Too Old to Start Golf? How I Began at 48 and Loved It

Are you wondering if you’re too old to start golf? The short answer: absolutely not.

Too Old to Start Golf? My Beginner’s Journey at 48

I had always been captivated by the idea of golf, stemming from my childhood days spent near a golf course. It was a place of serenity and beauty, offering the perfect escape. But, for the life of me, I couldn’t comprehend why hitting a stationary ball seemed so daunting. And why did it demand countless hours of practice?

As I grew older, my desire to play golf only grew stronger. However, a pesky thought kept creeping in – was I too old to start golf? Looking back now, I can’t help but chuckle at my former self. In case you’re wondering, I’m 48 years old.

The Real Barriers: Confidence and Companionship

There was more to my hesitation than just age. I’ve always been somewhat self-conscious and far from a naturally confident individual. This wouldn’t have posed a significant problem if my friends were into golf or open to starting—but the reality was different.

I did chat with a few women who expressed interest in golf, but they harboured the same fears. Their comments mirrored my own doubts:

“Oh, I’d love to give it a shot, but I have no idea how to play, what the rules are, what if I make a mess of the course—and don’t even get me started on what to wear! Do we need specific clubs for women, or can we use any?”

By that point, we had talked ourselves out of it.

New City, New Start

Last year, a relocation to Sheffield provided the catalyst for change. A friend there shared her aspiration to play golf and mentioned that her neighbour was a member at a local club, so she was considering joining.

The familiar script began again: “I’ve always wanted to play!” and “Am I too old to start golf now?”

But this time, something changed. A week later, she told me she had joined the club’s ladies’ academy—and invited me to join too.

The Perfect Introduction

The academy was a dream come true for beginners:

You could play just four holes at a time—more than enough for a newbie.
It included five lessons to learn the basics.
It introduced you to other female beginners via a WhatsApp group.
It was affordable and only a six-month commitment—ideal for testing the waters.

Suddenly, golf felt doable.

What to Buy and What to Wear

Following advice from the group, I invested in a ladies’ starter set of clubs (yes, women do use different clubs—see my post “Buying My First Clubs”).

As for clothes? Being a Peak District hiker, I opted for lightweight black summer walking trousers, a running T-shirt, and donated golf shoes. (For beginners, walking shoes or trainers are acceptable.)

First Time on the Course

Our group of four met for our first round: my Sheffield friend, her neighbour, her friend, and me.

Funny enough, we’d all unknowingly dressed alike: walking trousers and sport T-shirts. Solidarity in style!

But nerves kicked in hard. The first tee is right in front of the clubhouse—very much on display. I was terrified.

Supportive Start

The slightly more experienced players helped calm my nerves. They explained the basics, advised on club choices, and went first to demonstrate. It turned out we were all in the same boat—hitting a stationary ball was harder than it looked.

To put our skills in perspective:

The hole was 320 yards away.
With our drivers, the longest club used for tee shots, we managed about 50-60 yards.
The hole was a par 4, so we were “meant” to get there in four shots. We’d need more than double that.

Let the Fun Begin

Despite the struggle, we laughed constantly. There was no judgement, only encouragement:

“Wow, great shot! Look how far that went!”

(Even if the ball landed behind a tree.)

We often picked the ball up and put it back on the fairway to keep moving. Our go-to clubs became the forgiving hybrid and the trusty 7 iron—perfect for beginners just trying to get the ball moving in the right direction.

Newbie Etiquette

Our club is very newcomer-friendly, allowing us to keep playing beyond the standard 9-shot maximum per hole, as long as we follow a few rules:

Play during quieter times.
Let faster players “play through”.
(We pause and let them go ahead.)

This rarely happens, and when it does, the wait is short and often turns into social time or a chance to watch better players in action.

Finally Reaching the Green

Eventually—after about 8–10 shots—we reached the green.

And now the real challenge began: putting.

Coming from Scarborough, I’d played the odd putting game. But I quickly learned that putting on a real green with undulations is nothing like flat mini-golf.

Professional golfers assess:

Slope
Moisture
Grass direction

We? We aimed straight at the hole and hoped for the best. It took another 3–4 shots to sink the ball.

Total: 12–14 shots. Oops.

Hooked for Good

Despite the comedy of errors, we were completely hooked.

Each time we swung, a small part of us believed we could be the next golf champion. When a shot actually went as intended, we stood in disbelief trying to figure out what we did right.

Golf, we realised, is a game of perpetual growth.

Progress isn’t linear—it’s a long, rewarding journey.

We played our four holes in a similar fashion and agreed: we needed lessons.

Not because we were frustrated.

But because we had fallen in love with the game.

Final Thoughts

Golf, for us, became more than a sport. It became:

A bonding experience
A way to step out of our comfort zones
A reason to laugh at ourselves and keep trying

If you’ve ever wondered if you’re too old to start golf, I promise you—you’re not. You just need a welcoming space, supportive company, and the courage to begin.

And if you’re lucky, maybe a few laughs and rogue golf balls along the way.

Where the Journey Begins

From googling “what clubs do I need?” to actually hitting the course without totally embarrassing myself — I’m sharing it all. These blog posts follow the ups, downs, awkward swings, and little wins along the way.

Whether you’re just starting out too, or just fancy a peek into someone else’s golf journey, you’re more than welcome to follow along. It’s all part of the adventure!