June 5, 2025 4:56 pm

I have always said that if I was to write a golf book (unlikely though that is), it would have nothing to do with golf swing technique. There are already enough of those kinds of books out there to sink a battleship. No, mine would be “The Things That All New Golfers Say”

Over the last 43 years I have started over 40,000 people off on their golfing journeys. I have seen the pathway that they take, and they all follow a similar pattern. They tend to say the same things. Of course they don’t realise this, as they do not have anything to compare themselves with.

Common Expressions

Here are a couple of the most common expressions:

“One day my driving is great, and the short game is no good. Then the next game, the driving is appalling, and my short game is like a professional”

“It feels great when I do a practice swing, but it doesn’t seem to feel the same when I have to hit the ball”.

You get the idea. These are the laments of the long-distance golfer. The comments that people make when they think that they are the only one that has suffered in this way. Well, I have some good news for you. Everyone, and I mean everyone, even the best golfers in the world, will have said the same things. You just haven’t been there when they said them.

I can assure you we have all been there. So, keep going and keep enjoying this wonderful game for life. You never know, one day, I may just get round to writing my golfing best seller.

Jon Woodroffe: Master Professional, World of Golf London

Categorised in: Tip of the month, World of Golf London