how to prepare to play a golf course for the first time

1. Create a Game Plan for the Course. Before you even get to the course, spend 10-15 minutes researching the course online. ...
2. Get Your Golf GPS Ready. Whether you have a golf GPS or golf watch, make sure to double-check that the course is uploaded to your device before going to ...
3. Get There 30-60 Minutes Early. If you want to play great golf on any course, it rarely happens when you arrive for your tee time 15 minutes before the ...
4. Find Help Before Teeing Off. Let’s face it, while we all love golf I think we also realize it’s the hardest sport in the world. ...
Tee It Forward. Unless you’re a scratch golfer who always plays the back tees, I feel that teeing it forward if it’s your first time laying eyes on the ...
Have a Strategy For Every Shot. Hopefully, you have a yardage book, golf GPS, a cart with a GPS or someone who’s played the course before.
Aim For The Middle of the Green. I remember as a kid in high school, our golf coach would make us practice without the pins. ...
Stay Patient During The Round. If you’re like most golfers, you always want to shoot your best round every time you tee it up. ...
Keep The Round Casual. As I’ve mentioned throughout this post, playing a new golf course is exciting but it’s usually challenging as well.
Enjoy The Round. Remember, playing a new golf course is supposed to be fun. ...

Full Answer

How to play a new golf course for beginners?

Apr 13, 2020 · Here are my to 8 tips for how to play a golf course that you've never played before. Check out Golfholics Here https://bit.ly/34v9biKSubscribe to our Newsle...

What are some tips for a first-time golfer?

Jan 04, 2020 · Playing a New Golf Course – 10 Rules to Shoot Lower Scores. 1. Create a Game Plan for the Course. Before you even get to the course, spend 10-15 minutes researching the course online. I recommend using Google, Youtube, forums, and the course website to do a little research ahead of time.

How early should you arrive at a golf course?

1. The day before playing, check out the course’s website for general information, from the testimonials and reviews to photos of the course, including the signature hole. In addition, look for the course rating (CR) and slope (S) of the course, which determines the degree of difficulty. A CR of 75.4 and an S of 139 make for a very hard course. 2.

Do You Love playing new golf courses?

Apr 30, 2018 · Put it on ice: If you're sore after a round, ice is OK to reduce swelling, but only apply to the sore area for 15 minutes per hour, max. In the morning, apply heat (a …

What should I know before playing golf for the first time?

Here's a quick primer - 10 basics of rules of etiquette - that can help make your first round of golf much more smooth.Take the Right Equipment.Make a Tee Time, Then Make the Tee Time.Dress the Part.Arriving and Teeing Off.Honors, Away and Ready Play.Play It as It Lies.Out of Bounds and Lost Balls.Keep up the Pace.More items...•Jan 4, 2019

How do you play golf the first time?

Start out by hitting one of your wedges or short irons, warming up your golf muscles with half-swings. Then increase the length and speed of your swings, and move on to your middle irons. Work your way up to the driver, and after you hit some balls with it, go back to a short iron or wedge.Apr 30, 2018

What is a good score for a first time golfer?

Scoring for Adult Beginners According to National Golf Foundation data, 45% of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round. With that said, it is believed that a 108 is considered to be a good score for a beginner golfer, which equates to double bogey on each hole of a par 72 course.Aug 14, 2013

How do you get around a golf course?

2:063:04Plot Your Way Around The Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour way around the grain split it up into section determine which club is going to get you intoMoreYour way around the grain split it up into section determine which club is going to get you into what section without being short of the green and without being long with the green.

Can you teach yourself how do you play golf?

You absolutely can teach yourself golf. Anyone can swing a club, play a chip shot or make a putt with a little practice. But if you want to excel at golf, or become a low-handicap player, it's likely you will need lessons with a professional golf instructor to fine-tune some of the technical aspects of your swing.Jan 23, 2021

How should a beginner hold a golf club?

1:328:01How to hold a golf club correctly (easy way) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs. You can see the club sits in between the edge of the little finger. And then middle of my indexMoreAs. You can see the club sits in between the edge of the little finger. And then middle of my index finger that is a great reference point straight down this line.

What are beginner golf shots?

If you're below 85 you're a pretty good golfer and if you're above 90 then you're likely a beginner. For a beginner, I'd expect you to shoot around 100 or more but a good score for a beginner would be 90-100. Scoring a 90 is considered bogey golf because the average score would be 5 and the average par is 4.Mar 31, 2017

Do golf balls matter for beginner?

If a beginner is still learning how to make the correct contact with the ball, as well as how to chip and leave it relatively close to the hole, the ball won't make a massive difference. 2-piece golf balls are ideal golf balls for a high-handicapper. Two-piece golf balls have harder shells and a sturdy core.Jun 12, 2020

How many golf lessons should a beginner take?

Every beginner should take one or two golf lessons before hitting the golf course. Ideally, it would be best to take about five lessons before playing; however, this is not always feasible. Beginners need to have some idea of what they are doing before they head out onto the golf course.

How do you strategize a golf course?

Here's how:Give it a rip. Longer drives convert to lower scores. ... Have a 'trusty' go-to longer club. ... Lay up to your favorite yardage. ... Play the percentages into the green. ... Stress-free putting. ... Respect the downhill. ... Lean to hit knockdowns. ... Small strokes around the green.More items...•May 9, 2020

What do you think about on a golf course?

0:022:52How to Think Effectively on the Golf Course, National ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's time for you to take a little bit and do some honest self assessment. Really you might benefitMoreIt's time for you to take a little bit and do some honest self assessment. Really you might benefit from positive thoughts or negative thoughts. But you need to be honest about it. Consider.

How are golf courses set up?

4:475:47Science of Golf: Course Setup - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse setups the most significant. Difference will be the location of the team ground if the menMoreCourse setups the most significant. Difference will be the location of the team ground if the men are predominantly hitting drivers in three woods off a hole.

Do golf carts have GPS?

If they don’t have any yardage books or caddies, check to see if each cart has GPS features built-in. These are very similar to handheld golf GPS devices and help you create a game plan for every hole. Unfortunately, fewer courses have these in each cart as handheld devices and laser rangefinders are becoming more popular.

Do pro shops have yardage books?

Before leaving the pro shop after paying for the round, I recommend checking if they have a yardage book. If it’s a high-quality course, they might even have two yardage books. One is a more general beginners book for everyday golfers and another book is an advanced one that shows even more features of the course.

Is golf the hardest sport?

Let’s face it, while we all love golf I think we also realize it’s the hardest sport in the world. When you add in a new golf course you’ve never seen before, the game gets even harder. Use one or several of these methods to get some extra assistance before teeing off.

What to eat before a round of golf?

The best foods to eat for a round of golf are lean protein (such as chicken or turkey) and complex carbohydrates (such as all-bran cereal or a banana). You should eat before the round and again at the turn, or on the back nine, to maintain energy and concentration. And drink lots and lots of water.

How to get better at golf swing?

Start out by hitting one of your wedges or short irons, warming up your golf muscles with half-swings. Then increase the length and speed of your swings, and move on to your middle irons. Work your way up to the driver, and after you hit some balls with it, go back to a short iron or wedge.

How many pages are there in the rules of golf?

Yes, it's true, the Rules of Golf is 182 pages long and understanding many of the game's 34 rules is important. But don't worry. Most golfers, including those guys who turned their noses up at playing with a newcomer like you, have very little knowledge of how to play the game correctly.

What is the greenside shot?

Get out of a bunker every time: The greenside bunker shot is the one shot in golf where you don't actually hit the ball: You swing the clubhead into the sand behind the ball, and the sand pushes it out. For that reason, you have to swing quite a bit harder than you might expect; the sand really slows down the clubhead.

What do I need to start golfing?

Equipment You Need. If you are a first-time golfer or a beginning golfer, you’re going to need some starting golf equipment for the course. Golf Clubs: Complete golf set so you are able to make swings from anywhere on the course. Golfing Accessories: This includes, tees, divot repair tools, towels and other necessary accessories.

What are the rules for scoring in golf?

Scoring rules: Every golfer must tally up how many strokes it takes them to go from the tee box to the hole. You are not allowed to have any redos or mulligans (USGA rules). Tee Box: You are allowed to tee your golf ball up between the tee markers.

Where are the sprinkler heads on golf courses?

They are located either on the cart paths (circles) or out in the fairway (stakes). Some golf courses post distances on sprinkler heads out in the fairway which can make things easier

What is the order of play in golf?

Playing order: Whoever is furthest away from the hole goes first. Bunker Shots: Bunkers are considered hazards, and you are not allowed to ground your club while addressing the ball. You have to hover the club, in the air, and then swing down at the ball to get it out.

Why is a scorecard important?

Understanding a golf scorecard is important. Scorecards are used to: Play and compete in tournaments. Play in outings to win prizes. Compare scores with friends. Keep score on your progress. To learn how to take advantage of all the information on the scorecard, check out my article on understanding the scorecard.

What is tempo in golf?

Not only at the range, but throughout your inaugural round, tempo should be your primary focus. Chances are your swing is going to be rusty. Trying to smash your new driver or taking a hard whack from the rough will only aggravate any kinks. According to teachers Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, establishing tempo means giving 70 percent of full effort on a swing. This will help you keep your swing under control.

What is golf swing?

The golf swing uses a unique muscle combination and memory, one that's hard to replicate in the workout room. Making your first swing of the year on the tee box is a recipe for a disaster. Golf Digest fitness editor Ron Kaspriske says it's important to "prime your muscles before athletic activity," so prior to heading to the first hole, make sure to swing and stretch on the range.

Who extolled the virtues of not keeping score in our Happiness issue?

One of the best golf-related tidbits we've read came from Geoff Ogilvy and Martin Hall, as the pair extolled the virtues of not keeping score in our Happiness issue a few years back.

Is March a time for basketball?

March isn't just a time for basketball madness. It's also, for most above the Mason-Dixon, a return to the golf course after a long, and dreadful, hibernation. Throw in the anticipation of trying out new equipment that was gifted during the holidays, or the mere joy of being outside for the first time in forever, this round is one of the more anticipated of the year.

How to grip a golf club properly?

DO: Learn how to grip the club properly.#N#DON’T: Try to keep your head “down and still” through impact. Let it follow through with the rest of your body .#N#DO: Bend from your hip s.#N#DON’T: Bend from your knees.#N#DO: Get your lead shoulder under your chin on the backswing and finish with your face , chest and hips and facing the target.#N#DON’T: Stay flat-footed through impact.#N#DO: Concentrate on the short game by chipping and putting before focusing on long irons (3-iron, 4-iron, etc.) and your hybrids, fairway woods and driver.

Who said golf is the greatest game ever invented?

In the immortal words of Arnold Palmer: “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening—and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”.