The Unexpected Joy of Being a Beginner Again

If you’ve been following me so far, you’ll know that I’m suffering with a long term wrist injury which stops me playing ‘normal’ golf. Much to the amusement of friends and family, I’ve decided to have a go at playing one handed.

You can get the background in this post and please also read this post which explains what I can and can’t do.

As I write this on 18 Feb 2025, I’ve just booked myself in for ‘the big op’ on 20 March, so I know for sure that I won’t be playing golf 2 handed for around 6 months. This makes me more determined than ever to see what I can do one-handed. I love golf! I admit it. And I don’t want to give it up, even temporarily, just because one of my limbs is GUR!

My First Few Rounds…

I've managed to get out for five or six rounds now, and for three of those, I've kept a proper scorecard – every stroke counted, no mulligans, playing the ball as it lies. It's been every bit as challenging as I anticipated, but also surprisingly fun and incredibly insightful.

Yes I’ve been golfing for 40 years and yes I technically have a handicap of 3, but I am effectively a beginner again. Every now and then, I’ll flush one and it feels like pure magic, but the reality is that as long as I get it in the air more often than not, I’m happy. Like a lot of beginners, I can’t hit it very far or very high and this brings a whole new perspective to the game for me.

Back to School

I’ve never had a single lesson… is not something I could say. I’ve had loads. But of course, I always had two upper limbs. There aren’t too many YouTube videos out there on how to play one-handed apart from someone called ‘Snappy Gilmore’ but I don’t think his technique is exactly textbook.

So, I headed over to see Paul Eastwood, the pro at CGC. Understandably, he was a little taken aback at first – coaching a one-armed golfer wasn't exactly in his usual lesson plan! But he was fantastic, completely embracing the challenge. Together, we developed a modified swing that felt more consistent and reliable. As anyone who's tinkered with their swing knows, it felt odd at first, but I could definitely see progress.

Below is a clip of Paul talking through the before and after. I’ll definitely be going back to Paul soon for the next instalment.

Before and after

All the Gear…

Another thing I discussed with Paul was equipment. I’ve never been one to splash out on the latest, greatest driver, but I knew straight away that my stiff shafted, players irons and my 10 degree 45 inch driver were not going to be my friends. So, I raided the garage and unearthed some old ladies' clubs I'd bought for my son years ago.

The new weapons and my trusty LAB putter

Right now, my bag is pretty limited. I'm mainly sticking with irons, and even then, I top out around my 7-iron. I did try a hybrid once or twice, and let’s just say the results were… less than stellar. The dreaded shank made a couple of unwelcome appearances! I've quickly come to terms with the fact that my max distance is now about 130 yards. That means par 5s have become a whole new beast, and those long par 3s? To be honest, I’m yet to hit a green in regulation, but I don’t mind. It’s just another target I’m working towards.

Same Course but Different

The 18th at Chislehurst is a devilish par 4. At 277 yards, and out of bounds all down the left, my only dilemma used to be - do I go with a risky driver or a theoretically safe 7 iron? Six strategically placed bunkers guard the fairway and green. What was once a straightforward decision for me is now a tactical puzzle. I must carefully plot my way through this sandy maze, rather than simply launching it over the trouble. It's a humbling but strangely satisfying experience.

The 18th at Chislehurst

All of this has made me think much more about strategy and percentage play. Do I take on the risky shot over the water or play around it? Getting out of position can make a big difference to my score so I have to admit, I’m more inclined to go for the safe option these days.

The Highs and Lows and Everything Inbetween

If you'd told me four months ago that I'd be shooting 45, 40, and 39 over par, I'd have thought it was some kind of golfing nightmare. But honestly? I'm not embarrassed at all. In fact, I'm quite proud. Proud to be getting around the course, and even more proud to be within touching distance of an official handicap.

My best score so far. No double figures!

But can I also state for a fact that the joy of striking a ball out of the middle and watching it go where you wanted to is just the same. My expectations are much reduced - there is no way I can crush a driver 280 yards down the fairway - but that feeling is just as sweet. And it’s that knowledge that you CAN do it that keeps you coming back.

Another factor of not having the distance is that just reaching the fairway can be a mission from the tees I used to play from. I’ve long been telling my octogenarian father that he should be playing from the forward tees, but he and his buddies refuse. I’m now more convinced than ever that golfers should play from the tees most suited to their ability. It’s SO much more enjoyable, and less stressful if your swing thought isn’t “If I don’t pure this one, I’m in trouble”. At Chislehurst, I believe you are allowed to play off any set of tees, but I don’t recall ever seeing another adult male playing off the reds. Maybe I will set a trend!

Life Lessons or a Flash in the Pan?

Time will tell if these lessons I’m learning will benefit me in the long run. Once I can play normally again, will I forget that bunkers are scary? Will I play for the middle of the green more often, rather than going for that tight pin? We will see! 

I’d love to hear what you think of this post? Have any of you had to adapt your game due to injury? What was your biggest challenge? Please let me know.