Beginner golf question.

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I'm 16 and have been playing for about 5 weeks. Today I recorded my first birdie on a par 3 and hit a ball 160 to the green with an 8 iron. Is this good progress or am I thinking I'm farther along than I really am? Trying to make the gold team next year and they're pretty competitive so I'm trying to get very good this summer.

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probably farther along than you think you are to be honest and when it comes to qualifying time or tournament time, don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake. Golf is a tough sport that requires a lot of mental discipline. You will most likely be playing against kids your age that have been playing for 10 years with a coach for 7 of them.

Shore up the small things as you go. If you can afford a coach, try to go to them for an hour a week or so but continue to hit balls in between each day and spend time around the green learning what is comfortable with it.

Training aids that I would recommend:

1. For putting, I would get a putting mirror. A small one will do. It will tell you exactly where your eyes are in reference to the ball. it helped me tremendously and made me a much better putter. There are a few drills that I picked up kicking around college teams such as picking out a hole, place 4 markers around the hole at 3 feet from the hole, then another set 6 feet from the hole and then 4 more ten feet from the hole. So you have 3 sets of markers on each side of the hole, this gives you some various putts from all angles. If you miss one, go back, if you make it go forward. Complete all the sets a few times each time you go out changing holes each time.

2. Toursticks. It is a set of two fiberglass sticks that are about 1/4" in diameter that can be used 100 different ways. I always carry a set with me in my bag and get them out when hitting balls getting ready for a tournament. I personally just use them for feet alignment but you can set them up for swing angle, swing descent, ball alignment, feet alignment or to check your shoulders. 15 bucks a pair and they are infinitely useful.

I'll definitely look into getting those for this summer. Thanks for the recommendation.

First time I ever played golf was in college and I shot a birdie on the ninth hole. A little par three over water.

And I still suck. So I would need more than a report on just one hole you hit today to have anything to gauge your game on.

You are well on your way to being a very good golfer. Short game and putting is where the money is at. Learn to enjoy the game or you will quit. It's the most frustrating game ever played. You'll love it.

Yeah chipping is definitely the most frustrating thing to me. I can't seem to judge how hard I need to hit and either come up way short or way far.

Listen to the Terrier......BUT first learn the rules of golf or at least the most common rules that are broken.