Golf Tips for Beginners

Preparing for your First Round of Golf

Here are a few golf tips for beginners that will help you understand tee times, dress codes, the practice range and practice green, playing ready golf, and having fun while you play your round of golf.

So you’ve purchased a set of golf clubs, hit the driving range a few times, and spent more time than you care to remember practicing your putts on the living room carpet. You’re finally ready to test your game on an actual course for the first time. Congratulations!

Reserving Tee Times

The first thing to remember is that tee times aren’t suggestions – the course depends on golfers making their times in order to maintain the flow of play throughout the day. This isn’t a restaurant reservation, where it may not seem like a big deal to be 10 minutes late. You might not be able to get on the course at all with that kind of tardiness.

Following the Dress Code

Unless you’re sure there’s no dress code at all, plan on wearing a collared golf shirt and khaki shorts (slacks if it is colder). Bring all the clubs and equipment you will need – borrowing clubs from your fellow players is almost always a breach of etiquette, and items like balls and golf gloves will likely be expensive at the pro shop.

Warming up on the Practice Range
and the Practice Green

Plan on showing up at the course early to give yourself plenty of time to warm up. If there’s a driving range, hit a small bucket of balls to get comfortable with your swing. Don’t just use the driver either – practice your irons and wedges as well, so you are ready to hit every club in your bag. Time on the practice green will give a sense of the speed of the greens you’ll find on the course, though the break will likely be less pronounced.

Playing Ready Golf

Once you tee off, it is important to keep up with the rest of your foursome. It’s OK if you take more shots than everyone else – you’re just learning the game, after all, and everyone else has been there – but everyone will be a lot more patients if you are ready to hit when it is your turn. One good tip is to take several clubs with you when you approach your ball for an approach shot. This will ensure that you don’t have to go back to the cart to get a different club, which wastes time.

Having FUN!!!

Finally, remember to have fun! Whether you shoot in the 80s or in the 130s, this should be the first of what will hopefully be many more rounds to come.