Hey guys! I want to start playing golf on a regular basis and need some advice on where to start here in the golf forum!

Picture me as your 1st son getting into the game you love. How do you make me go pro?! Nah, I'm just kidding. I just want to be more confident in my game and not look like a complete goof when I go with friends that have played growing up.

I'm almost 24 years old now. Never had the money to golf on a regular basis, and never owned a set of clubs. Now that I have some more money and some free time, I'd love to play at least once a week this summer.

I've been on a 18 hole course once in my life. Been to pitch and putts about 10 times, just borrowing irons and going along. I've banged balls at a driving range as well.

As you can tell, I'm pretty raw. Any advice on the following is much appreciated. I'm not looking for exact dollar figures, but a typical range one is looking at.

Buying a set of clubs
I think I would like to buy a set of used clubs for price reasons. The 2p2 golf marketplace seems like a great place to buy clubs so far. Any other good places to look for used clubs besides craigslist? I live in Vancouver, BC.

I'm a right handed golfer, standing at 5'9". I'm not looking for top of the line clubs, but not pieces of crap either. Used middle/high end clubs is what I want.

What length of club should I be looking for? How much does it typically cost to have a set of clubs shortened? What kind of price range would you put that used mid range set at?

Shoes
My foot is a bit wider than the normal foot. I find Nike basketball shoes too narrow when I tie them up snug. Since I'll be wearing these shoes for hours on end, I'd like them to be comfortable obviously.

Any brand recommendations? I wear a size 9 shoe in most brands, are golf shoe sizes the same as normal shoes?

Swing Coach
I've been coached for poker before and believe the high price is worth it in the long run. I know my swing is full of leaks right now. It's a complete s*** show when I step up to the tee. No idea where the ball is gonna go! I don't want someone watching my every move, but my thinking is that working with a swing coach for 2 or 3 hours when I'm 1st starting will pay huge dividends and prevent me from developing hard to break habits.

Have you worked with a coach before? How much does a golf coach usually cost? Was it worth it? Do you agree with my thinking that working with one at the beginning will help me get better way faster?


Any other advice on things I will need to start playing? As I said before, any advice/recommendations are much appreciated!

Clubs

I'd recommend going into your local Golf Town (I think they have stores in vancouver) and ask to look at their used or demo section. You'll find a tonne of used clubs in every skill level and every price range. On the topic of golftown, their employees don't get paid by commission and are usually really good at helping people find the right club for the job without making them pay a fortune. They have simulators in the shops too, so don't be afraid to spend a few hours in there hitting clubs that you like. If you're 5"9', you're pretty much the average human in North America, so you probably won't need to adjust anything on a standard set of clubs.


To paint a broad stroke around clubs, there are 3 classifications; Super Game Improvement, Game Improvement and Players clubs. As a new golfer, you are probably looking at Super Game Improvement clubs. Taylormade, nike, adams, callaway, etc all the big manufacturers have SGI clubs.

Lessons
I've been taking lessons with the same guy for about 6 years, and I agree with your sentiment, I think they are worth their weight in gold.

Lessons can be grouped in two categories; individual and group lessons. My recommendation for your first few lessons is to go to a group lesson. It's cheaper than individual lessons and you don't need to commit to buying a package of lessons like you may have to from a pro. Clinics are usually lots of fun, and you should get plenty of one-on-one time as well as some free time for repetition while you absorb the basics. I would recommend that one of your first few lessons or clinics be a complete lesson on the short-game (chipping, pitching, bunker play and putting). Getting started early with short-game fundamentals will serve you best in the long run.

As for finding lessons, you have lots of choices.
- Contact the CPGA or rcga (http://www.rcga.org/) and ask for a recommendation (or they might have a "find a pro" function on their website).
- Find a local message board in your area and ask for individual recommendations.
- Go to whatever driving range or golf course is near you and speak to the pro there about lessons. (ALL golf courses and ranges offer lessons, but be wary, the pro could be a total hack)
- Go to your local Golftown and take indoor lessons. (I wouldn't recommend this, outdoor lessons are much more beneficial)

Lessons are usually in the 60-80$ per range, and lots of pros will offer package discounts though. The place I go to is about $300 for 6 45 minute lessons and that also includes as many range balls as I want before and after the lesson.

As for shoes, I also have pretty wide feet and have no problem finding golf shoes that fit. I wear the Taylormade Tour 3.0 and they fit really nice, but might be a bit out of your budget. Golftown has thousands of brands and sizes, you won't have a problem finding something that fits you.

Shoes: Most of the major manufacturers offer both a regular and wide width. At any major retailer (eg Golftown) they should have plenty to choose from. By all means, try on a few pair and see what's comfortable.

Shoe sizes are generally the same as regular shoe sizes but they do vary by maker. I find that Nikes and Addidas run a bit narrower than Foot Joy. None of them really fit me right so I end up buying Eccos.

You don't have to spend a ton of money on shoes - you can probably find some decent deals on last year's closeouts still.

TY very much.

I thought Golf Town only sold new goods. I'll definitely be checking some clubs out there. Lessons sound reasonably priced too. The group lessons is a way better idea to get some valuable practice and repetition in. Plus, they're way cheaper.

Do you think I could get a half decent set for 200-250 CDN?

Congrats on taking up the game - I'm sure you'll love it! It's a frustrating and challenging sport, but very rewarding! You have some good advice here - especially about getting some quality lessons. I would recommend you ask around before committing to lessons - find who some of the better instructors are in the area - don't be afraid to approach some better players at the range & get their opinion. The better instructors are going to cost a little more, but it's almost always worth it. If you don't want to make a big investment on clubs right away, you might consider renting (or borrowing from a friend) for a while until you get a couple lessons and then your instructor can help fit or recommend some proper clubs for you.

Good luck & if I can ever be of help, let me know (I'm a PGA professional & full-time instructor).