Howdy folks, from San Diego, CA

I'm a 31 year old who never took up golf until my father purchased a set of beginner golf clubs for me for Christmas.

In the meantime I haven't gotten out TOO many times but I've also been getting out consistently each month, and I do hit at the range quite often. My first question is, for a beginner six months in, where should I be - I have slightly above average athleticism although I'm a big guy (about 30 lbs. overweight).

I have played a local par 3 about four times, and have played 18-hole par 4 coursesa approximately 8 times in the seven months that I've had my clubs. This past Friday was my first time breaking 100 - I shot a 95, my previous best being a 103. Both scores are absolutely without stroke limits per hole or any mulligans. Is that about how long it should take me to break 100, or am I behind pace a bit?

Also, are there many people that take pride in being self taught or is it just foolishness to think of not taking lessons? I guess you could say I'm not totally self taught, since I've read a couple of books on the golf swing. But I do take pride in the fact that I shot the same score on Friday as another guy I play with, who took up the game a year and a half ago and has spent thousands of dollars on lessons, including a four-day AJ Golf lesson.

Sorry about the lengthy first post. I'm so happy to have discovered golf, so bothered that I didn't discover it sooner!

Hi Hellisan.
I grew up in a very poor part of Manchester , England and when i took up golf years ago it was still very much a sport for the middle to higher classes. So you can imagine that even if i could have found somebody to give me lessons, i could never have hope to afford their fees let alone buy any clubs, balls , shoes etc. So i learned from borrowing old liberary books and i managed to buy an old 7 iron from a car boot sale ( we called them flea markets then ). Today i play off 1 h/cap and have only ever had 4 lessons in my life. So you see , anything is possible.
that aside , i strongly suggest that you visit a local pro becuase he can put right in a few lessons what it took years for me to work out by myself.

good luck pal...i'm always here to help.

cheers

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Thanks for the reply aftford, appreciate that very much.