How do you teach your wife to play golf?

[Squatch]

Just bought my better half a set of clubs so that she and I can enjoy some of the nice courses around here. Only thing, she's never swung a club before, leaving me to do the teaching.

Now, before any of you say "The way to teach your wife how to play golf is to hire a pro", I've already decided to give it a go, myself. I've been playing for over 20 years, so I think I know enough to give her the basics. Plus, I'm fairly patient.

Anyways...any tips? Where to begin? Etc.

[Left Is Write]

1. I have no idea! I do not have a wife, and I do not know how to golf.

:D

Good luck!

[trogdor]

2. You don't

It disturbs the natural flow of the Force.

Besides, guys play golf to take a break from their wives.

[Shine]

3. The big question is: Does she WANT to learn???

:evilgrin:

I've never golfed, but I LOVE driving the golf carts!

Have fun and good luck!
:hi:
Shine

[Squatch]

4. She's been asking for a while, now.

And seemed pretty thrilled when I came home and clubbed her with a decent set of irons and woods. (hehehehe)

[Shine]

7. Oh, that's good, then.

sounds like a nice "couples' activity" to do together.
:)

[Squatch]

8. God help me, but I really do love my wife and enjoy her company.

[Shine]

12. and Goddess help you, too.

:evilgrin:

seriously, I think it's cool you feel that way about your wife. That's as it should be. :thumbsup:

I'm lucky to have the same deal on my end. We're very blessed, aren't we?

Happy Solstice to you, Squatch!
:hi:

[Squatch]

13. Right back atcha.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Don't!!!!!!! Don't!!!!!!!!!!! Don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take her to a pro. I've been playing since i was 8 (i'm 49). I'm a 3 handicap. I wouldn't teach my wife to play at gunpoint. I've offered to get her lessons, because i'd like to have the two of us play together. But, she's not interested.

It's WAY harder to teach someone than you might think. I hit it straight, consistently (not terribly long, though) have a good short game and am a good putter. But, i tried to show her a few things on a driving range about 5 years ago, and she was getting mad at me.

It's a special skill to teach the game.

If you insist, please think about this:
1) Teach her to putt. Being a good putter will give her scores that won't discourage her.
2) Teach her to chip and pitch. Easier to teach and super important for someone who doesn't hit many greens.
3) Try to convince her to not worry about distance. Straight and consistent is way more important to the casual player.

But, i still wouldn't do it.
The Professor

[Squatch]

10. Probably good advice.

I'm going to see how well I do next week, when her mom's in town. (We'll be able to leave the baby with her while we knock the ball around a little) If it starts going south, I'll probably consider getting a pro to continue.

[Patiod]

17. The chipping advice is absolutely right

My friends marvel at how "good" a golfer I am when my drives are just okay (but straight) and my putting sucks. Thanks to years in our modest suburban backyard with my Dad, aiming for targets, I can chip like a pro, unlike a lot of new players. Sadly, heturfed the little putting green he had in the backyard (in favor of a vegetable garden) before I started playing. If I only had learned to putt, I'd be all set!

I agree that it takes a special person to teach someone else to play. I was lucky my Dad had what it takes!

[ProfessorGAC]

18. I Have A Similar Story!

Not identical but in the same vein.

My dad taught me to play at age 8. He stressed three things: Grip, posture, and putting. Now, mind you, by the time i was 11, my dad had no hope of beating me, because until the day he died, he never broke a hundred! He was an admitted hacker!

Yet, he instilled those three basics in me, and even at 49, with MS, i shoot in the mid-70's. So, he must have had some teaching skills too, even though he couldn't play a lick.
The Professor

[Strong Atheist]

6. You dont.

:scared:

[Orsino]

9. Tell her that stylish, comfortable shoes are awarded to winners.

I mean, men are only in it for the nineteenth hole, right?

[matcom]

11. Good GAWD Man! Take Her To A PRO!

trust me. your marriage will be MUCH better for it!

think back to when you started. time and again i have seen wives (mine, my mother, my aunt) get so frustrated with their husbands trying to teach them golf.

its a frustrating game when you are just starting anyway. she will be less likely to get frustrated in front of a stranger. it is WAY too easy to unleash on you WHEN it happens. she will enjoy it more and get MUCH more out of it being taught by someone else.

at LEAST hire a pro for the basics. once she can hit the ball with some consistancy, THEN you can take over.

trust me man :scared:

[lcbart]

14. You Don't !

Ever !

[Patiod]

15. The way my Dad taught me

I'll assume you have the same degree of patience he has/Had. We fight/fought all the time about everything else, but he made sure that we didn't' fight when we went to the driving range or golf range, so I began to look forward to those trips just because it was the one time we got along.

#1 rule - Make it fun - it should ALWAYS be a treat rather than a chore - include lunch, drinks, or a snack as part of the bargain. No fighting, no bringing along arguments from other parts of your life.

#1b - Lots and lots of practice on the elements of the game - lots of putting practice (make it fun!), lots of time at the driving range. Don't forget chipping practice, which can also be made fun if you pick a target circle and try to get the ball in there as many time as possible, and practice getting out of traps. Mastery of the basics will make playing a whole round a LOT less frustrating!

- Encourage her to sign up for Golf at your township's night school (a lot of city/town/township recreation departments offer golf at the local high school or rec center) It's a low-pressure place to practice your swing with a bunch of other new golfers, under the tutelage of a pro

- Start on easy, 3-par "mini" courses in order to instill confidence

- When you get to the "grownup" courses, start with NINE HOLES AT A TIME - 18 is tough on a beginner (she's probably swinging as often on 9 as you do at 18!)

- Don't go out when it's 105 degrees. You may think any day is a great day to golf, but a beginner won't share your fanaticism yet. Stick to nice days. You don't want to add any unnecessary burdens! (this was the only thing my Dad did wrong - I HATED going out in the brutal heat!!!)

- Take breaks when she seems to need them - it's not a marathon.

- All criticism is offered with a positive attitude - never with frustration, anger or irritation. Just remember how often YOU pick your head up!

- Watch ladies golf together once in a while on TV - point out which women have really good form. Do the same at the driving range - point out the men and women who have good form, and encourage her to learn how to identify Good Form and Lousy Form in others. It will help her shape her own swing.

- Encourage her to find girlfriends to go out to the range with or to go out golfing with - golf is an AWESOME sport for chatterbox women. Lots of time to stroll outside and talk - what's not to like? It wasn't until I played a round with a competent girlfriend that I really internalized how much fun the game can be.


/in memory of my dad's gift of golf - he's got emphysema now and is homebound - I miss our outings!!!

[Squatch]

16. Excellent advice...thank you!

[newportdadde]

19. Your destorying your guy sanctuary!

Do we need to come over there and give you a new copy of the guy manual? Golf isn't about having fun its about getting away from your wife. Hell I've been to the driving range a couple of times and I don't own clubs can't hit the ball and never been on an actual course lol.