When my wife first told me she wanted to learn to play golf, I offered to teach her. I've played for over fifteen years, and, depending on how often I've been playing, carry between a 12 and 16 handicap.

"Don't you think I should take lessons from a professional?" she asked. I scoffed at this notion.

"Ashley, I think I know enough about the game to get you started. Besides, a pro is going to tell you exactly what I'm going to, but they'll charge you at least 50 bucks an hour."

I was excited about Ashley taking up golf. We are both very busy, and our weekends are our only quality time together. I looked forward to spending relaxing afternoons with her on the course. All I had to do was teach her to play-how hard could that be?

We bought her a set of clubs and headed to the driving range. I demonstrated the proper grip, stance, and posture. I pontificated like a long-winded professor about the importance of keeping her head down and left-arm straight, watching the ball, having good balance, and properly shifting her weight. I stressed the virtues of good hip and shoulder turns and tried to explain every thing I knew about the mechanics of a golf swing.

Her deer-in-the-headlights look suggested she was a bit confused.

"Allow me to demonstrate," I said, picking up an eight iron. I hit ten shots while doing my best to execute all the nonsense I had just explained. I'm sure I confused her because my shots were spraying in all directions, but I acted as if I were splitting the fairway.

I handed her the eight iron and instructed her to do what I had just done. She hit ten balls, and none got higher than two feet off the ground. She also had four whiffs.

"Watch me again. And remember, try to do what I do." I hit a few more balls and expounded a bit more about the need to keep her head perfectly still. I was certain I had explained everything in exquisite detail, but to my amazement, she still couldn't hit the ball.

I spent a month trying to teach her, offering one-dimensional solutions when she had a poor shot.

"You're not keeping your head down," I'd tell her after she topped one.

"Left arm wasn't straight on that one," I'd say after she shanked another. All the while I'd encourage her to copy my swing as if doing so were the panacea to all her troubles. Occasionally she'd hit a good shot, but usually she hit worm-burners or missed the ball completely.

I decided to take her onto the course because we

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about The basics of golf: Learning to play?
We want to hear your view. Write now!