Golf for beginners

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played before, golf is a great sociable sport which you can take up at any age.

I’ve put together a simple guide covering different aspects of the sport from lingo, to essential equipment and course etiquette, which will help any budding golfer get started!

Coaching

Before heading out onto a course, I would strongly recommend taking part in some coaching with a golf professional. Just a few lessons will help you grasp the basics of the game and get some essential guidance on technique. Share experience with like-minded people in group lessons is the best way.

Golf clubs

Different clubs are used to hit the ball different distances. For example, a Driver is used for teeing off, Hybrid to 9- iron is used for hitting towards the green from 120-190 yards away (low numbered irons for longer shots, high numbered irons for shorter shots), Wedges are used for hitting short, high shots and a Putter is used for rolling the ball into the hole.

Scoring

In golf, scoring less is more! You are scored on the amount of shots (or strokes) it takes to get the ball in the hole.

Each hole will have a “par”, which is the average amount of shots it should take to get the ball into the hole. For example, if the par is 3 and you manage it in 4 shots, then your score can be viewed as 1-over. If the par for the course is 70 and you finished the course with an 85, then your score is 15-over.

The essential equipment

It’s important to make sure you have all the essential equipment for a round of golf, this will help you to make the most of your time on the course. Here are some of the essentials other than clubs and bag, I recommend:

Golf shoes

At least six balls

Wooden tees

Gloves

Waterproof

A pitch-mark repair tool

Small coins to mark your ball on the green

Pencil

Sun cream

Towel

The lingo 

Golf lingo can sound like a different language to anyone who’s not familiar with the game! Here’s a few of the common phrases translated:

Teeing off – the starting place for a game of golf

Ace – hole in one

Par – the score a good player would expect to make on a hole or round

Albatross/double eagle – three shots under par on a hole

Eagle – two shots under par on a hole

Birdie – one shot under par on a hole

Bogey – one shot over par on a hole

Double bogey – two shots over par on a hole

Fore! – a warning shouted when the ball is heading toward a person

Handicap – a numerical representation of a golfer’s ability to play

Course etiquette

It’s really important to respect the rules of the course and other golfers, as this will help to ensure that you and your fellow golfers are able to play efficiently and enjoyably. There is a whole list of etiquette to consider when on a golf course, but here’s just a few things to keep in mind as a starting point:

Try not to be too slow – this is why I recommend a few coaching sessions beforehand, this will help ensure you spend time on the course effectively and don’t hold up any fellow golfers.

Keep your cool – if it takes you 10 shots instead of 3, then don’t stress or feel defeated, you’re a beginner, it will take some time.

Repair the ground – if you’ve taken a chunk out of the course, please replace it for other golfers.

Stick to the dress code.

Put your phone on silent – avoid distracting other people, and yourself and ensure your phone is on silent during play.

Here at SbN we offer a range of different coaching options with our PGA Golf Professionals, including a great initiative for beginners called ‘Get into Golf’. Head over to our website to find out more or give us a call on 01206 262836.