[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Ask your neighbors, that is how I got started.

Years ago I would take a 9-iron and a golf sized plastic "WIFFLE" ball and just go for a walk and hit the plastic ball in front of me. I would do it when I taking a vacation and when I moved to The Villages, I would go to an open area like a softball field in the afternoon and I would walk (and sometimes run) after the ball and stop and hit it. I actually acquired a pretty good swing by doing that and in addition, I got a lot of exercise!

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by SaucyJim

I've been reading through the responses to your question and all I can say is that, from my point of view, golfers are apparently special. Too good to form a club where they share tips and tricks for free. I was just sharing how, as a musician and instructor, I can see the value in establishing good habits in any venture, but that doesn't mean there can't be a group of people that meet at a driving range and share their own tips and tricks.

Not everyone wants to be a virtuoso pianist. Some just want to get good enough to entertain.

Not everyone want to be a golf pro. Some just want to get good enough to not get embarrassed when they tee off.

But nooooooo. We need to pay someone lawyer's fees to learn how to hit a little white ball with a stick.

Seriously. So many of these responses completely ignore the premise of your question. And it is an excellent question.

My two cents (that I should charge $325 dollars for, right).

Heh. Interesting points. Some golfers do seem to compensate with ego for what they lack in skill. It is amusing to watch some Villager or other on (say) a 125 yard Par 3 executive course hole taking an interminable amount of time lining up a six-foot putt like he's playing at August National in front of a massive audience--after he's taken four or five shots just to get there.

The best description of what golf should be is a comment attributed to several pro golfers, but mostly to John Daly, when asked by a fan what the secret of golf is. "Just tee it up and hit it, and when you find it, hit it again". For most of us, golf should be no more complicated than that. Sure, there are those among us who have devoted a great part of their life learning and practicing the intricacies of the game, who play at a high(er) level and love competing with others similarly minded and with similar skill sets, and more power to them. They take their hobby seriously and devote a great deal of time and effort to it. But that is not the great majority of us. My wife and I play with people who have roughly similar skill sets: we usually score in the mid-30s on most exec courses, on a good day maybe in the low 30's, and have a ball doing it. Hitting into the water, sand or trees is not uncommon and we just take in in stride.

Golf for us is fun, and we make sure to keep it that way.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

Just go to an executive course, get a tee time, and be assured you will get all the advice you can handle. Golfers tend to be generous with advice

Great advice. It will be just wonderful for the 10 foursomes backed up behind them. Nobody should be on any type of golf course until they learn how to hit the ball.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by SaucyJim

I've been reading through the responses to your question and all I can say is that, from my point of view, golfers are apparently special. Too good to form a club where they share tips and tricks for free. I was just sharing how, as a musician and instructor, I can see the value in establishing good habits in any venture, but that doesn't mean there can't be a group of people that meet at a driving range and share their own tips and tricks.

Not everyone wants to be a virtuoso pianist. Some just want to get good enough to entertain.

Not everyone want to be a golf pro. Some just want to get good enough to not get embarrassed when they tee off.

But nooooooo. We need to pay someone lawyer's fees to learn how to hit a little white ball with a stick.

Seriously. So many of these responses completely ignore the premise of your question. And it is an excellent question.

My two cents (that I should charge $325 dollars for, right).

There is absolutely no problem getting free advice in golf. Golfers are not stuck up in that way. If you go to a driving range and start hitting balls, you can get all kinds of free advice from well-meaning strangers for free. The problem is the advice is bad. You are way better off just getting lessons to start out.

$325 is not a lot of money.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Why is it almost everything one can be interested in there is a club or activity that will teach a villager how to do that activity except for Golf.. For Golf the introduction class is $325..

Does anyone know of a club or activities for a couple who are totally new to golf and want to learn about golf?

Originally Posted by dtennent

Another vote for taking lessons. While most of us can learn a new card game fairly quickly, it is hard to learn a good golf swing/ game without a good golf coach.

Originally Posted by MarkD1981

Golf is hard to learn and even harder to teach. Many good players cannot accurately explain how their swing works. Most people first playing golf have poor instincts and often do the opposite of what works. The golf swing is not a natural motion.

Originally Posted by westernrider75

I’m not sure about anyone else, but I lose interest quickly in something I am not good at. I would call Oxford Golf Academy and schedule some lessons with Billy Speckman. They have package deals less than the $325 and you will get started on the right foot.

Originally Posted by danglanzsr

....
The golf swing is difficult to do and is never mastered.
A golf swing involves: turning the hips and shoulders away from the ball; shifting your weight from front foot to back foot without sliding back; cocking your wrists as you swing the club backwards; not bowing the left wrist throughout the swing; shifting your weight to your front foot by rotating your body without sliding forward; releasing the cock of the wrists as the club approaches the level of the hips; maintaining same angle of the spine throughout the swing without moving the head or the coccyx; continuing the acceleration of the club head through the ball; etc. It’s all very simple.

Please take lessons before you go out on the course!

Originally Posted by mrohlmann

Golf is more than difficult to be just okay at. It requires instruction from a qualified person and a dedication to practice. Most will not practice regularly.... .

Originally Posted by SaucyJim

I've been reading through the responses to your question and all I can say is that, from my point of view, golfers are apparently special. ....
Not everyone wants to be a virtuoso pianist. Some just want to get good enough to entertain.

Not everyone want to be a golf pro. Some just want to get good enough to not get embarrassed when they tee off.

But nooooooo. We need to pay someone lawyer's fees to learn how to hit a little white ball with a stick.

Golfers apparently do think they're special Everyone seems fond of opining how difficult it is, how un-natural, how tough to learn. Baloney. That's merely justification for their lack of progress or their inability to play to their perceived talent level.

It's hard to learn to be a Pro Golfer, fairly hard to be a low handicapper ... but reasonably easy to learn to play and have fun at it.

Originally Posted by Ptmcbriz

Yes there is a cheap good way. I learned myself by watching YouTube videos….a lot of them. Then go to the driving range (Sarasota) or off site Continental Country club and buy a bucket of balls and start practicing what you learned over and over and over. Then after you’ve done that several times go to a pitch and putt course. If you like then spend the money on lessons. ...

Read the above. There are zillion excellent YouTube videos available for FREE. Pick up a copy of Ben Hogan's "5 Easy Lessons", Jack Nicklaus' "Golf My Way" or even Golf for Dummies.

Go to the range once a week and whack some balls. Go to a Pitch & Putt course and see if you like it. Play an Executive course at an off time.

Once you can hit the ball and make decent contact most swings and decide you enjoy the game and want to improve, that's the time for lessons. Until then, go have fun.

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by KenLee100

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRZyjjdgu34&t=219s
How Tiger Woods taught his son to play golf:
Approach to teaching
Keep it fun: Tiger's priority is to make golf enjoyable through activities like putting and chipping contests, creating a positive association with the game.
Focus on feel over mechanics: Instead of focusing on rigid drills, Tiger encourages Charlie to develop a "feel" for the game by hitting specific shots and making adjustments.
Start with fundamentals: He begins with simple skills like putting and chipping closer to the hole, gradually progressing to the full swing.
Emphasize key fundamentals: Two crucial swing principles are consistently hitting the ball in the center of the clubface and finishing with a balanced, stable pose.
Use competitive "mind games": Tiger employs "mind games," such as setting a competitive par for each hole, to build mental toughness and prepare Charlie for the pressure of tournaments.

How Tiger taught Charlie is irrelevant . The athletic ability of Charlie Woods is tremendous compared to seniors. Those teaching methods are more for keeping a child’s attention while performing a task.

[USOTR]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Ask your neighbors, that is how I got started.

Great advise and I did yesterday..

[Sledneck]

i learned from youtube and going to the driving range

[coleprice]

When starting to golf, my wife and I bought a few clubs at garage sales and swap meets, then watched videos on line which provide excellent instruction. We initially just went down to local putting greens and worked on our putting. Then, we went to the driving range and hit some balls with a 7-iron, woods and driver. When we felt like we hit OK at the driving range and our putting was decent, we played a round of golf at an Executive Course. We've been hooked ever since. PS: Once you've started as discussed above, you and your wife could take a lesson from a Pro, who will help "clean up" your game. Also, attend The Villages 'Good Golf' class accessible through the following link:

Good Golf School

[elle123]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Why is it almost everything one can be interested in there is a club or activity that will teach a villager how to do that activity except for Golf.. For Golf the introduction class is $325..

Does anyone know of a club or activities for a couple who are totally new to golf and want to learn about golf?

Golf is a very technical game. It requires a lot of practice and repetition. If you're looking for something easier and cheap try Pickleball or ping pong.

[gighilton]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Why is it almost everything one can be interested in there is a club or activity that will teach a villager how to do that activity except for Golf.. For Golf the introduction class is $325..

Does anyone know of a club or activities for a couple who are totally new to golf and want to learn about golf?

I'm a Golf Teacher, and I find that a good question? Golf is like any sport, but with more rules... so there is that aspect, then learning to swing is another, and playing is another. I teach using the new science of balance, and get very good results. I'm only at TV Jan-April... but I'll look into starting a club... for free!

[escapethecold]

I never golfed. Last April I took the 5 day new to golf school ($355). 2 Hrs per day M-Th and Fri 2 Hrs on the back three holes of Tera Del Sol starting at 7:30. The class was small myself and 2 ladies. Learned the basics (putting/chipping/half/full swing/bunker). The Villages golf school supplied the clubs. The instructor was excellent. Kept it fun even when you had awful shots. I enjoyed it. I learned a lot about golf. Picked up a set of used clubs at a yard sale. Started hitting the driving range at Lady Lake ($6 for 60 balls) twice a week when here. All money goes to Vets & Lions. Gradually got better. Struggled hitting it off the mat at first. Had no problem hitting off short rubber tee. My neighbor has golfed for years took me under his wing. After coming to the driving range a few times said I was ready for pitch & putt. We started hitting Live Oak. At first I put balls in the water. Now I hit fairly straight where I can put it on the green or close to it or hit over the green and stay out of the water. Back in Sept The Villages had golf lesson special 3 1/2 hr individual lessons for $115. I booked 9 lessons with no expiration date. I liked the instructor from April and have used a couple so far with him. The one on one has really help refine my swing. My distance, loft & straightness has improved with the couple lessons so far. I met a couple of other guys like myself and we hit Live Oak when we can. My neighbor says I am about ready for a level 1 exec course. After the 1st of year plan to do more 1 on 1 lessons and hit an exec course.

The group and individual lessons are well worth the money. I have watched you tube instructors which helped also. However the one on one lesson with the instantaneous critique works best for me. The instructor has given me many good pointers which I have put to use. As he says if 10% of your shots are bad, 80% good and 10% excellent you have accomplish a lot.

Get out there take some lessons & have fun.

[SHIBUMI]

good luck!

Originally Posted by gighilton

I'm a Golf Teacher, and I find that a good question? Golf is like any sport, but with more rules... so there is that aspect, then learning to swing is another, and playing is another. I teach using the new science of balance, and get very good results. I'm only at TV Jan-April... but I'll look into starting a club... for free!

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Great advise and I did yesterday..

Very good!

Somebody should have probably ask what level of golf do you want to play on the casual/fun vs. more serious/ championship course scale?

[Daddymac]

Originally Posted by Altavia

A good place to start is the Villages Good Golf School.

Good Golf School

If you just want to "social golf" with friends and neighbors, playing best ball at Pitch & Putts" and the level 1 or 2 Executive courses is fun.

If you want to get more serious, I'm sure the real golfers will weigh in.

I agree, The Pitch & Putts are the best way to learn. Now GO Get Them Killer.. LOL