By Marty Barry, Hackensack (NJ) Fire Department
Golf is a great sport to play. Anyone can play this sport from eight to 80, male or female, weak or strong, and even if you have a disability. You can spend as much or as little time playing, I recommend spending the first year or, at least, the first winter practicing at the driving range, putting on the carpet, and chipping in garage or back yard. Some tips for the novice golfer to consider follow:
• Nine holes takes two to two-and-a-half hours.
• 18 holes takes four to five hours.
• Join your friends for putting and chipping games to work on your short game.
• Hit a bucket of balls at lunch or right after work.
• Play a par-3 or executive course.
I also recommend reading one of many good books, watching The Golf Channel, searching online for tips and, by far the best advice I can give, seeking out your local PGA golf pro to teach you proper techniques. The golf pro can give either individual or group lessons. My number-one tip is to be patient; you will improve if you put in the time to practice. So get out there and enjoy!
Here, Marty begins by discussing the proper ways to grip a golf club.
Once proper grip is established, practice ways to sqaure up the ball with the club head.
Now that you’ve worked on your grip and aim, you’re ready to let the club rip.
Marty talks about the necessary clubs and equipment no beginner should be without.
We’ll return later this summer with more from Marty.
A final word of WARNING: Golf can be very addictive.
Derek Rosenfeld is an associate editor for Fire Engineering. He is beginning his sixth season as the assistant baseball coach at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. He is also an infielder for the semipro North Haledon (NJ) Reds. During the mid-90s, Rosenfeld was a three-year starter at second base for the Ramapo College baseball team in Mahwah, New Jersey, where he earned all-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors and was a two-time New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) all-star selection. He was named MVP of the 1997 NJCBA All-Star Game. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ramapo College.
