Golf has become a popular sport enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. Being new to the game can be overwhelming by the rules and etiquette, as well as the equipment and terminology. However, with some basic knowledge and practice, you can become a competent golfer in no time.
I have been playing golf for over 17 years, and being a PGA golf coach I have come to know the ins and outs of the game. From the rules, correct equipment and best practices to start the game.
In this article, I will provide a comprehensive guide on how to play golf for beginners. I will cover everything from the basics of the game to tips for improving your golf swing. Whether you’re looking to play for fun or to compete, this guide will help you get started on the right foot.
Golf Equipment for Beginners
When it comes to playing golf, having the right equipment is essential. As a beginner, it’s important to invest in the right gear that can help you learn the game and improve your skills. Here are some key equipment items to consider when starting out:
- Essential golf clubs for beginners
- Understanding the different types of golf balls and which one to choose
- Golf gloves, shoes and clothing. Do beginners need them?
- Should you buy new or used golf equipment as a beginner?
- Choosing the right golf clubs for beginners
Let’s dive into these details below
1. Essential golf clubs for beginners
If you are looking to get into the game my personal recommendation is to buy a single iron (7 iron), this will allow you to determine if golf is for you.
If you are certain you want to take up the game the best option is to buy a basic set of golf clubs.
A typical beginner’s set will include a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, irons (9 to 6 iron), a pitching wedge, and a putter. Stick to a budget-friendly set or even a second hand set until you have more experience and can determine which clubs work best for you.
Read our guides on the best types of Drivers, Irons and Wedges for beginners:
2. Understanding the different types of golf balls and which one to choose
Golf balls are an important piece of equipment, but may not impact your game dramatically when you are starting out.
There are different types of golf balls available, including two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece balls, briefly these represent how many layers the golf ball has, the more layers the ball has the higher compression it will have (faster swing speeds need higher compression).
As a beginner, I recommend starting with a two-piece ball, which is cheaper and will help you hit the ball further.
3. Golf gloves, shoes and clothing. Do beginners need them?
Golf gloves, shoes, and clothing can help improve your game and make you more comfortable on the course.
Golf gloves provide a better grip on the club, while golf shoes will provide more stability and support while swinging. Clothing can make a difference too, they are specifically designed to provide a full range of motion as well as breathability.
4. Should you buy new or used golf equipment as a beginner?
I recommend buying used golf equipment when starting out, new clubs are extremely expensive. However, if you decide to buy new equipment, look for beginner sets as they offer loads of forgiveness and are budget friendly.
5. Choosing the right golf clubs for beginners
When choosing golf clubs, it’s important to consider your height and wrist-to-floor measurement, having clubs that are the correct length can make a big impact on your swing.
Next would be swing speed, nowadays this is quite easy to determine as most golf retail stores will have a golf launch monitor available. Your swing speed will determine what flex shaft you will need.
Having the correct shaft flex in your clubs will help with distance and accuracy.
Have a look at this article where we dive into some details around the different types of shaft flexes.
The Golf Swing for Beginners
Mastering the golf swing takes time and practice. As a beginner, it’s important to learn the basic mechanics of the golf swing to develop a solid foundation which will help you improve quickly and have a successful golfing career. Here are some key areas to focus on:
Basic golf swing mechanics:
The golf swing is simple in theory, yet extremely complicated when broken down into their individual mechanics. There are several key parts, including the grip, stance, backswing, downswing, and follow-through.
During the backswing, you take the club away by moving your arms and rotating your hips and shoulders until the club is over your head.
In the downswing, you drop your hands and use your hips and lower body to drive the club towards the ball, making contact with the ball on the follow-through.
Proper grip and stance
Gripping the club correctly as well as standing correctly are two of the most important aspects to the golf swing.
Having the proper grip and stance will set you up for success and help you improve quickly.
Click here to an article I have written that dives deeper into the proper grip and stance.
Common swing mistakes and how to avoid them
Grip too tight: Holding the club too tightly can lead to tension in the arms and shoulders, resulting in a poor swing. Grip the club with a relaxed grip, allowing your hands to work together to generate power.
Incorrect stance: A poor stance can affect the golfer’s balance, stability and shot direction. To avoid this, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and align your body towards the target line.
Over-swinging: Trying to hit the ball too hard can cause you to over swing the club, resulting in poor shots. To avoid this, try to maintain a smooth and consistent swing, focusing on accuracy rather than power.
Swaying during the swing: Moving the body laterally (swaying) during the swing can affect the golfer’s balance and lead to poor shots. To avoid this, try to rotate your body to maintain a stable base throughout the swing.
Improper weight transfer: Proper weight transfer is essential for generating power and accuracy in the golf swing. To avoid this mistake, make sure to transfer your weight onto your front foot during the downswing, allowing your hips to lead the swing.
By identifying and avoiding these common swing mistakes, beginners can improve their golf game and develop a more consistent and effective swing.
Beginner golf drills to improve your game
Putting
My favorite putting drill for beginners is the speed drill. It is very difficult for you to improve your putting when your first putt ends up too far from the hole.
All you need is three balls and a putter.
- On the putting green choose a hole and mark out a 3 foot circle around it
- Start at 6 foot away and put a tee down as a marker
- From there, putt the 3 balls, if all three land within the circle, take another foot back (or two feet), mark it with a tee and putt from there.
- If you miss start again from the same level (or to make is more difficult move a level forward)
- You can go as far back as you like, however starting out I would not go further back than 15 foot
- To make a game out of it keep a record to see how many putts you can do it in
Chipping/Pitching Drill
The most common error a see from beginners is falling back or having their weight on the right hand side (right hander) during the follow through.
A simple drill is to chip or pitch with your weight on your left side and your weight almost completely off your right.
The easiest way to do this is to place your right foot slightly behind your left (see images below)
This will help you maintain your weight on your left side throughout the chipping/pitching motion.
Iron Drill
A similar error to chipping/pitching is beginners try to lift their irons shots into the air instead of hitting down into the ground.
Here is a simple drill to help drive through and hit down on the ball.
- Place a ball on the ground
- Take a tee and place it two ball lengths behind the ball (parallel to the target)
- From there make a swing trying to miss the tee and make contact with the ball
This will help you make contact with the ball first and hit down on the ball at the same time.
Driver Drill
Golf is hard, trust me. The complete opposite needs to happen with a driver. When hitting a driver you need to hit up on the ball. But be careful you still need to hit through the ball and drive into your left side.
This makes it extremely difficult to get right.
- Tee up a ball like your normal would
- Place a sleeve of balls (or something similar in height) flat on the ground, parallel to the target, about 6 to 7 inches infront the ball.
- Tilt your right shoulder down (right hander) and make a swing
The idea is to swing up with your driver and miss the sleeve of balls. If done correctly the ball will fly over the sleeve. Remember to drive onto your left side while doing this, you do not want to fall back onto your right side (right hander).
Golf Course Basics for Beginners
Overview of a golf course:
Each golf course will have 18 holes, with shorter courses having 9.
The main goal is to finish the round of 18 holes in as few strokes as possible.
Each hole has a tee box, which is where you start the hole, the next part is a fairway, which is the grassy area leading up to the green, and a green, this is where the hole is located.
The areas around the fairway are called rough. There are also hazards such as bunkers, water hazards, and out-of-bounds areas that golfers must avoid when playing each hole.
Understanding the different holes and obstacles:
Each hole on a golf course is unique, with varying distances, angles, and hazards.
The hole is marked by a flagstick, which is located in the hole on the green. The fairway is typically lined with trees, bunkers, or water hazards, which players must navigate around.
Bunkers are sand traps that players can find themselves in if they hit their ball off course, and water hazards are bodies of water that players must avoid hitting your ball into.
Out of bounds are areas marked by white stakes, which indicate that a golfer’s ball is out of bounds and cannot be played from there.
Tips for navigating the course as a beginner:
- Play from the tees that matches your skill level, this will help you to shoot better scores and make the game more enjoyable.
- Take your time and be aware of the groups ahead of you and behind you.
- Stay quiet and still while others are hitting.
- Use a course map or GPS device to help you on holes, this will help you identify hazards and distances from the holes, each hole should have markers on the side of the fairways, and on sprinkler heads.
- Keep track of your score and follow proper golf etiquette, such as repairing divots and ball marks on the greens.
Golf Etiquette for Beginners
Explanation of proper golf etiquette for beginners:
Golf is a game that places a premium on sportsmanship, respect for others, and adherence to certain rules and etiquette. As a beginner, it’s important to understand these unwritten rules of the game to show respect for your fellow players and the course.
Dress code and attire:
Most golf courses have a dress code, which typically includes collared shirts and shorts or pants. Sneakers or golf shoes are also required on the course. It’s important to check the course’s dress code policy before arriving to ensure you are dressed appropriately.
How to behave on the golf course:
While playing golf, it’s important to show respect for your fellow players and the course. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:
- Be quiet and still while others are hitting their shots.
- Avoid unnecessary distractions, such as using your phone, talking excessively, or playing loud music.
- Be aware of the pace of play and keep up with the group ahead of you.
- Repair divots and ball marks on the greens.
- Follow proper golf cart etiquette and avoid driving on the greens or tee boxes.
Common rules and etiquette to know:
As a beginner, it’s important to be aware of some common golf rules and etiquette, such as:
- Honoring the player with the lowest score on the previous hole to tee off first on the next hole.
- Playing your ball as it lies, unless a rule allows you to move it.
- Avoiding slow play by keeping up with the group ahead of you.
- Yelling “Fore!” if you hit a shot that could potentially hit someone else on the course.
In summary
This guide to golf for beginners is written to help you start off the game in the best way possible.
I have covered equipment, swing mechanics including grip and stance, and some drills for you to use.
I also talked about the golf course itself, including the different types of holes, tips for getting around the course, as well as etiquette.
Golf is an unbelievable game to learn, I encourage beginners to keep learning and practicing. While it can be a tough sport to master, it’s also very rewarding.
It will take time and dedication, but with practice you will learn and enjoy the game, and be able to play it for years to come. Remember to be patient, have fun, and always show respect for your fellow players and the course.
