Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get into golf for a while now. I’m not getting any younger, and I thought, why not give it a shot? I’m in my late 40s, not exactly a spring chicken, but I’m reasonably fit and I figured I could handle swinging a club. So I started looking into it and found this guy, Chris Baker, who’s apparently a big deal in the golf world. I guess he’s got some good tips and strategies, I don’t know.
First thing I did was try to find some resources online. There are tons, but a lot of them seemed way too advanced for a beginner like me. I did stumble upon a couple of apps, though. One’s called Mustard Golf, which supposedly helps with your swing technique. I downloaded it, but honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. Another one was Arccos, which is more about tracking your game on the course. That seemed more useful, but I haven’t really gotten to use it yet, ’cause, you know, I’m still just trying to hit the ball properly.
Then I decided to get some actual lessons. I mean, I could probably teach myself, but I didn’t want to develop any bad habits early on. I searched around and found a local coach who seemed to know his stuff. He’s one of the best teachers, it seems. His name is Scott Hamilton, and he’s worked with some pro golfers, including this Chris Kirk guy. I figured if he’s good enough for them, he’s good enough for me. He was not too expensive, which was a nice surprise.
First Training
- We started with the basics: grip, stance, posture. Stuff I thought I already knew but, man, was I wrong.
- He had me swinging without a ball for a while, just to get the motion down. It felt weird, but I guess it makes sense.
- Then came the actual hitting. It was… humbling. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly hitting it straight or far.
- He was a cool, and most importantly, the guy was patient. He kept making small adjustments, and little by little, I started to see some improvement.
We also talked about the mental game, which is apparently a huge part of golf. He recommended some stuff like meditation and journaling. I’m not sure about meditation, but I’ve been writing down my thoughts after each session. It actually helps to see where I’m going wrong and what I need to work on. I also tried this thing called hypnosis, it was something to relax and focus, it might be working. Not sure, honestly.
Second Training
- This time I went to a driving range to practice on my own. I even tried different clubs – drivers, irons. It felt good to hit some balls without the pressure of a lesson.
- Also, I brought my friend along, and we made it a little competition. Who could hit the farthest, who could get the most balls in a target area. It was fun, and we even had a little prize for the winner.
I’ve had a few more lessons since then, and I’m slowly getting better. I can actually hit the ball somewhat consistently now, though it’s still a long way from being good. It’s hard, frustrating, but also kind of addictive. I’m starting to understand why people get obsessed with this sport. I’m not saying I’m going to be the next Tiger Woods or anything, but I’m definitely enjoying the process. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually be decent at this whole golf thing.
I keep practicing, keep learning, and keep trying to improve my mental game. It’s a long journey, but I’m in it for the long haul. And hey, if I can do it, anyone can. Trust me.
