My first bats

(April 2008)

The week following my lesson saw me back at the local club pro shop and meeting with Peter the head pro for the first time. I have now known him since that day and can honestly say that a nicer more considerate and helpful pro is unlikely to be found within a hundred miles, in short he is a real gent.

He did not have clubs that day but told me to return in a few days when he would have a set of second hand beginners irons by Callaway for me to try out.

I duly returned a few days later and he gave me the choice of two second hand sets. The first was 3i-sw Callaway Big Bertha irons, regular flex, vintage year 2002 ish. In good condition with new grips. The second set was Yonex with graphite shafts. He leant me the 6 irons from each set so I could hit then at the driving range. So off I went with the two sticks to do my stuff.

I remember in those days a well struck six iron for me reached the 100 yard flag at the range. I distinctly remember being chuffed that I hit the flag with one shot from the yonex 6 iron. But in truth I could not tell any difference between them but I preferred the Yonex for some reason, probably because of the hit flag.

A call to my brother for advice and he came back with a definitive answer.

'Your 35 not 55, your a big bloke as you get better the graphite will be too soft for you, go with the Callaway's'

Not knowing better I took his advice which in hindsight was correct.

Back to the Pro shop and after say goodbye to £150 and arranging a lesson, I was finally a golfer, well finally a hacker anyway!

That weekend my Bro took me to a huge range and shop in a city close to where we live and after testing out the Callaway's on the range I went shopping and added a putter, some balls, tee's, shoes, a bag, pitch mark repairer and a glove to my collection of equipment. Not a cheap shopping trip, in fact golf is not a cheap sport to get start but I already knew that this was no passing fancy so the cost was coughed up without resentment.

Later in the day I got my first experience on the course as my brother smuggled me onto his home track for three holes in the rain. I hacked it around keeping my left arm straight and loved it despite hitting it half the distance of my brother. It also showed me that the game on a course is a lot more interesting than the game of whack it at the driving range.

It finally made up my mind that I would join my local club when I got past the embarrassing noob phase.

What I did not realise at the time is how long that phase would last!