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The previous thread about the father teaching the son got me thinking. I'm very new at the game myself and enjoy spending my free time reading about, playing or practicing it and I do take lessons from a well respected pro. I recently went to the range with my girlfriend. I'm really trying to get her interested in the sport as well. What I've learned is that if she thinks she can be good at it she'll like it. If she doesn't get the feeling that she'll be good, she'll probably abandon the sport. Anyway, I basically lined her up, showed her a basic swing including how to keep her left arm straight and let her go at it. I let her know if she ran into trouble she could ask me for pointers. Anyway, she didn't ask for help but when I sensed she was frustrated, I said "Your doing fine, your making contact, that's a good first step, and most are going straight, and even a few are going straight in the air." Then I'd give her a reminder like to keep her left arm straight or keep her left foot on the ground. My goal was not to be overbearing and turn her off to the sport. In my opinion, she did pretty well and has the potential to be a good golfer. Right now, I think if I can get her to the practice range again and have her take another baby step forward, I can then think about getting her a series of lesson from my teacher. Does this sound like a viable plan?

Don't do it man. Run away from this quickly like the wind!!!!!

brianf

Have to agree, if my wife ever took up the game I think I'd take up another sport...love her dearly, but golf is time for myself and my friends and family.

SPACE issues you know. Of course if she wanted to take the game up I wouldn't stop her, she can find a circle of friends and golf with them. When we were dating, we played the local par-3 and she couldn't accept that I was as good as I am, kept saying "I can't beat you, this is frustrating..."...I knew then that her and I and golf were not to be in the same sentence.

jfpenkala:

Don't listen to those guys!! My then-boyfriend became an attorney and realized that he could take clients out, play in charity tournaments, and it would be considered WORKING. He immediately took up the game, and invited me to do the same. That was about 8 years ago. We play a lot (me more than him), but only occasionally play together when we're not on vacation. (Oh yeah -- he's my husband now.)

Have your girlfriend go to a beginner clinic or group lesson, then when she's ready, take her out late in the day. If she decides she likes it enough to work at it, she'll meet people to play with, and you'll be able to play together when you want to!

Try giving her a free subscription to Golf for Women Magazine as well.

Good luck.

I'd have to go along with Brianf. I tried to get my girlfriend into it, spent a bunch of money on clubs, shoes, the whole nine. Bought her a series of 6 lessons from a pro. She took the lessons and was steadily growing better. Took her out to the course and thats when all **** broke loose. Somehow it became my fault that she couldn't hit the ball like she did on the range. Frustration set in and well...you can imagine what happens from there. Back to the range for a few weeks, and tried it again. Same results. I say keep golf with you and your buddies, if she wants to learn, have her find some girlfriends she can golf with. Otherwise golf will become like sex, you'll only get to do it when she feels like it.

It really depends on how she feels about it. I bought my wife the Wilson "Hope" clubs for my wife at Target. She likes them because they're pink... We took group lessons over the summer and she has progressively gotten better. Last time out at a par 3, we both scored the same. We're both at pretty much the same level in the game. It's good quality time for the two of us since we both work different shifts/days.

Give it a try, just don't go nuts and spend big money on it.

I'm with brianf and golf-a-holic. You've got to have something to do and somewhere to go that is all yours. No wives or girlfriends. I know everybody doesn't think that way but please, man, for your own sanity, take our advice. Encourage her to take up tennis. Best of luck.
Jerry

Take her to a golf course near a shoe store.

do not get her interested, it will be cheaper and you will have free time to yourself. If you want some time take her with you and let her drive the cart and out but that is it.

I am so glad that I have the opportunity to play golf with my husband! He's been playing for about 40 years. I just started a couple years ago, and he has been a great teacher with lots of patience. I also took group lessons through our local community college, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Our kids are grown and we enjoy this time together. He still plays with "the guys", but I am pleased that he often asks me along to be his "caddie".

I think if you truly want to include your girlfriend, you should. She'll know that you want her there, then it's pretty much up to her. I think your first approach was handled well.

Just starting last year, I began with group lessons, then followed with some private lessons, I love it, I play with a couple of friends most of the time but have just started to play with my husband, we really enjoy the time together, but it works for us because we vowed never to advise each other on any part of the game and not to tell each other our scores, so we just enjoy the day out with no competition except against ourselves.

I used to golf with my ex-girlfriend and had some success with it. I usually go to the driving range at night since it's cooler and she started tagging along. Naturally, she wanted to try hit some balls and I think she found she enjoyed it. Luckily, her relative had a set of women's clubs that weren't in use anymore and she got to use those. For the most part, I think introducing to her to the game of golf went quite well.

I think a large part of it depends on whether or not your girlfriend really wants to take up the game. If she does, then it'll make things a lot easier. I did take a step back on giving her advice at the range.

I was thinking that IF I could get my wife to play, she would let me play more often.

Its not so bad. You might even get to golf more often. Taking my girlfriend to her first 18 hole course tomorrow. Should be good competition with my father. If she gets board with it Ill sale her equipment and buy me that new driver im looking for.

I got about 150 bucks tied up in all her equipment. Worth about $400. Ive got family in the golf business. Got to figure out what i can do with Pink golf shoes though.

I think it really depends on the couple, but from my experience, getting your girlfriend involved is the best thing you can do. Golfing is a great way to spend some quality time together. My wife and I are still relatively new to the game, but I can also submit my mom's experience to support this. She golfed for many years with her 3rd husband, playing and winning various couples tournaments. Even though he died 10 years ago, she still talks about their golf games and how much they loved to play and compete together. In fact, she refuses to even date a man who doesnt play golf.

Btw, be sure to get her some very forgiving clubs!!