Guide for Beginning Golfers

You have scheduled your tee time, arrived at the golf course, checked in with the Pro Shop and starter and are heading to the first tee – Congratulations ! You are ready for the game of a lifetime. Once you are at the first tee there are some rules of Etiquette that should be addressed here. There are different locations of teeing areas ( usually between 1 and 5 placements -check score card for locations of tee and total yardages) set up for players of different skill levels and abilities. The back tees are meant for the advanced player usually with an established handicap of between 1 and 7 and the total yardage is usually between approximately 6500 and 7000 yds. . The next tee box is normally for the experienced player who is between a 7 and 14 handicap and the total yardage is between 6200 and 6500 yds. The next tee location is for the average golfer and can range from 5800 to 6300 yds. and the markers are normally white. Some courses have tee boxes for senior players and then our favorite, the ladies tee location whose markers are normally red in color and are usually the shortest on the course. Not to take anything away from the ladies because many of them can play from the mens tees and can hit just as far and better than many of the male players. If a senior or female player is an experienced player they can choose any tee that is appropriate for their skill level. For a new player or beginner I would strongly recommend the white or senior tees for the men and the red tees for the women. It would allow you to play from a tee location that is reasonable for the new player, novice, beginner, etc. If you find you are scoring well right off the bat, then by all means move back to the next tee box for the next round. By scoring well I mean close to par or better and I personally don’t think many beginners will fall into this category in fact I wouldn’t even keep score for the first few rounds. Give your self some time and ease into the game. It will allow for a much more enjoyable experience and beginning of your journey into the “Wonderful World of Golf”.

Once you have selected your tee location you must defer to the other players who may be in your group and check if they are playing from the same location. If they are playing the tee locations further back then they will hit first, and if they are playing the shorter tee locations then they will hit after you. When a player is on the tee box preparing to hit, the other players should stand off to the side and out of view of the golfer and remain quiet until they have completed their swing. This is one of the rules of golf etiquette and an important one at that. You will better understand my emphasis on etiquette as you become more experienced with the game. Also the ball should be placed between the tee markers and either even with them or behind them away from the golf hole – one of the rules of golf. It is not so important initially but if you ever get into competitive golf you better have some knowledge of the basic rules or you may lose a tournament because your opponent may call you on an infraction of a rule you may not have been aware of. I wouldn’t worry about it right now just go out and play and enjoy yourself. Happy Golfing To All !

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As noted in the previous writing, the assumption is being made that all of the proper preparation has been made in order to make your first golf round as enjoyable as possible for you and your fellow players. Some of the aforementioned preparatory measures for golf are worth repeating. For the sake of this writing we will assume you have purchased equipment, including proper golf attire, taken lessons or practiced sufficiently enough to play and acquired some knowledge about the Rules and Etiquette of Golf. That being said, I think you’re ready to play.

If you have access to a private golf course or Country Club through a relative, friend or colleague, etc. then by all means take advantage of the accessibility of a golf setting that is not available to many people, especially for their first golf round. Ask them to set up a tee time for you and request them to play with you or have someone accompany you who is available and willing to play with a beginner and who knows the rules and etiquette of golf. If you do not have access to a Private Club and you are scheduling the tee time yourself then I would suggest you stop by at the intended golf course and speak to the resident golf PGA professional and ask him his for his recommendation on when to play. You can also speak to the golf starter who is in charge of sending out the golfers at the appropriate time and place on the course. He can advise you as to when to play so you can enjoy the round without feeling pressured on every shot. Once you have scheduled your tee time the next step is the arrival at the golf course. You should figure to arrive at the course at least a half hour before your scheduled time in order to allow for check in and warm up, and especially if you would like to grab something to drink or eat before you play. As you enter the driveway to the course you will most likely see directional arrows to the Bag Drop. Follow the signs so you can unload your bag at the location nearest the course ( Bag Drop ) so you will not have to carry your bag once you park the car. After you drop your bag make sure to put your golf shoes on ( if you have golf shoes – recommended) and proceed to the club house and Pro Shop to register to play. You will then pay what is called Green Fees ( for either 9 or 18 holes – your preference ) and then proceed to the starter with your receipt so he can set you up to play. Sometime when the golf course is very crowded the starter may elect to start some groups on the back nine so be prepared for that possibility, especially if you are only playing nine holes. It is actually a good idea for a new golfer to play nine holes for his or her first few times out and you can then request that you be started on the 10th hole thereby allowing you this part of the course to yourself. When I first taught my significant other to play, the starters were most cooperative and sent us off regularly on the back nine so we would feel less pressured and we would not hold up the more advanced groups of players. The game of golf is meant to be played with a certain tempo and within a reasonable amount of time. If you are waiting on every hole then you lose your rhythm  and will not play as well as you may be capable of. This is an important part of golf etiquette which you will learn as you become more experienced with the game. Well, you’ve arrived at the golf course, dropped your golf bag at the Bag Drop, checked in with the Pro Shop and Starter, warmed up sufficiently and you’re now ready for “The First Tee” ?

Next – “Arriving At The First Tee”  Happy Golfing To All !

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How to know if you are really ready ? If you think you are ready to schedule your first round on the golf course let’s take a moment to review what you have done in preparation to play. Have you purchased your golf equipment and if so do you have a checklist of all the items you will need to play ? Golf Clubs, Bag, and Golf Balls being the most obvious, but divot repair tool, ball markers, tees and a scorecard and pencil will also be required in order to play. Actually the score card is only necessary as a reference for the distance from each tee location and golf rules for each hole as it is not critical to keep an actual score your first few times out. If you have already acquired some proficiency at the game and you can keep your score within double par or better then by all means mark your score. Although not required by the rules of golf, a golf glove and golf shoes are two pieces of equipment that I would highly recommend. They will add to your stability in gripping and swinging the golf club. Have you taken golf lessons or taught yourself and practiced sufficiently to be able to achieve enough distance and accuracy to keep up with the pace of play required by local rules and course etiquette ? Have you learned about the basic rules of golf and associated golf etiquette ? Have you asked someone to join you who has already played and is somewhat knowledgeable about how to play, golf rules, and golf etiquette ? If you have answered yes to the above then I would say that you are ready to play your first round of golf. One last item that I would like to address is proper golf attire. Most golf courses have a required dress code. I would recommend that you call ahead and find out the requirements so you don’t arrive at the course and be turned away or be asked to purchase a collared shirt and proper shorts or pants. Cut offs, jeans, tee shirts , tank tops, etc., are normally not considered proper attire for the golf course especially by Country Club Standards.

A few recommendations I would make for scheduling your first tee time are as follows: 1. As noted previously ask someone to join you that is familiar with the game and who knows the basic rules and golf etiquette. 2. If you know someone who belongs to a Country Club and can take advantage of it then ask them to schedule a time for you when the least crowded so you will fell less pressured and it will allow some additional time for you to play. If not, drop by your local municipal course and check with the starter or local golf professional to see when they would recommend that you play for the first time. Note: During the week and on weekends there ar certain times that the golf course can be very crowded and not a good time to play for the first time. In the afternoon around 2:00pm to 4:00pm the course play is usually less busy and a much better time to schedule your round. 3. As noted in previous writings the average time for a golf round for the average golf foursome is about 4 1/2 hours or 15 minutes per hole. Do your best to keep up with that pace of play. When you first start playing you may have a tendency to lose more balls on wayward shots and thus require more time to look for them, especially if you are playing a course with narrow tree lined fairways. Do not take more than 3 to 5 minutes looking for a lost ball and if you lose two or three in an a row and there is a group behind you, then just drop a ball with the rest of your group and keep the pace of play moving. This is the main reason for suggesting the tee time to be scheduled on off hours so it will be a more enjoyable experience for you and your fellow golfers. You will also be adhering to an important rule of golf etiquette by extending this courtesy to your fellow golfers. Happy Golfing To All !

Next Post – Arriving at the Golf Course, Green Fees, and the First Tee Shot. Stay Tuned !

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In past posts we have addressed some of the fundamentals of learning to play golf  ”The Right Way”. By this I mean that you have purchased or acquired your equipment, have received instruction from a golf professional, parent, sibling, friend, self taught etc. and have practiced sufficiently to prepare yourself to venture out to the golf course. Oh Yes, and you have acquired some knowledge of Golf Etiquette. Having accomplished all of the above you are finally ready to play. What comes next and how does one get started ?

I would like to spend some time in this writing, providing the new golfer with some useful information on selecting and arriving at a golf course for the first time. As noted above I will make the assumption that you have acquired sufficient knowledge on how to play, and acquired your clubs, bag and accessories and you’re ready to go. This is where one of the first rules of golf etiquette comes into play. Do not schedule your first tee time at the busiest times on the course. The best thing to do, if possible , is to ask a parent, relative or friend who is familiar with the game, to join you especially for the first few times playing. Another suggestion is to schedule your tee time after the prime times, usually mid to late afternoon and this way you will have the course to yourself and your group. You may only want to play nine holes until you get used to the requirements of the game, especially if the golf course offers a nine hole rate. It will provide a more relaxed introduction to the game until you learn the rules of golf, golf etiquette and how to move the ball effectively. If you have already acquired a proficiency at the game then by all means play the entire 18 holes at whatever time you so desire. One of the biggest violations of golf course etiquette is to schedule your first round and have no clue as to how to play or the courtesies involved with the game. That is why it is important to play the first few times with someone knowledgeable about golf and who can teach you the rules and the etiquette required to play properly. The main idea of playing this great sport is to make sure it is an enjoyable experience for all, which it will not be if you are waiting indefinitely on each hole and for each shot to be played. The average round of golf for a foursome takes approximately 4 1/2 hours or 15 minutes per hole as a rule of thumb. Once you become a seasoned player, the novice or new golfer who is unknowledgeable and discourteous to their fellow players will irk you more than you may think, especially if they take an inordinate amount of time with each shot. This is usually done by someone who has not  learned to play properly.

When a golfer first learns to play it can take some time before he or she can make solid contact with the ball to advance it with reasonable distance and accuracy toward the hole. As discussed in my previous posts but worth repeating; if you cannot make contact with the golf ball after a few swings then pick up the ball and drop near your fellow players and proceed to try again. Also if you have a lost ball in the woods, etc. do not take an excessive amount of time to find it. You can allow yourself a drop in an area where you are clear to play the ball toward the green or intended target because your score is not important at this stage of your game.

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We have now covered six of the seven steps in My Seven Step Swing Check List, The Grip, The Set Up , The Waggle, The Backswing , Tempo, The Downswing and now the last step, but especially not the least in importance, is the Follow Thru or Finish. All the steps are important but if the follow thru is not done correctly it can negate the proper execution of the other steps of the swing. As the downswing is approaching impact with the golf ball make sure the acceleration of the club remains constant. This will be accomplished with acquiring a good tempo with your golf swing. Also on the downswing, as discussed in the last writing, continue the path of the club through the ball on a slight inside to out path and aim at the one o’clock spot as suggested. As you continue thru the hitting zone after impact keep the club as low as possible on this line and head should remain behind the ball. The hips should continue opening to the target ,( about 3/4 or more at this point ) and the weight should continue to shift onto your left side. If the follow thru is executed correctly the club and your arms will form a line pointing at or slightly right of the target line and both will be near parallel to the ground as your right shoulder starts to pass under your chin. The hands should pronate (turn over) to the left just after the club passes thru the impact zone. If you turn the hands over too quickly you may hook or draw the ball too for left and not achieve the result you were looking for. This is the part of the swing that takes practice and experience to master. Once you get the timing down you will almost always be successful if you execute the rest of the steps correctly. TIP : If you are consistently slicing the ball to the right side you may want to consciously turn your hands over to the left as you reach impact, which should help correct this problem. Another cause of slicing the ball to the right is not finishing the swing by staying on your right side and not letting the right foot come up onto the toe ( See info noted below regarding swing finish ). Note: This post is directed to the right handed golfer and should be reversed for the left handed player

As your swing continues and your right shoulder is passing under your chin the head can start to come up but the spine angle should remain intact as long as possible as you finish the swing. Your hips should now be almost fully open and perpindicular to and facing your intended target. NOTE : Another key move at this part of the swing, that is lacking in most beginners and even some seasoned players, is that they stay on their right foot and never finish the golf swing. This means that the weight shift was never completed and the hips never rotated properly, thus causing lack of both distance and accuracy.

The proper execution of the follow thru would include the right foot pivoting up onto the toe ( which would mean that the weight transfer from right to left was complete ) , the torso would be facing the target and the entire body would form some resemblance to a reverse C if you viewed it from a side perspective. The club would be wrapped around your neck and shoulders and this pose should be maintained until the ball lands in the fairway or on the green. Holding this position will help promote the proper swing finish by making it part of your muscle memory which will translate to a more accurate and repetitive finish to your golf swing. 

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