So I have done it. I have committed to something new. You could say it is part of a new challenge, a new project, one which depending how it goes could be short-lived or could run for some time. One which I hope will be enjoyable and fulfilling and could lead to an element of self-discovery. And it could be one where in time I think ‘why didn’t I do this sooner?’.

I have commited to a golf membership at Stonebridge Golf Club near Meriden, to getting into golf and improving my game or as it stands at the moment, the lack of it.

If you’re are thinking ‘great’, ‘well done’, maybe  ‘good luck’ or even ‘so what? big deal’, for me it is something of a big deal for reasons which I will explain why and become come apparent now and over time.

In golf but not playing golf…until now

The curious thing to say from the start is that I have always had a bit of a passing interest in golf (as I have with most sports). Whether it has been the players, the tournaments, the continued evolution of the sport worldwide (less said the better on that perhaps) plus seeing some of the wonderful courses that are available near and far to enjoy and experience (the latter stemming partly from what I do professionally within travel and leisure), golf is something I have often looked at and I thought ‘I could do that’ or ‘I would love to be there’. Yet I never really played or taken it up.

Admittedly football and cricket (playing, coaching and managing) have mostly been my thing for a good many years so any available time left has been a little bit of a factor but I’m not using that as an excuse. It seems looking back that golf has always been there lurking in the background.  Maybe waiting for me, waiting for the opportunity to strike and push or guide me into playing and learning about it just when the time is right.  And that time seems to be now.

And perhaps even more curiously is that I have had a close association with golf and golf venues, particularly Stonebridge, for a good number of years now, but again never really got myself or pushed myself into the game itself and playing.  Until now.

That was up until just over a year ago and on reflection I have perhaps understood why I have not taken that step further.

My experience. Or distinct lack of it

Over the years my golfing experience has been very, very infrequent. I’m talking the odd golf day here and there (normally resulting in picking up the time-honoured last place wooden spoon or bogey prize), a few holes on a stag do, and going back further a couple of interesting rounds on some very scenic golf courses in New Zealand.  That’s about as far as my playing experience goes.

With the exception to a few rounds on a couple of seaside putting greens (yes, you cannot count them) and odd visit to a driving range (when my son and daughter both had short stints on giving golf a go), by my reckoning the last time I picked up and swung a golf club in anger or otherwise would have been the best part of 15 years ago. So it’s been a while.

My biggest problem with playing golf when I did has always been frustration and consistency.  I would play but lose the will to continue somewhere around the 8-11 holes mark of a round, frustrated at the consistency of my shots.  One half-decent shot for every 5 or 6 and spending more time looking for balls rather than playing them. Suddenly the clubhouse bar sounded more appealing. But I would like to think time and experience has perhaps calmed my patience, temperament and composure to what it perhaps used to be which can only be a good thing for my golf going forward

Why am I doing it?

Let’s alleviate one misconception and stereo type from the outset and say it is not because I have turned a certain age this year. That is purely coincidental. This is something I have been thinking about for a while, and perhaps not necessarily had the time or inclination to progress.

I have however always been into my sport and with a combination of age and more a case of body and mind telling me so, my footballing days are now done and with the exception maybe of the odd social or charity game or emergency call the same can be said for my cricketing days too. Those sporting commitments of previous years (and they were quite extensive at times) have now freed up my time a little for other pursuits and interests i.e. more travel, but that sporting instinct is clearly still with me if not so much of a competitive edge from before.  

What has triggered the start of this golfing journey

Funny enough it was a social golf day at Stonebridge just over a year ago, one I did not actually play in. A group of mates and I were here on the eve of my oldest mate’s wedding. They were negotiating 18 holes but for my part I decided against the golf and said I would rather drive the buggy.  Not that I’m using that as an excuse but I didn’t have any clubs for starters (yes, I could have got some), but quite frankly the main reason for not playing was I did not have the confidence to be able to go out and play. Not so much from a lack of practice but more a fear of making a fool of myself.  FOFU – fear of ****ing up.

A day later at the wedding reception I am talking to one of the group from the day before, a good friend who I have known almost as long as the groom (we go back to footballing days as kids) and he posed the question why I didn’t play a round 24 hours before.  Having explained the reasons, he was quite surprised particularly given he too knows of my sporting prowess and what would seem to be a good hand-to-eye coordination. So his suggestion was to give it a shot (no pun intended), get hold of some clubs, have a bit of practice, maybe try the odd golf lesson and see how things go.

So I did. I got some golf clubs, I started to do a bit of practice (I’m fortunate to have a whopping great sports field close to where I live; and one which is kept in very good condition) and whilst I haven’t gone as far as a driving range yet and taken a golf lesson (yet, anyway, but Stonebridge, Midlands Golf and Ignite Golf can obviously help with both of those),  I’m in a better frame of mind than 12 months ago and now looking to take things on further and see where they lead. In fact I’m quite excited by the prospect.

Why Stonebridge?

It is a lovely course and venue and over the years I have got to know it, its facilities and the people within it very well.

The membership is excellent value and quite crucially fits into exactly what I am looking to achieve from playing and how often I can commit to playing. The flexible membership ticks all those boxes and more and is perfect for my needs.

Admittedly Stonebridge is not my local course and I could have opted for one a lot closer to where I live, but with my knowledge of everything it has to offer and its reputation as being  friendly, welcoming golf centre, it is an obvious choice. And in terms of getting here, it is not that far. The 30 minute or so drive for me to get here is no great hardship and I know will be worth it.

There is one constant in that every time I have visited over the years there is a certain feel and buzz about the place. It is very welcoming and so are the people. There is always a friendly smile from everyone here, from the staff in the Pro Shop, on the driving range or in the Spike Bar or from members just walking down between the courses. I have always felt that Stonebridge does not fall into that time-honoured category of being a stuffy members-only golf club with an old-boys mentality, it is very modern-thinking club which is reflected in both the standard and quality of the course and also the facilities off it. And what is the old saying too about people making a place?

What am I hoping to get out of this?

To get into golf and experience why so many people of all ages and backgrounds play and enjoy the game. Everyone I have spoken to about what I am doing has said I will get a lot from it and it will stay with me. Let’s hope so.

To try something different and to challenge myself. Having largely always been a player in team sport (save perhaps tennis and snooker), trying something off my own back where new skill sets – both physically and mentally – are required.

Maybe learn something not only about the sport, but also about myself in the process.

Signing up

The big step then. Committing to the plan, the process and signing up.

Any doubts or last minute reservations about not going through with this and taking that first step were quickly laid to rest.

The signing up process for the membership was easy, straightforward and seamless. And great credit must go to Will and Kelvin (Golf Operations Manager and General Manager at Stonebridge respectively) for this.

Over a coffee they posed a few questions on why I am looking to play golf and how often, and what I am looking to gain from it. They identified how Stonebridge can help and the best option from there with an explanation of the credits-based system and how it works, and the additional benefits which come with being a member at Stonebridge.

From there, no further thought or consideration was needed. Sign here and here, membership card was handed over, I am now officially a member at Stonebridge Golf. And all the welcome pack details and relevant information I could need was with me by email within the hour.

It was that easy.

Set to go

So with all the formalities over, I’m ready to go. Almost anyway.

For my own piece of mind, on top of what I have done in recent weeks and months a few more short practice stints (including a session on the driving range) are probably in order before I hit the first tee. I have examined the course and their holes and think I have chosen which of the three courses of the Blythe, Hampton or Somers is best to start with (9 holes to start is probably my best course of action). But any advice is welcome, and certainly going forward.

I will be putting together regular updates on my progress over the coming months across all of the Stonebridge Golf website and social media channels, so look out for my blog posts, social media post and perhaps the odd video along the way.

Wish me luck, and if you do see me along the way at Stonebridge, don’t be a stranger. Say hi and I’d always be welcome to any advice you can offer.

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