Bristol Year of Sport wants to get more local people involved in sport, so Bristol Evening Post reporter Ayesha Gilani opted for a round of golf and went along to rediscover her swing.

My first encounter with golf was when I was seven years old. I was standing in front of a gaping crocodile at the Crazy Golf Play Park on Brighton beach but instead of sending the little white ball through the croc’s mouth in one smooth shot, I somehow managed to propel it into the air and towards my dad’s head. It didn’t miss.

So it was with a palpitating heart when, almost 20 years later, I found myself on the driving range at The Bristol Golf Club in Almondsbury.

But I need not have feared. PGA professional instructor Pete Langford started the session with an introduction to the basics.

The first lesson was about grip. I was handed a gleaming six-iron and taught how to hold it properly.

Pete said that a good grip would ensure a confident swing, so a good deal of time was spent perfecting the position of my hands. Once there I felt like I was holding on to a lifeline and didn’t dare move them.

Next, Pete showed me how to stand and how far I needed to keep from the ball. He then proceeded to take an effortless swing at the ball below.

This was the part I was really looking forward to.

With a beautiful clear, green space ahead of me I stepped up to my mark and prepared to whack the ball across the field.

“You don’t want to whack it,” said Pete. “The power will come from the hips so it’s important to keep a good posture, keep your eye on the ball and guide your swing through.”

This is when I began to appreciate just how much golf was a game of great skill and the amount of practise needed to perfect your play.

When I finally managed to hit the ball – after several attempts – I couldn’t have been more thrilled to watch it soar into the distance. The determination to do even better next time made me realise why this game is so popular.

Next, Pete gave me a lesson in putting – a subtle art which somehow lacked the satisfaction of belting a ball from the tee.

Pete said: “Players like Tiger Woods have really helped push the popularity of golf, especially with youngsters and now more and more people are wanting to give it a go.”

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