Girls' golf -- how competitive in this area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious golfers move to warmer climates.

Serious golfers are able to play when it is 40F. It isn't a big deal. Just wear a thermal under-layer.

You can play in the NOVA area 10 to 11 months a year. During the brief period in which it is truly too cold to play, you can practice in your garage.

Complete nonsense. I played last week in 52F in windy condition at Raspberry Falls and it was not a good feeling. That's why you see serious golfers either live in FL, Texas, Arizona or California.

It is an absurd idea that one must move to Florida or Texas to play "serious golf".

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer became world class golfers despite growing up in the northeast US. And there are plenty of other pros who grew up in the northeast.

In NOVA, most of the time, the wind doesn't play 20 mph. The conditions you are describing above are not the norm; rather, they are the exception.

NOVA courses are often quite crowded during December and February, and generally one can golf about half the time in January.

[Anonymous]

OP. Thanks again, all. I had a feeling that HS golf was pretty competitive in this area--just wasn't sure if it was as much so for girls as it is for boys? It sounds like the answer is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious golfers move to warmer climates.

Serious golfers are able to play when it is 40F. It isn't a big deal. Just wear a thermal under-layer.

You can play in the NOVA area 10 to 11 months a year. During the brief period in which it is truly too cold to play, you can practice in your garage.

Complete nonsense. I played last week in 52F in windy condition at Raspberry Falls and it was not a good feeling. That's why you see serious golfers either live in FL, Texas, Arizona or California.

It is an absurd idea that one must move to Florida or Texas to play "serious golf".

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer became world class golfers despite growing up in the northeast US. And there are plenty of other pros who grew up in the northeast.

In NOVA, most of the time, the wind doesn't play 20 mph. The conditions you are describing above are not the norm; rather, they are the exception.

NOVA courses are often quite crowded during December and February, and generally one can golf about half the time in January.

It is very hard to play golf here in NOVA between November and March/April and I am speaking from personal experience. It is just cold and windy and your game will regress. The condition I described is the normal, not the norm.

I tried to play golf in NOVA during the winter every chance I get but most of the public golf course in Fairfax are not in very good condition:

- Burke Lake: so much geese poop on the golf course and the green is not very good, especially during winter,

- Oak Marr: Course is in terrible shape. Stay away,

- Jefferson park: Course is ok but the ground is very hard in the winter. You will be lucky to put the tee into ground for the driver,

- Twin Lakes/Oak: Course is OK but windy and cold during the winter, not possible for golf,

- Laurel Hill: I like this course a lot but it is also cold and windy in the winter, not possible for golf,

I've played a few times at Westwood and Riverbend CC in the winter and not recommended,

This past winter, I moved to Florida during the winter and played golf there everyday and I absolutely love the warm weather there. I avoid playing golf during the winter in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks again, all. I had a feeling that HS golf was pretty competitive in this area--just wasn't sure if it was as much so for girls as it is for boys? It sounds like the answer is yes.

I don't know about other counties in Northern Virginia but in FCPS or at least McLean or Langley HS, there are no boys or girls golf, only varsity coed golf. It is very competitive at both McLean and Langley HS. My son shot 45 for three days on a 9 holes golf course and still didn't make the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks again, all. I had a feeling that HS golf was pretty competitive in this area--just wasn't sure if it was as much so for girls as it is for boys? It sounds like the answer is yes.

I don't know about other counties in Northern Virginia but in FCPS or at least McLean or Langley HS, there are no boys or girls golf, only varsity coed golf. It is very competitive at both McLean and Langley HS. My son shot 45 for three days on a 9 holes golf course and still didn't make the team.

Interesting! I didn't realize the golf teams through FCPS were co-ed. That's good to know, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious golfers move to warmer climates.

Serious golfers are able to play when it is 40F. It isn't a big deal. Just wear a thermal under-layer.

You can play in the NOVA area 10 to 11 months a year. During the brief period in which it is truly too cold to play, you can practice in your garage.

Complete nonsense. I played last week in 52F in windy condition at Raspberry Falls and it was not a good feeling. That's why you see serious golfers either live in FL, Texas, Arizona or California.

It is an absurd idea that one must move to Florida or Texas to play "serious golf".

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer became world class golfers despite growing up in the northeast US. And there are plenty of other pros who grew up in the northeast.

In NOVA, most of the time, the wind doesn't play 20 mph. The conditions you are describing above are not the norm; rather, they are the exception.

NOVA courses are often quite crowded during December and February, and generally one can golf about half the time in January.

It is very hard to play golf here in NOVA between November and March/April and I am speaking from personal experience. It is just cold and windy and your game will regress. The condition I described is the normal, not the norm.

I tried to play golf in NOVA during the winter every chance I get but most of the public golf course in Fairfax are not in very good condition:

- Burke Lake: so much geese poop on the golf course and the green is not very good, especially during winter,

- Oak Marr: Course is in terrible shape. Stay away,

- Jefferson park: Course is ok but the ground is very hard in the winter. You will be lucky to put the tee into ground for the driver,

- Twin Lakes/Oak: Course is OK but windy and cold during the winter, not possible for golf,

- Laurel Hill: I like this course a lot but it is also cold and windy in the winter, not possible for golf,

I've played a few times at Westwood and Riverbend CC in the winter and not recommended,

This past winter, I moved to Florida during the winter and played golf there everyday and I absolutely love the warm weather there. I avoid playing golf during the winter in NOVA.

I'm also speaking from personal experience. One man's meat is another man's poison. I love winter golf in NOVA, and I golfed quite a bit this December and February. A few goose turds don't trouble me, and I'm able to stick a tee in the ground when it is 40F. Course conditions aren't perfect in the winter, but there are plenty of golfers out on NOVA courses who are enjoying themselves in Dec, Jan and Feb. As long as a strong wind isn't blowing, the experience, IMO, is enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

Overall advice, your kid is 10. Do not become overly obsessed with playing anything in high school right now. This area can drive you crazy and you can spend too much time and money for any sport or activity.

I see the above poster said to stay away from Oakmarr but it was good for my son for inexpensive lessons at Every Body Golf there when he was young. He went to group and had some private. At that point, I was taking his lead and seeing where this went before investing more money.

He enjoys golf but ended up putting more time and energy into a different sport, which he does play in high school. He still enjoys golfing with his grandfather and I can see him playing casually as a hobby when he’s older.

[Anonymous]

We recently relocated to Vienna from Houston and have not found any places for kids (11 year old) golf lessons, would you have any commendations? We are not members of any country clubs here either, which are the only places I see junior lessons? Thank you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently relocated to Vienna from Houston and have not found any places for kids (11 year old) golf lessons, would you have any commendations? We are not members of any country clubs here either, which are the only places I see junior lessons? Thank you all.

Every Body Golf in Oakton. https://www.everybodygolf.com/

[Anonymous]

I've gone through this with three kids. They are now 22, 20 and 18 years old. Golf is a very expensive sport if you want to get serious about it, and I spent about 25k/year, per kids. None of them are playing golf in college but the oldest one found out that golf has really helped him with his corporate career. He played with the company CFO and was recently promoted over five other people who are much qualified than he is, and that his salary is more than doubled. Go figure.

I like this story but I don't think it holds true for women in the sense that many women don't play a lot of golf in business, the men who do are often old-school business types and although they may like women to occasionally play it's not going to get you business or promotions. This is not to say that women should not focus on golf or that girls shouldn't play but this story just doesn't translate for girls. In my experience as a woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently relocated to Vienna from Houston and have not found any places for kids (11 year old) golf lessons, would you have any commendations? We are not members of any country clubs here either, which are the only places I see junior lessons? Thank you all.

Are you looking for one-on-one lessons? I think you should begin by picking public courses that are located as close as possible to you, for sake of convenience. Give Oak Marr a try. I've never been there myself, but I think there is a decent chance you will find a teaching pro who is a good fit for your child. If you try instructor "A" for a couple of lessons and are not satisfied, then give instructor "B" a try (at Oak Marr, as opposed to a different course); that is, don't feel tied down to one instructor.