Guide for Beginning Golfers

The “Putt” is the stroke or shot in golf once your ball has landed on the green. This shot calls for rolling the ball toward the flagstick or cup if the flag has already been removed and is normally made using the putter. The putter is the club which has the least loft and a relatively flat face. If you have followed parts one thru eight in “Playing Your First Golf Round” then you have progressed from making your first tee time reservation, arriving at the golf course, the first tee jitters, hitting your clubs and progressing down the fairway and finally reaching the green. Congratulations !

There are two key ingredients to making a good putt, Speed and Direction. Because the green usually slopes in different directions it is key to learn how to read the slope of the green. The five main different types of putts normally encountered are Uphill, Downhill, Left To Right, Right To Left and Straight. For an uphill putt the ball must be struck harder in order to make it up the incline slope. The opposite holds true for a downhill putt because the ball will have a tendency to accelerate down the slope depending on the severity of the decline of that slope. A left to right putt will do exactly what it says – go from left to right. This means that you will aim your ball toward a target or line left of the cup and the opposite holds true for a right to left putt. The amount of distance left or right again depends on the severity of the slope of the green. There are also double breaking putts and even triple, which are usually associated with longer putts on very undulating greens, but that is a discussion for another time. When first starting to putt I would advise to aim directly at the cup or flagstick and experiment to get a feel for both speed and direction. These two ingredients of putting are critical to ultimately scoring well at golf. More than half of the total strokes of a persons score are usually made on the putting green.

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In parts 1 thru 7 we discussed all aspects of a persons first golf round from the reservation of the tee time to arrival at the course and the first tee box jitters and you, hypothethically, have now advanced the ball to the greenside area. As noted in Part 7 you can chip the ball with your irons or wedges and get close if you have some green and an opening to the flag location to work with. If you are in front of a sand trap or have some other obstacle between you and your target it may call for another type of shot. I DO NOT proclaim to be a golf professional but I can impart knowledge to you that works for me after 30 plus years of playing, reading and experimenting with the different aspects, strategies and shots required to play the game of golf.

As stated earlier if there is an obstacle in the way of your approach, such as a sand trap or tree, it will require a different strategy which will depend on the distance from clearing the aforementioned obstacle to reaching the flag or hole location. The most important thing is to concentrate on the shot on hand and follow thru to a finished position. The strategy I use to get over an obstacle quickly is to set up with a higher lofted club such as the sand or lob wedge with the club nearer my left foot and laid open so the ball pops up faster than normal. The term laid open means the club face is approaching a flat position with the blade pointing upward in relation to your stance and the ground. I also break my wrists back sharply and quickly which also promotes height and less distance, which is not your goal for this type of shot. Remember to follow thru to a finished position or there is a good chance you will leave the shot short of your intended landing area. You can try this shot even if there is no obstacle in your way and get a feel for the line of ball flight you will achieve for future reference under actual conditons. How close you get to your target will be determined by the distance away and the amount of follow thru combined with the speed of your swing thru the ball at impact. Accuracy and distance will come with practice but the main goal is to get over the obstacle and onto the green and not in a sand trap, tree, water or other hazard that may lie in front of you. This is one of the tougher shots required in golf so if you master this one it will help your game and score tremendously. Next Part 9 – The Putt. Happy Golfing to all !

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In parts one thru five of “Scheduling and Playing your First Golf Round” we discussed scheduling your tee time, the first tee, hitting the ball in the fairway, some rules of etiquette, and approaching the green. The green, which as noted earlier is the tightly mowed area of grass that surrounds the flagstick and cup, is a most important area of the golf course because almost half of your golf score will be determined by how well you do with your chipping, putting and bunker or sand play on or around the green.

You have now hit your approach shot and you are on or near the green. The strategies utilized here will greatly effect how well you will score. If you are near the green and have a clear opening to the flag then you have a few options in your approach. You can either use a more lofted club such as a pitching, lob or sand wedge or you can utilize what is called the bump and run technique with a less lofted club such as the 7, 8, or 9 iron. The more lofted clubs are harder to hit and achieve consistent results with accuracy and nearness to the cup after the shot. The professional golfer will use this method and these clubs proficiently because of the hours of practice that he has put in to perfect the feel with each individual club. When you have reached a certain level of expertise then you will know which club will work the best for you under any given shot requirement. In my opinion the bump and run, especially for the beginning golfer, will give you the best odds for getting closer to the pin if you are on the fringe or have a clear approach to the flagstick. The key to a consistently successful shot here is practice as is the key with most any part of the game. The method I would recommend for the beginner is to set up your body and alignment as if you were going to putt, maybe a bit open to the hole ( which means your right shoulder will be slightly forward of alignment to your left – for right handed golfers and opposite for left handers ) and lean your weight toward your left side ( for right handed golfers – the right side for left handed golfers ), and set the ball slightly right of center toward your right foot ( again for right handed golfers ), close the clubface a bit and hit the ball as if you were hitting a putt but with a slightly more descending blow and be sure to follow thru about as far as you took the club back. Whether you use a 7, 8, or 9 iron will depend on distance and elevation of the green to the flag. If the green is sloping uphill you will want to use a less lofted club such as the 7 iron to ensure additional roll after the ball lands to get up the incline of the green nearer to the flag as the ball comes to a stop. If you have less green to work with or the green is sloping downhill you will want to use a more lofted club such as the 9 iron or pitching wedge so the ball will stop faster after it lands on the green. As stated earlier the proper club selection for you will only come with practice and playing time. One other tip I will offer that I found works well for me is to keep your head down until well after the ball is struck and allow minimal body movement as it is not required for this type of shot. The hips may rotate slightly open toward the target but that is about it. Practice, Practice, Practice will make perfect. Have fun and Happy Golfing to All ! Part 7 – Other greenside shots and The Putt.

For more golf tips and info visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com

In Part 4 of playing your first golf round I touched on the 1st tee jitters and some course courtesies or etiquette. After you have hit your ball on the 1st tee along with your fellow golfers the real game begins. I will continue to elaborate on some of the golf rules and etiquette of the game as we continue down the first fairway. Note : Etiquette is defined as the courtesies extended to your fellow golfers both in your group and on the golf course and to the golf course itself, ie; being quiet and standing to the side while another player is preparing to hit their shot, yelling fore if an errant shot is going off line and maybe toward another golfer, replacing a divot which is displaced during a golf shot, etc.. When all of the players have hit their tee shots you will go to the players ball who is furthest from the green on that particular hole first. The other players in the group or foursome, which is a common name for a group of golfers because the players are normally set up in groups of four, will stand off to the side out of the view of the player who is about to hit or address the ball. This will allow them to attain the maximum concentration without the distraction of someone off to the side talking or moving around , an important rule of golf course etiquette. You will all then proceed to hit your second shots in order of who is furthest from the green or away as referred to in golf lingo, while observing golf etiquette and no longer using a tee. The tee is the wooden or plastic accessory used to raise the ball to a desired height off the ground can only be used on the first shot on each golf hole. The subsequent shots must be played where they lie in adhering to the normal rules of golf. In inclement conditions , after rain or where there is standing water in the fairway or rough, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed so that a player is not unfairly penalized for abnormal conditions they may encounter on the course any particular day. There are also winter rules and ground under repair situations whereby you may remove and replace your ball in a new location, no closer to the hole, without penalty. When you become  proficient enough to play competitively or even join a golf club you must be careful to establish the rules and have everyone agree to the rules before you begin play or you may be called and penalized strokes or loss of a match because of an infraction of said rules.

When you approach your ball and prepare to hit your second shot make sure you remember to align your self to the target ahead. When the swing is executed properly many players will take a divot, which is a section of grass or turf and shoot it into the air as they complete their swing. Golf course etiquette dictates that the divot be replaced or a mixture of seed and fertilizer be poured into the spot where the divot was taken. Note: Many players, especially beginners will try to lift the ball with their club instead of hitting the ball with a descending blow which actually will cause the ball to rise up more proficiently, thus the reason the divot is taken. The correct swing for each person will come with practice under the guidance of a golf professional, whenever possible. A pro can help an individual attain a much more proficient swing in a much shorter amount of time than when self taught. You can learn yourself, as I did, but the reading and the experimentation process usually takes much longer than being taught by someone who knows how. After the second shot you will proceed to hit the ball until you reach the green , which is the tightly mowed area of grass around the flag stick or pin ( another name for the flag stick), whichever terminology you prefer. The ball will then be putted into the hole in the least amount of strokes possible, which will be discussed in Part 6.

The key to golf is to allow yourself to have fun and enjoy the game no matter what your skill level. Happy Golfing to all !

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It’s “Tee Time” – Your first time teeing up and preparing to play can be a bit unnerving if you let it. It is human nature to be a little nervous when you are trying something new for the first time and people are around watching you. I have to admit when I first started playing I felt the same way. After a while you realize that many players are also beginners and not much more experienced than you and they are also nervous when it is their turn to hit in front of their fellow golfers. After a short time you will overcome your fear of the first tee. If you are having trouble at the first tee you have some options. When my significant other started playing golf she was petrified to hit in front of anyone. I explained my dilemma to the starter on the course and he was able to schedule us on the back nine or 10th tee where there were fewer players, if any around. This was very helpful in easing her into the game and it allowed her, and I for that matter, to enjoy a more leisurely round and first golf experience. Soon she was an old pro and the first tee jitters were gone. Another tip is to schedule your tee time when the course is less crowded, normally late morning or early afternoon, depending on the golf course. If you choose this option then it is a good idea to speak with your local golf professional or starter so they may suggest the optimal time for you to play.

If no other options are available and you’re out there on the first tee ready to go try to remember a few things. Everyone has to start somewhere and I can guarantee that most beginners were no better than you when they started. If you miss the ball try once more and then pick up and drop your ball in the approximate area of the other players in your group, an unwritten rule of golf etiquette. Another tip when on the tee is to ”Relax”. I don’t mean to fall asleep over the ball, just take a deep breath and exhale slowly before you swing the club. Try to clear your mind of everything but the task at hand, hitting the golf ball and your swing.  Also, if you have taken lessons and practiced sufficiently you will feel more confident on the tee and have a better chance for a successful swing result. No matter how you do the first few times out you should not be discouraged. If you really want to play golf then you have to give yourself some time to get the knack. If you are sports oriented the game of golf usually, and let me emphasize usually, comes much easier than for those who have not played any sport before.

After teeing up your ball, pick an object a short distance in front of you that will align your ball with the intended target line of your landing area. Then set up your shoulders and chest parallel to that object and target line. This should increase your odds for a successful swing more so than just swinging the club at the ball without a target or goal in mind. Remember you are just beginning and as much as I love the game of golf it is not an easy game to master for most. It is a game however, that can be played and enjoyed by players of any skill level. So give golf a chance – “It is the game of a lifetime”. Happy Golfing !

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