had to go too. So I am armed with a new trolley bag courtesy of Big Max - I will be telling you about in a separate article.

And what does a trolley bag need? That’s right - I had to go out and buy myself a new trolley.

Returning to Golf

The soft spikes on my golf shoes were shot to pieces, so that was another decision - did I replace the spikes or go out and buy a new pair of shoes? I opted for the latter, so now have a shiny new pair of Callaway shoes.

Remember that you will have to wear them in the winter, when you you will be donning thicker socks. So they need to be a half-size too big.

My umbrella looked a bit moth-eaten, so that had to go too. And with us having such miserable weather this summer, top of my list was buying a good brolly.

My waterproofs hadn’t been used - or looked at - for two years. But they are expensive Gavin Green waterproofs, so they simply went into the washing machine.

I have put on a bit of weight since I last played and that meant my golf trousers were too tight! The amazing Royal and Awesome clothing company helped out there, and I also bought myself a couple of pairs of “sensible” golf trousers.

I am not finished yet…

Everything has a best-before date, and I suspect that also applies to golf balls, so all the loose balls in my old carry bag will now only be used on the practice ground. My golf bag is now full of shiny new LA Golf and Titleist Pro V1s.

What else do you do before heading back out to the course after a lay-off?

You head to the driving range, get a basket of 100 balls and gently work your way back into it. If you feel okay at the end of that, maybe get another 100 balls and do the same thing all over again.

Then head to the practice bunker and the putting green until you get your feel back.

The great thing about going to the driving range at the height of summer is seeing so many children out there with their fathers and grandfathers.

And finally, you book a tee-time with some friends, tell them (and yourself) not to expect too much. And then head out there and shoot the lights out! In pouring rain. Obviously!

Yes, it’s good to be back. REALLY good.