In two months I'm going with my best friends to Phoenix for a bachelor party. The main reason they chose Phoenix is because they love golf and apparently there is a nice golf course there.

I have never played - in two months time, could I get to a level where I don't frustrate them/myself/other golfers and can make it from the beginning to the end of the hole in a reasonable amount of time? I know I won't be good but if I could consistently make contact with the ball and be able to hit it somewhat straight I'd be happy. (The couple times I've played Top Golf would make that seem like a lofty goal…)

I have a flexible work schedule and a set of golf clubs - I could reasonably go to a course or range 2-3 times a week. I am also a decent athlete. Is it worth trying, or should I just stick to driving the cart when we get to Phoenix?

If it's worth trying, what should I focus on and how should I practice? Just play a bunch of rounds on the course? Just stick to driving practice? Some combination? Video myself and compare against YouTube videos?

Any thoughts/advice/training regimens would be appreciated.

2 months? 2-3 range visits and one course play a week? Athletic? I say you could break 110 which is good enough to play.

Do this. It's a smaller portion of the ultimate practice routine but will make you playable in short order. You have to complete the drill at hand before you can move on.

15 three foot putts in a row. Miss any one and start over.
15 20 foot putts in a row that stop within three feet. Miss any and start over.
15 30 yard chip shots that land on the green. Miss any (you get the idea.
6 60 yard wedge shot land 3 out of 6 on green.
6 100 yard wedge shots. Land 2 out of 6 on green.
10 150 yard iron shots. Land 3 out of 10 on green.

Driver
Swing 50% speed and hit an imaginary fairway(mark your left and right limits on the range) 5 out of 10 times. Once you can hit 7 out of 10 up your speed.


If you follow this routine, and it will be a struggle bus the first 3-5 times, you will be amazed at what you can do on the course.

AustinCountyAg said:

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Don't get too worked up about it, golf is hard. Main thing when playing in AZ is play fast and enjoy it. The courses are great out there. Drink beer, play fast, and have fun. Dont be they guy who gets in a pissy mood if your struggling making good contact, esp since you hardly play golf.

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I'm a 15 and this is 100% my philosophy.

With only 8 weeks, take the advice above about mostly focusing on advancing the ball on full shots (it gets in the air and goes in roughly the direction you want). That is the number one thing that will help you keep up. Short game doesn't mean much if you are having to pick up before getting to the green because you can't hit the ball worth a damn on full shots. But use lessons to help get you there.

For chipping, you just want to do enough to get the ball anywhere on the green semi-reliably. And for putting, spending an hour or two should get you functional enough unless you are devoid of all athletic ability, at which case this is all hopeless.

First and foremost, get someone to teach you how to grip and swing a golf club.

I'd focus on a PW or 9iron with three quarter swings. If in two months all you can do is play from 150yds out, that is something.

If you commit to playing, you'll get hooked. So learn how to hit a driver. You don't have to spend a ton of time on it, but once you get a swing down, I'd start each session with 10 drivers, and end with 10 more.

Spend some time chipping each session, start off using a 9 or 8 iron and use a putting motion with these irons around the greens. Don't touch a 60/56/52 degree wedge.

Putting. Spend a little time putting, but I'd spend more time putting at home on different surfaces. Putt on tile, wood, rugs, carpet. This will help you get a feel for when you're out actually on a green. Focus on 12-15 ft.

Try and play a few holes each week, after you have somewhat of a swing. A par 3 course would be ideal because it's short, cheap and fast to play.

You won't be good, and you'll likely be bad. The most important thing is keep up the pace of play. Again, if you can just drop in the fairway where your buddies are, that can be enjoyable (don't re-tee).

Don't get tempted into hitting wedge/sand wedge from around the green. If you have a clean entrance and reasonably short grass (not heavy rough) to at least the right quadrant that the pin is on, then chip with a club you have confidence in that keeps it mostly on the ground. I personally like a 4 hybrid - smallish head and choke down on it to make it more putter type length. Use your putter anytime you can - when the grass around the green is cut real short.

Same thing from 30-40 yards out - don't use a wedge if you can use a lower lofted club like a 7/8 iron that you can fly to the front of the green and let it roll up. Even hybrid can be good here. The beauty of a hybrid is that clean contact using a putting or short chipping motion is almost guaranteed. You can't really hit them fat or thin like even an 8 iron. The only thing to be mindful of with a hybrid is the ball comes off pretty hot and it can get away from you if you make too big of a swing.

Fat and thin wedges around the green can cost you 3-4 strokes a hole - esp if you rocket one over the green and into a bunker or water hazard. Just get it on the putting surface with your first effort and don't worry about getting cute with a wedge.

CapCity12thMan said:

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Quote:

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I say you could break 110 which is good enough to play.

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now way in hell

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Absolutely.

Don't take 20 practice swings. Once you get set up, just hit ball instead of standing there for 5 minutes fidgeting.

Better yet, save you some money and you probably shouldn't play.

Don't go on a golf trip if you're not a golfer.

But this is what will happen. Those best friends of yours who golf will most likely remain lifelong golf buddies and take wonderful golf trips together. If you learn to golf, you will participate. If you don't, most likely you will not spend as much time together in the future.

Funky Winkerbean said:

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Don't play..be the designated bartender and photographer.

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This right here. I can't imagine the frustration of trying to get "decent" in 2 months time.

98Ag99Grad said:

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Funky Winkerbean said:

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Don't play..be the designated bartender and photographer.

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This right here. I can't imagine the frustration of trying to get "decent" in 2 months time.

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or the guys who put in all the planning for a golf trip to Scottsdale having to play with a guy trying to "get decent" in 2 months time. Do everyone a favor and ride around, hit a shot here and there and that's it.

It's a good motivational opportunity to start learning a great game. Get the set of 4-6 beginner lessons with practice in between. Don't hunt your ball in the desert, drop where your friends are, if you are lagging (you will), pick up. Set zero expectations and have fun

In your post you say that you are going with your "best friends". You also say you already have a set of clubs. My advice would be to make a decision not only for this upcoming trip, but the future too. If you want to learn the game, and play with your friends in the future, take lessons from a teaching pro when you start. If you just want to have a good time in two months, just putt and chip. Maybe they will want to play a scramble.

Do this:

• Set low expectations. Don't worry about "breaking" anything. Your goal is to have a great time and be a good playing partner.
• Since you don't play now, be aware of basic golf etiquette: play ready golf, fix your ball marks, rake traps, etc.
• Be quick to pick up to keep the group moving, but don't shortchange your experience. Everybody will expect you to be terrible. Be a good sport and don't get down on yourself.
• Buy the cheapest balls you can. Do not waste your money on premium balls at this stage.
• Practice 3-4 clubs and that's all. Putter, PW, 7i, and driver. You don't have enough time to get familiar with anything else. Bring only those clubs on the trip.
• Tee up every shot except chips and putts. Nobody will care, and you'll have much more success making contact instead of hitting fat or thin.

Go get some lessons, if you can get the ball airborne and straight with a 5,7,9 iron consistently with distance then have a go. If you can't, then I'd just be a designated cart driver and have fun watching your friends.

Go the the range and practice green as often as you can before your trip. If you can, get a few lessons in. It will make it less miserable for you.

Go, play, have fun. You'll regret not playing if you go and just ride in the cart. Even if you aren't good, there are plenty of people that make "golf" trips and end up just hitting the ball around. As stated a few times, know when it's time to pick it up. Take cheap golf balls and if you hit one way off course, just drop where your friends are and try again.

You can still have fun even if you aren't good. If it gets to the point you just want to drink beers and ride around in the cart you'll still have clubs and can take some approach shots from where your friends are playing.

If your party is playing for money, I wouldn't get into that or you'll probably pay everyone at the end.

Your friends know you can't play right?

No matter what you do in this amount of time, you're not going to have a solid/consistent golf game...unless you are just a freak of nature. That said, if you really commit during this short window (range time, youtube vids, maybe lessons), you will be a lot better than you currently are. Keep your head and eyes lasered in on the ball with every full swing, chip and putt.

No matter how good/bad you are...just be aware of your pace of play. Everyone starting out has to just pick up their ball at times and hop back in the cart. Then go drop on the green and putt it out with your buddies and try again on the next hole.

If you really practice though, you will likely hit a handful of good shots that day...or at least 1-2...that give you a taste of what you can do and make you want to come back for more ASAP. A single round just starting out can turn you into a full blown addict.

Just have fun and keep up the pace. I'm kind of jealous...as frustrating as it was at times, I really enjoyed building my game back around 2007-2008. It can be ugly for everyone so try not to ever get embarrassed! As long as you're not holding everyone up, no one cares about how sh*tty you are lol.

98Ag99Grad said:

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Funky Winkerbean said:

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Don't play..be the designated bartender and photographer.

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This right here. I can't imagine the frustration of trying to get "decent" in 2 months time.

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I could see someone who is somewhat athletic developing a respectable game within 2 months if they were young and didn't have a family depending on them every night and it was summer time and you could play or practice most evenings of the week.

Summer of 2008 when I was just starting out, I was playing Herman Park probably 3-4 evenings a week after work (and range and maybe a round of golf on weekends) and things really clicked over the course of a month or two. The improvement was dramatic and pretty quick.

To me it's about reps, not time. 10 rounds of golf and 20 range sessions in 2 months is every bit as beneficial if not moreso than 10 rounds of golf and 20 range sessions in 6 months. But in general, I definitely agree with you.

8 weeks? How about getting a really nice boob job and some great low cut tops?

Are they going to play competition or just play for goofing off? Don't stress on getting playable, the others are right, hit some shots, drop with your buddies and don't get in the way. Getting beers, holding the flag, and moving along will be the key.

Give it run. I'd simply even further

1. Get a lesson a week
2. Range 3x a week
3. Limit your clubs to 2 or 3 clubs (5W/3hybrid, 7 iron, putter)
4. Be a scramble/shamble partner on game day rather than playing your ball tee to green and play fast
5. Swing easy

Desert balls are easier to find than those in the woods

We have a buddy who is pretty bad but now just plays 5iron PW putter and he's atleast always advancing the ball and playing faster