Taking Fun Seriously....my very first golf lesson
Discovering the joy of golf: one beginner's journey into a timeless sport.
Taking fun seriously…my very first golf lesson
Here are a number of reasons why I wanted to learn to play golf:
1) My father, Jonie B. Hollis, is an avid golfer and I would love to show up at his house one day with my clubs and say, “let’s go out and play.” 2) my S.O. James loves to golf and would really like to take me out on golf dates. 3) the business advantages that the golf lifestyle affords you. Once you learn to play golf, you now have the unique opportunity to cultivate relationships outside of the workplace and enjoy a sport that is primarily known for networking. 4) It’s great exercise as well as a friendship builder…
I usually do things backwards so I actually bought an entire set of ladies golf clubs, golf shoes, ladies golf balls, and a ladies golf glove back in 2007. I’m not one for procrastinating so I can’t explain why I am just now, in 2015, actually learning how to play. My S.O. James bought me a couple of lessons to move things along so I called Lyman Golf Center in Middlefield, CT to make my first of two appointments for lessons. Jim Wilson, golf instructor, came highly recommended from my co-worker Rachel so I asked to be set up with him. Learning golf can be frustrating so Rachel, who is a golfer herself, explained that Jim had the patience of Job and would be well suited for my personality. She was absolutely right.
My first lesson with Jim was on a sticky hot Sunday in July. One of the hottest days of the month. I wore my golf outfit and my golf hat and after spending about 20 minutes getting to know each other, Jim and I took my clubs and headed out to the driving range where we would be spending the remainder of my one hour lesson. Jim showed me the basics: how to stand, how to hold my club, how to lean ever so slightly and mostly how to hold the club in my two hands. I found this the most difficult because the way you hold the club with two hands did not feel natural to me so I kept forgetting how to do it and resorting to the easy and more natural way. Jim never lost his patience, he just kept reminding me how to hold the club with both hands and also why I was holding it that way. He kept moving my feet so that they were planted correctly and he also showed me an easy way to ‘tee the ball’ by using one hand only.
the stance is critical for swinging
the follow through is equally important
pointing the club reminds you of where you wanted the ball to go in the first place
Once I got the hang of it, Jim left me to my own devices. My lesson was now over so he gave me a ton of balls and said practice what you learned today so that when we get together next time, we can move on to the next lesson. I spent the next 2 hours hitting balls and slowly starting to get why regular people are so fascinated with the game. It truly is fun and it’s also challenging because there is so much to learn, on and off the course. I’m looking forward to my next lesson with Jim and then maybe joining Golf Fore Women 201!
