A Quick Guide For Golf Beginners: How To Get Started

So you want to get started in golfing. It looks like an intimidating sport, but get a head start in the needed skills, equipment, and golfing venue and you’re all set to enjoy the adventure. Here’s a mini guide for golf beginners.

For starters, here’s a quick history of golf. It can be traced back to China thousands of years ago, although the modern, 18-hole version today actually began in Scotland back in the 1400s. The first documented mention of the sport was its banning by Parliament in 1457, as it was deemed distracting to people undergoing military training. Golf was the ancient term for “club,” which means the game essentially translates to “club.”

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When discovering golf for the first time, it’s important to know about clubs. Focus on finding the kind of equipment that will help develop those skills with minimal expense. Prioritize learning, not buying the best clubs. That said, you may carry as many as 14 clubs in your bag, but if you’re a newbie you can start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge, and supplement those items with a 6-iron, 8-iron, pitching wedge, and a fairway word or hybrid offering 18-21 degrees of loft. Eliminate the guesswork and try clubs before buying them.

There are important golf terms to memorize as well, such as golf tee, fairway, the green, the rough, hazard, bunker, and stroke. There’s also scoring terminology, including ace, eagle, birdie, par, bogey, double bogey, and triple bogey. Acquaint yourself with these and the rules of the game.

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Seek out the help of a golfer friend or a seasoned hobbyist in order to avoid the confusion and overwhelming feeling that many new golfers probably have. There are numerous tips to heed, such as taking dead aim, creating a solid stance, and developing the perfect posture. Making friends with your grip is also crucial – practice holding the club in the correct position even when not playing golf. Don’t forget to have fun and build wonderful memories!

David Baer is currently studying at the University of Minnesota majoring in biology. On weekends, he enjoys going out with friends, golfing, fishing, and playing tennis. Learn more on this page.