Dh using garden as a putting green

[Gordenthegolfer]

My husband has taken up golf. He is certainly a ‘lockdown golfer’ having not showed much interest previously. He has always been a footballer and so with lockdown etc, the first things to open was the golf course so he has been a few times. No problem. He has brought clubs etc and also these little hollow balls that can be used is small spaces. Our garden is small. He has been ‘practising his swing’ for a while with the hollow balls and it’s affecting our tuff.
It’s also scaring the dog and (probably) annoying our neighbours.
Was I BU to to point this out (in a stroppy way) after the tenth “shot”.
His response was calm down, everyone does it

Why was the dog scared ? Was he hitting the ball at or near them ? IDTUBU and the husband should go to a club to play

It's not really something I could get worked up over tbh. 1st world problems and all that

Well he shouldn't be damaging the lawn and golf's pretty dangerous when not on a golf course. My dad and brothers used to golf in the garden. I got hit square in the face with a golf club and ended up in hospital when I was 8.

Given how pristine a putting green should be kept I think would be encouraging him to give equal attention to the grass as to his swing and then at least you'd get a nice lawn out of it.

Poor pup. I dare say it’s the swinging of the club, rather than hitting the ground, that’s scaring the pup. Can he put down a small patch of fake grass, to practice, so he’s not ruining the grass and use the garden for practice at certain times, so you and the dog get peace, too. How is it annoying the neighbours?

Beware. My ex bought the field next door and put in a dog-leg par 3. Spent hours every Friday afternoon cutting the “fairway” with a ride on lawnmower.

Golf people can be obsessive. It was very dull. .

I would probably prefer him to go to a local field depending on what he's doing to "scare the dog" and if he's taking divots out of my lawn.

Astro turf is a great idea.

Is he really scaring the dog or scaring you? I would have thought the dog might of thought it was a game and go and retrieve the ball? My dog was from a puppy farm and he came to us scared as be was ABUSED. Just saying as maybe putting into perspective

Leave him alone, he's practicing a sport in his own garden. Just because you don't like golf doesn't mean he's not allowed to have interests and enjoy them

Fair points. If it makes any difference our house is rented, so it’s not exactly “my” lawn. Though of course could replace it I guess.

Well I still think your pathetic

Tell him to go to a driving range. Those practice golf balls are a waste of time. If he must practice in the garden a square of AstroTurf would protect the grass. The best thing he can do is to get some lessons and read up on the rules and etiquette so he isn’t one of the annoying people who have appeared on courses who have all the gear and no idea. If he wants to practice putting it’s probably better inside on a carpet than on average garden grass which will be too long.

@NodrogAmI

Well I still think your pathetic

Charming!

@Chemenger he’s having lessons and also going to the driving range at the moment (which I think is where this practice is coming from). Anyways - will get some AstroTurf

The problem with the practice balls is that a) they are too light, so you don’t get the feeling of good and bad strikes and b) they don’t fly like real golf balls so you can’t tell what shape the flight is (so whether it’s going straight, slicing or hooking) he could be reinforcing bad habits without knowing it. It sounds like he’s going about things the right way except for this so maybe all I can recommend is getting some lessons yourself and joining in.

@chemenger that’s what’s he’s asked. I have no hand to eye co-ordination so think he may be disappointed

Name change fail there!

I am hopeless at all ball games but I can play golf. Hitting a stationary ball is much easier than hitting a moving one. Give it a go!

NodrogAML If you're going to call someone "pathetic" you should really know the difference between your and you're

My word. Are you actually complaining about your partner playing a sport a few hours a week in his own garden during a lockdown? Leave him alone. Why not buy him some golf turf on ebay and a job lot of shitty balls

@evas not really no - I was complaining about what it’s going to the garden but thanks to the advice will buy some AstroTurf.

My h uses a small golf mat that fixes into the turf so it doesn’t move and he doesn’t end up ruining the grass anyway! It’s called Spurk, think they get used at his golf club too to protect the fairways.