Golf - How to hold a club

So who here golfs? I feel like im the only one in my office that doesnt even know how to hold a club. Plus, there are a few networking events (IB/PE/HF/AM people mainly) happening in my city soon; I'd hate to look like an idiot swinging at the ball.

Thinking about taking a few private lessons, maybe 6 hours. Hopefully that'd be enough to get me off my feet.

 

Its quite common to be bad at golf, but its definitely a good idea to at least know how to play and be able to make it around the course. Lessons are definitely a good idea. Once you take a couple, you will have a better understanding for how many more you will want to take to get to a certain capability.

 

Unfortunately golf is really one of those sports that you need to go out and play in order to practice/get better. Definitely check out some lessons so that you don't completely suck in every single aspect (they'll teach you how to hold the club and properly swing, etc.), but you're really going to have to get onto the course and play a lot before you'll stop looking like a complete idiot.

 

Good luck. 6 hours will help but you will most likely still look like an idiot if you try and go out on the course with only 6 hours under your belt. I played through college and am still amazed at the number of people I play with who have played for YEARS and still look like idiots and can't hit the ball. Golf is one of the most challenging things you will do in your life and I would recommend not going to a networking event as a complete novice.

But, if you can get some practice in, and actually make contact with the ball, get on out there. Its the best way to network with people. Practice your short game though, you dont wanna be like Happy Gilmore.

NEVER lose your BlackBerry www.conveniencesoftware.com

 
Best Response

I can hear the collective wailing even as I type this. But it's true.

If you're looking for a sport that appeals to wealthy clients, includes a respectable amount of alcohol consumption, and is actually an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, you can't beat yacht racing.

The barriers to entry are minimal. You basically show up on the dock and offer to crew for any local yacht club race. If you want to spend some money on equipment, you can buy a racing dinghy for less than $4,000 and campaign your own boat.

Fuck golf.


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Edmundo Braverman:
I can hear the collective wailing even as I type this. But it's true.

If you're looking for a sport that appeals to wealthy clients, includes a respectable amount of alcohol consumption, and is actually an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, you can't beat yacht racing.

The barriers to entry are minimal. You basically show up on the dock and offer to crew for any local yacht club race. If you want to spend some money on equipment, you can buy a racing dinghy for less than $4,000 and campaign your own boat.

Fuck golf.


The WSO Guide to Understanding TARP

Have you ever sailed before? The difference between a yacht and a dinghy is comparable to the difference between a go-cart and a Ferrari. If you've got a yacht, great, take clients out on it, make it rain. But what are you going to do with 4 grand? Buy a fucking 420? "Hey! Hop in! Let's practice our roll tacks!"

Also, I don't know anybody who would let some random guy who they've never met, and who has zero experience, hop on their boat. The poor bastard would just get in the way.

 
latenight:
Edmundo Braverman:
I can hear the collective wailing even as I type this. But it's true.

If you're looking for a sport that appeals to wealthy clients, includes a respectable amount of alcohol consumption, and is actually an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, you can't beat yacht racing.

The barriers to entry are minimal. You basically show up on the dock and offer to crew for any local yacht club race. If you want to spend some money on equipment, you can buy a racing dinghy for less than $4,000 and campaign your own boat.

Fuck golf.


The WSO Guide to Understanding TARP

Have you ever sailed before? The difference between a yacht and a dinghy is comparable to the difference between a go-cart and a Ferrari. If you've got a yacht, great, take clients out on it, make it rain. But what are you going to do with 4 grand? Buy a fucking 420? "Hey! Hop in! Let's practice our roll tacks!"

Also, I don't know anybody who would let some random guy who they've never met, and who has zero experience, hop on their boat. The poor bastard would just get in the way.

Great idea guys, let's go sailing! There's nothing more pathetic than someone who takes sailing lessons then tries to talk sailing/race on a boat of people who know what they're doing. Not only will you embarrass yourself, you'll get in the way and piss people off. Go take lessons, buy a Laser, learn to sail it decently, then you can figure out the workflow of a big boat. Of course you won't do this if you just want to network.

Go golfing, you'll end up embarrassing yourself maybe, but people won't be pissed at you at the end of the day.

Video is awesome, but 3+days of 4 hrs on 4 hrs off in that kind of weather is exhausting and gets miserable. The first 12 hours is fun, then it gets tiring. That is if you're not shitting your pants at the first sign of bad weather, then you'll be miserable for the whole thing

 

I cannot emphasize the importance of learning to golf in regards to your career. You don't have to be good but you do need to be able to keep up and be familiar with the appropriate etiquette when at the clubs. I have only been playing for a few years but have had the opportunity to play some pretty nice courses in the area with my bosses and colleagues (Winged Foot, Westchester, Hudson National). I wish I had started sooner. I would take 10 hours of lessons, get a used set of quality clubs (rather than a shtty set of new clubs) and go to the driving range a few times. I would then go play a par 3 course a few times so that you can get comfortable with your short game before getting out on a real course. Then I would play a few public courses with your buddies before playing private courses with business peers. It would also be helpful to play with a family friend who is knowledgeable about the game so that you could learn some basic stuff, like ready play, fixing your divots and generally not acting like a dbag on the course.

Just a warning: golf becomes highly addictive and your gf/wife will not enjoy your new hobby

 
junkbondswap:
I cannot emphasize the importance of learning to golf in regards to your career. You don't have to be good but you do need to be able to keep up and be familiar with the appropriate etiquette when at the clubs. I have only been playing for a few years but have had the opportunity to play some pretty nice courses in the area with my bosses and colleagues (Winged Foot, Westchester, Hudson National). I wish I had started sooner. I would take 10 hours of lessons, get a used set of quality clubs (rather than a shtty set of new clubs) and go to the driving range a few times. I would then go play a par 3 course a few times so that you can get comfortable with your short game before getting out on a real course. Then I would play a few public courses with your buddies before playing private courses with business peers. It would also be helpful to play with a family friend who is knowledgeable about the game so that you could learn some basic stuff, like ready play, fixing your divots and generally not acting like a dbag on the course.

Just a warning: golf becomes highly addictive and your gf/wife will not enjoy your new hobby

You completely nailed it on how to initially approach golf.

You really have to hit the ball 3 - 5 good times on a course before you go out with business folks. I've only played 3-4 times and oh boy, did it show this week. I did 18 holes at La Costa (terrible rough this year) and I would like to stress that it's important to keep up with the group. I am not good at driving the ball, so I kept the group back some and that is something I do not want to do again.

I had 2 hours of private lesson last weekend to help with driving, but you really need the experience to succeed.

My 2 cents.

 
opticalcharge:
I did 18 holes at La Costa (terrible rough this year) and I would like to stress that it's important to keep up with the group. I am not good at driving the ball, so I kept the group back some and that is something I do not want to do again.

Yes, most important thing. If you are a shitty golfer, make sure you keep up with the group and are not slowing them, or the people behind you down, it will just piss everyone off. If you have taken a lot of shots on the hole, just laugh it off, pick up the ball and go back to drinking in the cart, everyone will like you more for it.

NEVER lose your BlackBerry www.conveniencesoftware.com

 

In fairness, junkbondswap is right. You have to learn the game. The way I did it was to take private lessons and spend hours at the driving range (an utterly detestable way to spend your time, by the way). You have to do it because everyone else in the biz does it.

If you want to distinguish yourself, and participate in a sport that actually takes some balls (no pun intended), get into sailing. The people are better, and it's a much more enjoyable way to spend your free time. Oh, and poor people don't race yachts.

Is that a little more insightful?


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Seeing that you haven't ever played before it would be in your best interest to take lessons. Most sports you can learn over time by watching the pros and practicing. I would go get a solid 10 hours of lessons, get comfortable with the game, and defiantly learn the lingo as well as the rules.

As far as golf being a "homo" sport I must disagree. Golf is one the only mainstream sport on an individual level. While golf can be challenging at times it is the only sport that you can A)Only blame yourself for mistakes, B)Carefully analyze the situation before you attack, and C)You can drink and smoke cigars while doing so.

Sailing is sweet too, learn that as well.

 

Is golf really popular among bankers? How do they find the time to make it out of NYC and spend a whole afternoon on the golf course? I guess maybe MDs -- but do Associates, VPs, etc. really have time for it?

It's without a doubt the sport of choice for corporate and private equity guys.

 

Spent the mid '90s as a mastman in the Schock 35 circuit and was the tactician aboard the Canadian entry into a pretty major international race a few years later.

Of course you wouldn't take clients out in a racing dinghy. It's strictly for enjoyment and competition. And race boats of nearly any size pretty much suck for entertaining.

Trust me, if you have any social skills whatsoever, you can get on a boat for Wednesday night races just by showing up and asking if anyone needs crew.

And based upon the number of "How do I beat a drug test" posts there are on this forum, you probably just got a lot of people interested in sailing 420s.


The WSO Guide to Understanding TARP

 

I personally think it is a waste of money to pay for golf lessons when you can easily learn to play the game on your own (and do a lot better than by taking lessons.

But if you really want to take lessons then I would recommend doing a few things before you go. Practice your PGA or Posture Grip Alignment, You can easily do this in front of a mirror (hips square, shoulders square, proper distance from the ball, straight back). The reason I say this is because the proper "PGA" (especially grip) will feel very weird and unnatural. You will need to practice this for 10-15 minutes a day for 1-3 weeks before it feels natural and becomes a habit.

After that I would try to practice some putting and chipping with proper technique (don't break down your wrists and make sure to accelerate, i.e. short backswing longer follow through), so that you learn how to make contact with the ball consistently and hopefully on the sweet spot.

Practice your backswing in front of a mirror to make sure that you are on plane (if you set up a camera behind you then it should record the clubhead traveling on an imaginary line between the ball and your shoulders), again this will also feel very unnatural and the golf pro could easily show you the proper path but you will forget it the next day unless you actually see what you are doing on a camera or mirror.

After your backswing becomes a habit, I would go to the range several times and focus on making good contact with the ball and try hitting it straight. If you can't even make contact with the ball it does not make any sense taking lessons.

And once you are able to at least make contact with the ball with (almost) every swing, you can go get some lessons.

As a side note, I started playing golf while I was in school full-time and working full-time. Within one year I was already a single digit handicap without ever taking a single lesson, but I did work hard on my game. I always get compliments from people on how great my swing and tempo looks.

You can easily learn to play the game by yourself, all you need is to read a few golf books (I would recommend "Tiger Woods, How I play golf" for beginners) and practice. I would only recommend taking lessons if you can do it on a consistent basis, such as once a week or at a minimum once a month with a lot of practice in between. Otherwise lessons will go to waste and so will your money.

Junkbondswap had some good advice too.

 
AstonMartin:
How do bankers have time to take private lessons, much less play 18 holes?

My thought exactly. I'd probably want to spend the 5-10 hours/week of free time I have with my friends in the city, going out, catching up with family, etc.

 

if you can't break 100 yet, don't go. playing with shitty golfers is annoying and irritating. if you do go out and play, make sure you ask your group members for swing tips. they will definately take it as a compliment.

 

I love golf, but I don't work in New York anymore so it is easy to get out and play. Most businessmen play, but comparatively not as many bankers that I have seen. 6 hours wont be nearly enough practice, but once you can get through a hole and follow the rules, it is fun to get out there and play. As to stk's comment about lessons being a waste of money- They are only a waste if you have a bad teacher. I found them essential to learn how to swing correctly. You don't want to teach yourself the wrong way and have to unlearn it.

Sailing isnt a bad hobby, but the idea that it is more relatable than golf or better because it is elitist...that isnt even funny, it just proves people right that think sailing is for pretentious jerks. If you want to avoid poor people, play golf at a private course. With a "fuck golf" attitude and sailing is awesome because no poor people is going to alienate a lot of people. edmundo - i like a lot of the threads you start, but that was a weak comment IMO

 

Golf at a Country Club out in the suburbs but I don't get out enough to be any good. If you're asking for networking potential purposes, which I assume you are; Most of the guys I meet are PWM, Lawyers, small business owners or mid-level execs. And then there's all the MD/DDS/PhD crowd but they're not going to help you professionally.

I also play football and lacrosse with some buddies from time to time but it's nothing organized. We usually have some random friends of friends who come out. Peer networking.

Make opportunities. Not excuses.
 

Generally at the analyst level you can only get away to golf for things like company and charity outings sponsored by your bank. I also know people who if they have a free Saturday or Sunday during the summer will rent a car with a few other guys and trek out to LI. You would be surprised how little time most bankers even at the senior level have to golf.

There are MDs, especially in Industry coverage groups, who do golf a lot, but travel schedules preclude regular rounds and whatnot. Instead people play on business trips at senior levels, and many of them are quite atrocious especially compared to their clients.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

To satisfy my curiosity...What do you think the "atrocious" golfers handicaps are? Are we talking 14/15 or truly horrible in the 20+ range?

Also, for someone outside of the NY area, how far away is bethpage from NYC?

"I'm not sure what the four 9's do, but the ace, I think, is pretty high."
 
Devils Advocate:
I wonder if I should recommend to my friends back in college to take a golf course senior year. What do you all think?

Spring semester of my senior year I took golf as an elective. That combined with the fact that my 12 credit hours spanned just 3 days per week was the best decision I ever made. You'll have plenty of time to make shitloads of money, but only so much time for things like golf (though prior to PE, I worked for MBB and lucked out on a case that allowed me to ski 12 weekends over the course of a winter).

Played 18 with my dad when I went home for Thanksgiving, and my handicap has sadly increased from high singles to mid-teens.

 

Why not? If they need the hours, it couldn't hurt. Although, these classes often suck as you are put in some old gymnasium and taught "how to swing." In this case, I'd say forget it and go to a range/get lessons.

"I'm not sure what the four 9's do, but the ace, I think, is pretty high."
 

I heard UBS was a big sponsor at the AT&T Pro Am in Pebble Beach.....not that it's relevant

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
 
oR3DL1N3o:
was scratch, about a 3 now. ughhh, how work affects my game.

Wow, that's legit! Even managing a 3 while working is really good.

if you like it then you shoulda put a banana on it
 
frgna:
Esp if you're London based, I would love to start up a regular foursome (high fastball, swing away boys)

I'd love to whack the ball around with a couple buddies.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

It's client entertainment time of the year, already had one golf day out, BOOM!

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Golf provides an easy relationship-builder and doesn't require that anybody be an expert socialite or gifted athlete to participate. As long as you're an enjoyable person to be around for a few hours, know basic golf etiquette, and can keep the ball moving in the right direction, you should be able to hold your own at most conferences or charity events. If you're the guy constantly slowing the group down with mis-hits or climbing through the trees, I recommend getting to the driving range or you won't be invited back too often. You don't have to be good, just can't be terrible.

 

I got to play with two partners at a fund my freshman year of college and shot one or two under. Ended up interning there and had two interviews down the road with different banks where interviewers said that they had heard I could play. Also I have it listed on my resume and talked about the game at length in many interviews.

I'd say it's a good skill to have. Everybody likes playing with guys who can stripe it.

 

i work as a caddie right now and have a .6 handicap so i figured that it might be helpful in the future. Just wondering about the ways golf either helped you or opportunities you had BC of it, whether with a job or golf

 

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"My name's Ralph Cox, and I'm from where ever's not gonna get me hit"
 

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