Nina Caldwell
Golf is an intimidating sport for beginners, with its complex rules and customs, but it's also a uniquely social sport, played in vast outdoor spaces, making it ideal for a socially-distanced world. The primary goal when starting out is to purchase a few clubs to get you out to the driving range and golf course. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, but you will need to know the basics of posture, grip, and stance, and how far your clubs go. You'll also need to learn how to putt, which is challenging but fun. You can practice at a driving range, and when you're ready to play a course, call ahead and explain that you're a beginner so they can fit you in during a quieter time.
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What You'll Learn
Learn the basics, including rules and techniques
Golf is a target game, with the target usually being a fairway or a flag on the green. The objective is simple: get the ball into the hole in the fewest strokes possible. A typical golf course has 18 holes, each with its own playing area, tees, fairways, greens, hazards (like bunkers and water), and rough. Each hole is located several hundred yards away from the starting point, or "teeing ground".
Each hole has a "par", which is the number of strokes a good player would need to get the ball in the hole. Generally, anything less than 250 yards is a "par 3", anything between 250-450 yards is a "par 4", and anything greater than 450 yards is a "par 5". This will vary based on the "tee" you play from (championship, men's, or women's).
As you're playing a hole, the rule is that you need to "play the ball as it lies". That means you can't move the ball to create an easier shot for yourself. There are a few exceptions. On standard parts of the course, you can remove leaves that cover your ball. You can also remove artificial impediments like litter and rakes. If your ball lands in a "hazard", like a pond or a sand trap, you can only move enough material to let you see part of the ball.
There are many reasons why you could get a penalty stroke. The most common reason for beginners is hitting the ball out of bounds. If you hit a tee shot into the woods and suspect that it might be lost or out-of-bounds, the Rules of Golf allow you to play a second or provisional ball. You then have three minutes to find the ball. If it is not found within that time, you must declare it lost and play your provisional ball with a one-stroke penalty.
Golf clubs are designed for particular jobs. The longest clubs in your bag—the driver, fairway woods, and hybrids—have longer shafts and less loft on the face, so the ball goes farther and runs out more. To hit any golf shot, you need to learn how to grip the golf club. This is the only connection you have with the club, so learn it well!
Golf lessons aren't a necessity when starting out, but they can be helpful. If you're playing with a more experienced friend, they can explain the basics of golf etiquette and offer useful tips.
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Get the right equipment
Getting the right equipment is essential to learning how to play golf. While it's easy to spend thousands of dollars on golf equipment, you don't need to in order to get started. The primary goal when starting out is to purchase a few clubs that will get you out to the driving range and golf course. You can expect to replace your beginner set within a year or two as you gain more experience and skills.
A good set of clubs is essential for any golfer. You can purchase a 9-piece set, which includes all the clubs you need such as a pitching wedge, sand wedge, irons, fairway wood, driver, and putter. If you're not ready to invest in a full set, you can start with a new driver. A driver-fitting experience with an expert at your local golf shop can help you find the right one for you. They can also be adjusted with movable weights or hosels to help with slice-correction.
In addition to clubs, you'll need a few other essentials before hitting the course. Tees are a must-have, as they will help you keep your ball in play and improve your trajectory and distance. Golf balls are also necessary, and you can find good-quality options at affordable prices, such as the Wilson Profile Distance golf balls.
While not mandatory, golf shoes are recommended for stability and comfort, especially if you plan on walking the course. Look for spiked golf shoes, as they provide excellent stability for your swing and help you walk the several miles you'll cover during a round of golf.
Lastly, consider investing in a golf bag to carry your clubs and other equipment. With the right equipment, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the game of golf and improving your skills.
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Practice your swing
Practising your swing is a crucial part of learning how to play golf. It's important to get lessons from a golf professional to learn the correct grip, stance and posture from the beginning. This will help you avoid ingraining bad habits and flaws in your swing. You can also watch videos of professional golfers' swings and try to identify common positions that they get into. When watching videos of swings, it can be helpful to watch in slow motion and observe the different parts of the swing.
When you're just starting out, it's a good idea to get some second-hand clubs and head to a driving range to practice your swing. You can also practice your short game in your backyard or even your living room. Set up some buckets at various distances and try to pitch balls into them. For putting practice, you can roll balls through doorways and aim for furniture legs.
As you progress, you can start to focus on more specific aspects of your swing. For example, making sure your head is down and you're not taking your eye off the ball. You should also pay attention to your hand positioning on the club shaft, as this can affect your swing.
It's important to remember that golf is a difficult sport and it takes time to improve. Don't be discouraged if you don't see progress right away. Keep practising, seek feedback, and you'll gradually see improvement in your swing.
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Understand scoring and penalties
Golf is a complex game with a lot of rules, and penalties are incurred for a range of offences. Each hole on a golf course has an ideal number of strokes, or "Par", it should take to get the ball into the hole, ranging from 3-5. Each time you hit the ball counts as a "1" toward your score. Your score on each hole has a nickname relating to the par for that hole. For instance, shooting 2 under par on a 5-par hole is called an "Eagle", while shooting 1 under par is a "Birdie".
Penalties are imposed on golfers for violating the rules of the game, or voluntarily if a player deems a ball unplayable. The number of penalty strokes varies depending on the specific rule violation and the type of game being played. For example, if a player causes their ball to move after taking their stance and addressing it, a one-stroke penalty is incurred, and the ball must be replaced to its original position. If a player hits their ball out of bounds or into the water, they will have to take a one-stroke penalty, and drop their ball again where they shot it. Returning a score lower than the actual score for a hole will incur a penalty, and the score for that hole will be considered as recorded. If a hole score is omitted from the scorecard, the player will generally be disqualified from the competition.
Players are limited to carrying and using a maximum of 14 clubs during a round, and penalties are incurred if this limit is exceeded. Players are also not allowed to bend, break, hack, or otherwise remove anything growing or fixed to improve their line, stance, or area of intended swing. This will result in a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or a loss of the hole in match play. Hitting the wrong ball, which means any ball other than the ball hit from the tee by that player, will also result in a two-stroke penalty.
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Play on different courses
Playing on different golf courses is an exciting part of the game, but it can also be challenging. Golf courses are not standardised, and each course will present a unique set of features and obstacles. The variety of courses is part of what makes golf so interesting, but it also means that you need to be prepared for a learning curve each time you play somewhere new.
There are several types of golf courses, and they can vary significantly in terms of design, location, and features. Links courses, for example, are typically found along coastlines and feature undulating terrain, dunes, and very few trees. Wind is a major factor on links courses. Parkland courses, on the other hand, are built inland, often feature lots of trees and lush grass, and tend to be well-manicured with man-made features like bunkers, ponds, and rough. Heathland courses are usually inland and based on links courses, with sandy soil and vegetation like gorse and heather. Stadium courses are designed with spectators in mind, featuring easy movement, strong vantage points, and exciting holes. Short courses are also great options for beginners or those looking for a quicker, more casual round.
Before playing a new course, it's a good idea to spend some time researching it online. Check out the course website for a scorecard, photo galleries, and hole-by-hole flyovers. This will help you get a sense of the course and plan your strategy. If you have a golf GPS or watch, make sure the course is uploaded and your device is fully charged.
Playing on a new course for the first time can be challenging, and you may not score as well as you do on your home course. This is normal, and it's important to focus on enjoying the new experience and learning from each shot. Playing different courses will help you become a better golfer by forcing you to adapt to new situations and think strategically in unfamiliar ways.
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Frequently asked questions
You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to start playing golf. You can purchase a few clubs to get you out to the driving range and a golf course. You can also buy a set of balls and tees.
You don't need golf shoes to start playing golf, but some people recommend buying a pair to get used to the feel of them.
As a beginner, you need to develop your skills, understanding, and abilities. The key fundamentals are posture, grip, and stance. You should also learn how to putt.
You should find a club that you are comfortable with and that goes a reasonable distance. Knowing your distances will help your consistency on the course.
