New member Sally on why she joined Headingley and the lessons she’s learnt in her first year at the club

‘I had a busy job in food management for over 35 years, so everything was always very full on! The pandemic slowed me down, and I retired just over 12 months ago. I had always watched golf on the TV and I’d had about a dozen lessons, but I had never played. I’d been on the driving range but I’d never actually hit a ball off grass.

There are so many options to play golf in North Leeds and I was ‘new’ to it. A friend knew that I was looking for somewhere to play, and sent me Headingley’s Ladies Get Into Golf flyer.

So I came along, and I thought, this is great. Everyone was friendly and encouraging; one of the lady members recommended that I joined the Academy for six months – and I signed up that day.

A few days later Deborah (Mutch) messaged me asking if I would like to play golf on ‘Tuesday evening?’ That phone call was hugely important because I think I would have just let things drift without it. After a few holes I realised how much I was enjoying it, despite my anxiety.

The club has various WhatsApp groups which coordinate all the opportunities to play. It’s very friendly. The preconception with golf is that it can be a bit stuffy. It’s not at Headingley!! It’s very inclusive. You get a buddy, who helps you find your way, and marks your cards for you, to get your handicap. We still play most Wednesdays!

The course
The course is beautiful; hard to believe it’s just six miles from Leeds. It’s quite hilly, with lots of sloping lies that they can’t teach you on a driving range! I’m starting to realise that I’ve learnt to play on quite a challenging course! It also stands up well to the weather, which means you can continue to play right through Autumn/Winter if you choose.

The plan
I’d always wanted to try golf when I retired. The Academy at Headingley has proved to be great value for money, offering the opportunity to try golf for six or twelve months, to make sure you ‘can’ do it, before paying to become a full member.

If you’re still working, there’s also evening / twilight golf in the summer. Golf is time consuming, but with all today’s flexible working, you can definitely be on the first tee by five in the evening. If I’d known that, I think I might started sooner.

It’s been quite a personal challenge, but I’m quite proud of myself. I’ve just got my handicap, and have joined a great club five minutes down the road. I’ve met some great women, made some lovely friends, and I’m looking forward to going on some golf holidays. I’m playing at least twice a week; a new sport that I started in my fifties. You wonder if you’ve started too late but apparently I still have decades to play!

If I had any advice for anyone considering golf, it would be to just give it a go. You will have some tricky days and you need time but, if you join the right club, you’ll meet a lot of people who want you to succeed and do well.’