Quote:
Originally Posted by new2villages
I am really surprised that in such a golf-centric community as the Villages, there is no organized play structure for beginners golfers (similar to the highly organized playtime structure for pickleball).
I took the 5-day class at Palmer last year. When I asked them about ongoing practice, they suggested I just schedule myself at the executive courses. Since then, every time I have played, I have been paired with three "expert" golfers who were generally impatient with my lack of expertise. I felt I was holding up the game.
Is there a beginning golfer club or group(s), or structured play time for golfers with similar (high) handicap ? If one doesn't exist, should we consider starting one ? I would give it a shot, but I am a snowbird resident, and these clubs take a while to get started.
Thanks.
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This is a very delicate area. Holding up the game even new golfers can avoid and it may be the reason that new golfers playing together is not encouraged. If a new group who does not feel familiar with the premise of keeping moving at a certain pace plays together and is not keeping up with the group ahead of them, which hopefully is keeping the pace, than a golf course can be slowed down for the whole day and ruins the good time for all that follow the slow players..
You don't have to be good or experienced to keep the pace and that is why you really should be playing with more experienced people. If you take more than six or seven shots on a par three, you should pick up the ball at six..
When I began to play 40 years ago, I was told that you don't have to play well to be on the golf course but you do have to keep the pace of golf. If you are not aware of this you will not find many who want to play with you. It is embarassing to hold up play.
There are those that because they are new will say, I am retired, I don't want to rush, but unfortunately the pace of play is very important to all golfers, and very soon it will be easier and more fun to play. Playing the forward tees on the executive courses is not too challenging. If you hit an errant shot into the weeds or the water, don't look for it for more than a minute. Get a bunch of old balls that you don't mind losing. We all have been there.
My husband and I have played with many new golfers and we are not critical and not mean, but we have explained this to our children and our grandchildren too. I am saying this to all beginning golfers because it is hard to hear but very much needed.
http://goarticles.com/article/How-to...ourse/6483465/