| Whether you want to be the next Tiger Woods, | | | | Golf is not unique in this respect. How many |
| play with some friends on Saturday afternoon | | | | guitars now lie in closets, scuba gear in |
| or simply go for a leisurely walk while | | | | basements and skis hang on garage walls? The |
| striking a ball, there are a few questions | | | | bottom line that Golf initially requires more |
| you should ask yourself before you start | | | | time than other sports but once you have the |
| playing Golf. Below is a list of ten things | | | | basics mastered you can invest whatever |
| you need to consider. | | | | amount of time you wish. |
| | | | |
| 1. Why do I want to play Golf? | | | | 3. How much equipment do I really need? |
| | | | |
| There are countless reasons why somebody | | | | How far down the rabbit hole do you really |
| would want to play Golf. In fact, if you ask | | | | want to go? Do you want to have a few beers |
| any business executive to name the places | | | | and puck a ball in the general direction of |
| where a lot of their deals and contacts are | | | | the pin with the boys or play in serious |
| made, their Golf club will surely be included | | | | competitions where the extra 10 yards can win |
| in this list. Or if you ask the 80 year old | | | | or lose a tournament? Do you want a second |
| grandfather to explain his reasons for | | | | hand Volvo or a new Ferrari? How much of a |
| getting up at 6:00 a.m. for a Sunday morning | | | | budget do you have? I am one of the firm |
| ramble through the fairways he would probably | | | | believers that Golf should be a game for |
| tell you that it helps keep him fit. So why | | | | everyone regardless of social class, color or |
| do you want to play Golf? Do you have a | | | | creed. So whether you buy your gold plated |
| reason or is it just a spur of the moment | | | | rocket science equipment from the Pro store |
| fling? You should think a little while before | | | | or second hand clubs through E-bay, I would |
| jumping in the deep end and really be sure | | | | still enjoy a round of Golf with you. |
| that Golf is the right game for you. A good | | | | However, Golf is a game played outdoors and |
| idea is take a pen and a piece of paper and | | | | requires a lot of extra accessories to make |
| make a list of reasons why you would like to | | | | life a little more comfortable. I'm not going |
| play Golf. Because your neighbor plays every | | | | to list everything here but for example if it |
| weekend and he says it's a great game may not | | | | rains you may need waterproof clothing or an |
| be the right reason to partake. | | | | umbrella or if it's very sunny then you may |
| | | | need a cap for protection or sunglasses |
| 2. How much time am I willing to invest? | | | | against the glare so you don't lose sight of |
| | | | your ball in midair. But the basic equipment |
| Golf is different from a lot of other sports | | | | is no greater an investment than for most |
| due to the fact that there is quite a lot to | | | | other sports or hobbies. |
| learn before you can really begin to enjoy | | | | |
| the game. Unlike other games, it is not | | | | In general, one should ask themselves these |
| really possible to teach yourself 100% from a | | | | questions before venturing into any sport or |
| book or DVD. The basic techniques require a | | | | hobby, but as those who play Golf know, it is |
| lot of feel and take a while to develop. If | | | | addictive and the more you play the more |
| you learn bad technique then it can be very | | | | addictive it becomes and the initial learning |
| hard to change it. Therefore, it is a good | | | | phase becomes but a fading memory. So if |
| idea to join a club and get lessons from a | | | | having considered the above questions you |
| Golf Pro. Having said that, lessons alone are | | | | still want to play then I look forward to |
| not enough, a great deal of patience is | | | | seeing you on the tee. |
| necessary in order to get a feel for the | | | | |
| techniques and to put them into effective | | | | Nigel Nix has been playing Golf on and off |
| practice. You need to spend a lot of time at | | | | since he was 5 years old. |
| the driving range and putting green before | | | | |
| you ever go near the Golf course. Of course, | | | | He is now 42 and runs a humorous Golf blog. |