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I’m finding this very difficult to write. Both my sons (13 and 17) have fallen in with the wrong crowd — they’ve started playing golf.
Seventeen years of balance bikes, Islabikes, Enduro bikes, and trips to the Alps and Pyrenees — all wasted, just to end up whacking a ball around a field.
Sometimes I blame myself, but with a grandfather who was a Scottish ex-pro footballer and had a handicap of 4, maybe this was inevitable. and their mums fault..
I’m trying not to encourage it — I’m hoping it’s just a phase that will pass, and that the nearest we’ll get to a golf course is Leeds Urban Bike Park. But their mother wants to get them some golf clubs for Christmas.
I haven’t got a clue where to start. I was thinking of getting something second-hand, but I don’t know what to look for. Any help would be appreciated. I assume they can’t use their grandad’s clubs — he’s 5'6", and the oldest is 6'1".
At least the youngest is still bouldering… for now and I get a nice EVOL XT.
Man, that is terrible.
They will be wearing trousers and polo shirts next.
I strongly feel that golfers are the one section of society it's ok to be prejudiced against.
Yeah.... .. done the isla bike, the alps......he wants to play golf.....but at least he wants to do something active outdoors....it's a good walk spoiled, but it's still a walk....
So find your nearest American Golf store, have a chat with your boys and the pro (you will likely have little to contribute to that) and wait for their autumn sale, and buy something there
My thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
My son rarely messages. But he made an exception when he went to a driving range. He knew how much it would wind me up
It's a slippery slope. Next - fishing.
Golfbidder is a long established second hand golf club site, alternatively Decathlon do a lot of golf stuff and their stuff is normally an excellent entry point.
On the plus side we have a golfer that no one has ever heard of as a customer and he lives in one of the poshest roads in Cheam.
As with any new hobby, you’ll have to decide whether to spend little and see if the hobby sticks, or spend more so they enjoy and progress sooner
either way, your nearest physical golf club or golf store is a great starting point to get a feel and understanding of what equipment is available and to begin to learn the terminology
Pro shop staff always happy to give advice freely, with or without a sale
Once you know a little, I’d also have no hesitation in recommending sourcing clubs secondhand which for me is absolutely where it’s at
Perhaps researching used clubs, for example I’d suggest “Mizuno… forged… cavity” irons such as these MX-25 I’d put forward as a starting point for your research
https://www.golfclubs4cash.co.uk/products/mizuno-mx-25-irons-35
you could always let your sons do some of the research, but just like bikes it can get expensive quickly
https://www.golfmonthly.com/best-golf-deals/best-golf-irons-for-beginners-213371
Another example, this eBay listing has everything to get going and I’d happily play this set of Mizuno mx-20s (plenty of other good brands available, Mizuno is my preference, as is my Orange bikes, I guess the feel of forged steel) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187625248375?_ul=GB
of course, getting “fitted” for clubs is another option for growing teenagers, similar to bikes, and comes with additional costs and benefits
One can enjoy golf and biking, but i find it amusing that the father in your particular household won’t be the one wearing the polos
25 years ago in an office not too dissimilar from 'The Office' I sat opposite to a golf bore who'd regale all those around about his achievements on the golf course. Meanwhile I'd sit opposite with a black eye, bloody nose etc from playing hooker in a local rugby team. Not unlike Fight Club.
Most people, in the office knew the 120 kgs of gammon wasn't a sportsman.
he lives in one of the poshest roads in Cheam.
That’s not a high bar!
Donald Trump loves golf. That's all the warning needed.
Do you think professional help is possible? Earlier intervention counselling? If not, black bag them to a facility able to put them cold turkey - a ball pit full of golf balls and white noise to induce some sort of pavlovian rejection.
Or.....take it up yourself and wear the kit....like all the time. No one wants to look like their dad. You'd feel like you had soiled yourself but for the greater good of the family, it has to be worth it.
Details forwarded to Social Services.
Far too much advice about golf and equipment
If i come in here saying my kids are doing heroin i want advice in rehab, not links to an online dealer
My clubs have been in the loft for 20+ years. The next trip they take will probably be to the dump, which is interesting as that would be where I would go to get my first set of clubs and a bag/trolley as there is a massive selection in our local dump all going for a few £s
It’s difficult to decide which is going to end up costing you more, golf or mountain bikes?
I haven’t got a clue where to start.
I would disown them and hope that it's a passing phase. The last thing you should do is facilitate this sort of thing by gifting them golf clubs. Some sort of counselling is one approach, but honestly, in these sort of scenarios, tough love is the start point. Burn any golf clothing they've acquired, withdraw any finance from them, see if that helps, if not, get professional support. We're going through a similar thing with our dog and large bones atm, this is the approach that's working for him.
My son has started doing Sportives, should I buy him some golfclubs ?
😉 🤣 🤣
My seventeen year old son and a few of his mates have started to play the odd round, he said "Don't worry dad I'm not going to become a golf ****er." Which pleased and amused me.
Nowt wrong with a bit of golf. Keeps you fit, and it's the only sport I've done where you can get pissed whilst playing, if you want
Golf clubs for cash is the place to go. You can easily get a set of 2nd hand clubs that woukd do the job for a beginner fir about 250 quid that'll do them at least a couple of years. Basically, get them the easiest to hit set of irons you can find (ie big ugly ones, not the type tiger woods uses), a driver, and a 5 hybrid (make sure they are in a suitable length) plus a putter, then off you go.
Given its the most frustrating sport in the world they'll either love it or despise it with a passion.
Either way, it's alot cheaper than cycling!
First off, golf is not a sport. It’s a pastime or a game.
This must be a TikTok thing - Tyred jr the younger is also 17 and just started playing golf. I am about to go and play a round with him this morning, my first in about 30 years.
We have 38 golf balls, I’m not convinced that will be enough. I suspect the standard of play will be low. He’s wearing a polo shirt though, I don’t know where he even got it!
i am determined to win, even if I have to resort to cheating.
First off, golf is not a sport. It’s a pastime or a game.
Oh this old chestnut..
It as much a sport as bimbling along a canal path on your gravel bike, mincing down a trail centre red run, or going on an easy road ride with your pals for a spot of cake for sure
Probably more so tbf
It as much a sport as bimbling along a canal path on your gravel bike, mincing down a trail centre red run, or going on an easy road ride with your pals for a spot of cake for sure
This is very true....apart from what you described us also not a sport.
I kayak (white water and Surfski), paddle board (surf and tour), ride (gravel, road and MTB), ski tour, a spot of mountaineering and hill walking plus an occasional jog and open water swim. I don't define anything I do as a sport anymore. I'm training for nothing and don't plan on competing for anything more than a sprint to a village sign. Maybe it's an age thing.
Just head out to the green with him, for some Swiss Tony Instruction...
"Playing golf is a little bit like making love to a beautiful woman. Firstly, make sure your equipment is thoroughly clean and you know where to avoid the rough. Then, grasp your shaft firmly in both hands. Make sure you look up to know which hole you are aiming for..."
Yeah well certainly it could be argued that what most of us do on a bike is more a pastime than a sport. I just get (easily) wound up when there is always someone on any golf thread on here who pops up with this 'its not a sport' comment ', despite probably being a middle aged cyclist with an ftp of 2w/kg who has never competed at any significant level in their lives
We are obviously getting off topic here, but fine motor coordination, explosive power, flexibility, balance etc is just as Important to 'sport' as much as outright 'fitness'. Granted the vast majority of golfers have none of this, but then again the vast majority of cyclists don't have particularly good fitness either.
Interestingly enough, my max hr, and average hr were higher during my last round of golf than my last cycle (a gentle flat spin with the OH), and I burned about 3 times as many calories !
They may soon get bored of waiting behind groups of boomers in fours making a round of gold mostly just waiting for them.
I used to enjoy playing at 4am when finishing early on a nightshift in summer as had the course to ourselves. Used to almost be able to run round.
Nowt wrong with a bit of golf. Keeps you fit
Did the 3 peaks once with a guy who 'played 48 holes a weekend', he didn't finish the first of the 3 peaks in his brand new Timberlands ... (eye-roll).
Oh and disown them, it's all you can do.
Get them a membership at a local club and then go out for winter night rides nearby. Make sure you have good chunky tires but your lights should be just bright enough though. It would be terrible if someone kept riding all over the greens
Did the 3 peaks once with a guy who 'played 48 holes a weekend', he didn't finish the first of the 3 peaks in his brand new Timberlands
And I've been a member of the local cycle club for 7 years, and half of them wouldn't finish the first of those peaks either. Nor would the majority of the folks i've seen at trail centres based on my observations.
Golf however (like cycling) is proven to have significant cardiovascular benefits. It may not get you to the level that you can race up a hill, but likewise the majority of cyclists can't do that either.
I just find it hypocritical that this forum is up in arms when folks make generalisations about cyclists, but they seem to think it's absolute fine to do the same about others
thats coming from someone who is both a keen cyclist and a golfer.
Bit of fun mate! (But if you don’t need a shower after it, then it ain’t a sport)
Anyway, sport or not, I WON! Tyred jr’s golf club membership and polo shirt couldn’t prevent him getting schooled by his old man!
Surprised myself a bit, managed three or four holes only one shot over and was an inch or two away from making par on one of them. Good fun, would do it again.
I strongly feel that golfers are the one section of society it's ok to be prejudiced against.
While I sort of agree with you, a very dear friend of mine plays fairly regularly, and I can’t find it in my heart to criticise her choice. What can I say, I love her to bits, and it’s not for me to judge. 🤷🏼♂️
Isn’t golf the new MTB?
my condolences to your bank account
You have to let them make their own mistakes in this life, however hard it might be to stand by and watch them waste their youthful energy and potential on something so sinister.
But maybe show them some vintage Tarby clips, so they can see where this dark road could take them.
It’s difficult to decide which is going to end up costing you more, golf or mountain bikes?
...the therapy for coping with this sudden trauma!!
I blame the parents.
Have social services been informed?
Late to the party, but you have my condolences.
I blame the parents
Great sport for teenagers. Rewards patience and dedication, allows them to mix with adults in a healthy environment, and takes up huge chunks of time where they'd otherwise be hooked on their phone or drinking cider.
I have a colleague who is a decent player and gets lots of lovely opportunities and days off to represent the company at corporate events.
I'd definitely have a go at picking it up if I had the time.
This is, objectively, very funny.
Much as it's fun to laugh at golfers, I feel no actual ire. They're just doing their sport, outdoors, with or without pals and... enjoying themselves, I guess?
Besides, as most golfers will attest, there's nothing you can say to them that will cause them more pain than they inflict upon themselves, just by being into golf. It's a sport that teases you with the occasional moment of perfection, which you then spend every other moment driving yourself insane trying to recreate.
I'm massively grateful to golf for giving my dad a reason to keep active at 78.
This is pretty funny OP - you do have my condolences.
But i also get a lot of schadenfreude when cycling dads force their hobby onto their kids. Its a childs sworn duty to rebel against their parents and its a good sign they are doing so.
Plus its 4hrs of chatting to mates whilst walking around in the open air. Not a bad way to improve mental and physical health.
Full disclosure - I went to one of those Topgolf places with the family a couple of months ago and it was brilliant fun.
Good fun, would do it again.
It's brilliant fun...and also the most frustrating activity in the world. But as has been pointed out, 4 hrs out in the sunshine with your buddies talking pish...what's not to like
Glad you enjoyed it..!
Commiserations OP. You aren't going to save money by not buying bike kit. It's just as ruinous on the pocket. At least they are keeping active.
Not much to add to SYZYGY post above. If it’s irons they are after there is a benefit in getting clubs suitable for their physical attributes which increases cost and probably enjoyment as the end result is better struck shots and better dispersion in theory. you could do a no purchase obligation which would give you club specs and you could search on the second hand sites to find the most suitable sites. If it’s woods then similarly you could go to a driving range that has trackman available and note the data recorded in terms of swing speed, ball
Speed and then check this on sites like golf spy against potential club matches for drivers/3 woods/hybrids and go from there.
It's just as ruinous on the pocket
That very much depends on the cost of the course and where you live. The equipment is a pittance in comparison to biking. A set of top of the range custom fit clubs will cost you about 3 grand, but you could buy kit pretty much just as good for under a grand second hand. And it's not as if you need multiple sets like you do bikes! As for clothing, a set of golf shoes costs about 50 quid and you are dandy
The real cost is in playing the course. Up in scotland my private members club cost 700 a year, but for juniors its 30 quid..ridiculous value. Public courses are about half that
That said my cousin is a member of some club in leafy Surrey, and the joining fee alone was an up front payment of £150 grand!!!
My condolances, however there may be hope. Maybe its a cover story for being there during mushie season.
I kayak (white water and Surfski), paddle board (surf and tour), ride (gravel, road and MTB), ski tour, a spot of mountaineering and hill walking plus an occasional jog and open water swim
Quite sporty, aren't you?
🤣
It's a sport that teases you with the occasional moment of perfection, which you then spend every other moment driving yourself insane trying to recreate.
Sounds like archery!
It's just as ruinous on the pocket
Also sounds like archery!
The only difference is the walking you do is backwards and forwards collecting your arrows from the target.
Oh, and the slow walking around, sometimes with a metal detector, trying to find the arrows that missed the target and burrowed into the grass. Sometimes getting run over by the mower when the grass gets cut… ☹️
Sorry to hear this OP. Is there some kind of rehab clinic you could book them into?
Brilliant, good on them. great game for kids to play, gets them outside with their mates, and keep them occupied during holidays, when other kids are bored and get up to nonsense. both my kids play, and I play with them. As they get older (my oldest is 15) it's something we can enjoy together which is really precious.
As others have said- Golf clubs for cash is the best second hand shop out there, golf bidder tends to be a bit more expensve IME.
In reply to the OP, mine too!
Most of their pals in the area play, and as a balance to all the riding/racing they do, it's a pretty good, sociable option. Living in the NE of Scotland, there are literally courses in almost every little village, with annual membership being about £30 for them (as Juniors). A few hundred £ for some good secondhand clubs, and they are off.
Yes, there are plenty of golf ****ers around, but then there are bike bores too (as this place often reminds us...)