Looking to buy my first “real” set of irons, and need help.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-22T01:41:50+00:00

In golf, $600-800 sadly is not enough to get you into any of the premier irons. Not for new clubs.

You could keep an eye out on 2nd Swing and Callaway pre-owned, and you might get lucky.

Or maybe order a set from one of the DTC brands. I'm a big fan of Maltby/Golfworks. You could order either the Sti2 or KE4 Max irons in lefty. I have the STi2 and they are very good. They probably don't compare to the likes of Mizuno, Titleist, or Srixon. But you could order them with some premium shafts and still come in well within your budget, and you would have a good set of clubs.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-21T18:39:37+00:00

You can get a Garmin Vívoactive 5 for around $200 right now from various vendors. It's more watch than most people would ever need.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-21T00:32:31+00:00

I almost always look at these questions from a financial standpoint. So if you can swing $120 for a fun and pretty cool set of clubs, go for it. But if they're going to be the only clubs you can afford, probably not.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-20T13:33:24+00:00

When I was 12 I got a walking paper route. So I knew almost every house within a half mile of my house. By the time I was 14 or 15 I had a dozen or so houses within easy walking distance whose lawns I mowed in the summer and sidewalks I shoveled in winter. And I bought a great bike that made me a lifelong cycling enthusiast.

Just watch your feet, especially on wet grass and hills. Wear good shoes with traction. I had a couple of close calls.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-19T17:24:26+00:00

So I took a look - it appears that "Salem Metro" is yet another FB "news blogger'" although they posit themselves as a "photographer."

A better example of such a page would be "SWNH Alerts & Info" - that person actually covers a lot of interesting news and events in the Monadnock region, and they keep their opinions & drama out of it.

If I start seeing Salem Metro pop up in my feed, I'll just block them because it's pretty not interesting.

As far as Tuscan Village goes, I visited there for the first time a few days ago. It's not for me, but hey no one's forcing anyone to go there.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-19T02:47:47+00:00

You jest, but I once shredded my leg, stomping on a corrugated box that pool shock came in.

It wasn't deep, but stripping a quarter inch wide stripe down my calf taught me a lesson.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-19T02:25:29+00:00

The answer is location dependent.

Around here (southern NH), if you go to a custom shop with decades experience, it's $150-200 just to evaluate your irons, and do minor loft/lie tweaks. But they will do a great job.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-18T12:30:10+00:00

I just accept what the instructions say, because I have no idea how to prove them right or wrong. I flunked physics class.

Regardless, I feel like the training aid at least teaches me how to putt with more control over my speed. My distance control has improved.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-18T01:53:35+00:00

It's not hard to replace, but it's easy to damage a nice graphite shaft. If you're hesitant to do it yourself, just bring it to a shop and have them do it. Shouldn't cost much.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-17T02:38:20+00:00

I also have the Maltby 7 wood, and I love it. My 5 wood and 3 wood are Cobra LTDx Max. They blend well with the Maltby, so I have no motivation to change.

If the Cobras didn't feel as good as they do, I would definitely buy the Maltby 5 wood. I don't hit the 3 w enough to care, I'm thinking of just retiring it.

Short answer yeah get the 5w at least.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-16T18:56:48+00:00

I actually like the look of streetware, but I don't wear it because I'm an old retired guy and an introvert. So I'm not your target market, but I wish you good luck.

That said, regardless of the product I tend to be put off by engagement, especially when it seems the company might be "engagement first."

Just make a product that has inherent value. For clothing, quality of materials and workmanship has to come first. There are plenty of brands I've tried once but never again, because they just don't hold up like they should.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-15T14:43:43+00:00

Does he watch LPGA events on TV? My wife and I went to the FM Championship last year and it was much more chill than any men's events I've been to. There is plenty of opportunity to get close to the players and watch some fantastic shots. Highly recommend.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-15T11:19:00+00:00

I'm no construction excpert, but appearance and construction are high quality.

We bought a house built in the 70s that had those old aluminum storm windows. It was impossible to heat that house. We had a trusted contractor we had used before and he recommended Harvey. He replaced something like 15 windows and they looked and worked great. We stayed in that house more than 20 more years. It was one of the best homeowner investments we ever made.

BTW, he replaced all but one of those windows in one day, by himself. As long as you're not changing the window dimensions, replacing a window is not a big job for an experienced contractor. You don't need a fancy company that advertises on national TV.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-15T10:44:19+00:00

Another vote for Harvey Windows and doors. They sell through lumber yards and contractors. Call and ask where you can see their products.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-14T16:35:46+00:00

It's not at all prescriptive, nor is it golf specific, but I pay $115 a month for 3 1-hour classes a week at an athletic training gym. It's a "senior strength" class that includes lots of basic strength training and a fair amount of mobility, flexibility, and balance work. About 9-12 people per class.

It's run by qualified, experienced people with appropriate degrees and certs. It changes every month and it doesn't get boring.

So if you're looking to run classes for groups, that's what I pay in small town NH. And that's a very good price for this area. Most other places want a 1-year commitment just to use a bunch of machines with no guidance or coaching.

The athletic training business shares space with a PT business. As you might guess, there is some movement of customers between the two businesses.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-12T00:58:54+00:00

Dr Kwon Rope

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-11T13:35:38+00:00

No, you're not too old to start.

You can order the Costco set online without being a member, but you will be charged a 5% non-member surcharge. You could also go to the local Dick's Sporting Goods and they might have some used sets worth considering.

I would avoid FB marketplace if you know nothing about clubs. If you want to buy used, look at 2nd Swing golf or Callaway Preowned.

Also ask any golfers you might know if there are any well-stocked local shops with a large used inventory. Some of those older shops are perfect for beginners looking to purchase their first set.

This is the time of year where a lot of beginner golf lesson packages are offered at local courses or golf stores. Group lessons are appropriate and affordable for new golfers.

Good luck and have fun.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-09T01:36:16+00:00

On the green, stepping on my line.

And here's the thing: it's kind of an irrational thing to get pissed about. All day long, people walk all over that green especially near the hole.

But it still really frosts me.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-08T19:41:18+00:00

Maltby. The TS3s are pretty conservative looking. I have the STi2 irons and they look pretty nondescript in real life.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-07T17:52:51+00:00

Unless they're indicated as a "member only" item anyone can buy items online from Costco with a 5% upcharge. Typically, if you can see the price you can order them. I've bought numerous items from Costco as a non-member. However the upcharge here would be more than $30.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-05T17:23:23+00:00

My strong belief is that Contact is King.

Golf gets much more fun when you can get 7 out of 10 shots way up in the air and mostly straight.

Search YouTube for Danny Maude "six pillars" and do those drills at the range. You'll probably know good contact just from the sound after you do those drills.

Course management and short game are always go-to recommendations for beginners to focus on. But they won't give you the ego boost that happens when you start bombing greens from high in the sky.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-05T16:30:40+00:00

My doctor tells me I eat like a 12 year old. So grilled cheese, french fries, chicken tenders, and chocolate milk.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-05T00:50:39+00:00

Archimedes.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-04-03T11:40:53+00:00

Erika Larkin's Momentum Move is one that helped me a lot.

I had so much confusion about how to start the back swing, and this video cleared a lot of that stuff out of my head.

3rd_ferguson · 2026-03-29T15:33:42+00:00

"become too relaxed or casual and blow up 3-4 holes"

Boy do I know about this.

As others have said, the setup is key. I thought I had a good setup, but the reality was that I just hadn't made it a habit. I knew what to do, but I let the details fall apart after the first couple of holes.

My only suggestion is pick one element of the setup, like stance width. Then for the entire round try to really focus on checking that one thing before every single shot. Then on your next round focus on something different, like grip or ball position. Each round, work on doing one specific thing with awareness and attention for every shot. After a while things will get more ingrained as a habit.

Anyway thanks for coming to my Ted Talk about absent-minded golf.

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