Gifts for the Novice Golfer
"T
hey say golf is like life, but don't believe them. Golf is more complicated." – Gardner Dickinson, pro golfer and instructor
So you (or a friend) want to learn how to play golf, but it all seems so complicated — what kind of clubs do you need, where can you practice, and what do"bogeys" and"birdies" have to do with it?
First make learning the sport, not buying the equipment, your priority. Unless your best friend is a PGA Pro, take a couple of golf lessons. You still have to learn to hit the ball and plan the shot, the clubs won’t do that by themselves! You’ll learn the proper technique and then you can practice on your own. It’s easier than having to"unlearn" bad habits later on.
You can get going with only a few clubs but you should take advantage of clubs made especially for beginners. golflink.com
Start by going to a driving range. See if you are able to hit the ball (I’m not kidding). Begin with some half swings using a wedge or short iron, then steadily increase the speed and length of your swing, changing each time to the appropriate club and ending with a driver. There are many articles online with instructions on which clubs to use for which distances.
If you want to surprise someone with a gift of golf clubs — don’t! Clubs are usually fitted to the person by their height, distance from wrist to floor, average driving distance, grip size and even average golf score. It’s best if they go to the golf course and get what is called a professional "golf fitting". Read more about choosing a golf club set here golflink.com
Did you ever have a Big Bertha in your life? (No, we don’t mean your overweight cousin.) If you're already a golfer, you know what we're referring to — the Big Bertha driver (named after a WW1 German howitzer) was a revolutionary addition to the golfing scene when introduced almost 30 years ago by Ely Callaway, founder of Callaway Golf.
Its totally stainless steel construction and larger clubhead made it a sure hit (pun intended) with high-handicap golfers who found the larger sweet spot and lightweight handling helped them play much better. Big Bertha irons followed a few years later and other manufacturers followed with even larger and lighter clubs.
To this day, many golf pros use Callaway clubs. For a list of "Team Callaway" see callawaygolf.ca. The company also sells all kinds of other premium golf products (in over 110 countries) and is worth checking out, even if you’ve never signed a scorecard and are only thinking of taking up the sport.
Why I gave you a little history of Big Bertha is because I have one that’s sitting in a golf bag (part of a set). This set came from a friend that had decided to upgrade and she kindly donated her old clubs. This was almost a decade ago and I still haven’t gotten the nerve to take a lesson or even go to a driving range. I think I tried the putter a couple of times on my lawn and didn’t have much luck sinking the golf ball into a plastic cup. I still have a hope that one day I’ll at least try out the clubs — fingers crossed!
The following site has a lot of info and golf tips. There are also links to finding golf courses throughout North America and the UK: Canada: golf-info-guide.com USA: golf-info-guide.com United Kingdom: golf-info-guide.com
Few sports can match golf for relaxation and stress relief. You breathe fresh air and soak up the sunshine, connecting with nature…and you certainly get your exercise by swinging, walking and carrying your golf bag (if you ride in a cart, you only burn half the calories)! The best reason to play golf — it’s a wonderful way to connect with people and make new friends!
Here are some gift ideas:
This comfy, full leather glove comes in a wide choice of colors. It has perforations on the palm, top of the hand, and fingers for breathability. Left or right hand available. amazon.com
This handy golf tool by Swiss Ascent clips to your belt and provides you with all the tools needed — ball marker, brush, stroke counter, cleat tightener, divot repair tool and a bottle opener with screwdriver. Canada: amazon.ca, USA: amazon.com
Easy to use, compact, accurate, with a long battery life, this rangefinder comes with a micro USB cable, carrying bag and a worry-free 18-month warranty. It also gives you a buzz once it locks in the target/distance. Great product for the price. Canada: amazon.ca, USA: amazon.com
Want some chipping fun for the whole family? Try this hybrid between golf and cornhole. Move the included chipping mat around the play area and aim for the target main hole to score the most points — just watch for the water and sand traps! Canada: amazon.ca US: amazon.com
By D Revelins
Photo Credits: See Acknowledgements