Week 1: Golf Taster Day

My first official event as part of 52 Things.  A trip to Mid Sussex Golf Club, just outside Ditchling at the foot of the Downs with The Lady Golfer Club.

Lady Golfers!

After a very convivial coffee in the club house, as we gathered, we headed out to the putting green for our first instruction - how to hold the club, not as easy as you might think and then a bit of practice putting.  Hitting way too hard to start with but definitely improving by the end.

On the putting green

On to chipping - with a basket full of balls and terrifying the locals as shots went in all directions - as did the crowd whenever anyone got a hole in one.  Unintentionally of course, we were just aiming to get it out of the rough and on to the green - again, harder than it looks.

Chipping in the rough

Having honed our chipping skills - on to the serious stuff - the driving range and a very impressive indoor setup where you can be filmed as you 'drive off' - if that's the correct technical term.  Going through the basics before being allowed out to hit more balls in various directions - some of them even going straight!

... and whack it!

Never having played golf before, except perhaps for a bit of pitch and putt years ago, I didn't disgrace myself too much and managed to connect club to ball more than a few times.  Although I think it will need a lot more practice before being let anywhere near a fairway!

Now relax and enjoy.

We certainly worked up an appetite, which was just as well as to finish off the morning, they'd laid on a lovely lunch for us - out on the terrace in the sunshine.