Getting Started
The game of “gowf” was born in the 15th century in Scotland. The first rules of the game were codified around 1744 in Edinburgh by the Company of Gentlemen Golfers.
The world has never been the same since that moment - golf has become one of the most popular sports in the world. Nowadays golf is played in countries as far flung as Mexico and Ireland, South Africa and China, and, of course, Scotland.
There are even a few universities in the world that offer a major in golf.
To get started in this world with rich and varied history you will need to make potentially major investment of time and money. Getting started in golf entails a steep physical and mental learning curve and enormous fun! The best way to begin golfing is by learning what NOT to do.
First of all, don’t rush out and spend lots of money on equipment, clothing, lessons, course fees, and so forth. As a beginner, you don’t know which courses are worth spending money and what clothes and equipment you need to buy.
You will always have time to take the lessons once you figure out what you need, so don’t hurry with this either.
The newness and the joy of finding a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or even with the whole family is a part of the golf excitement. Golf, however, is a very difficult game to play well. Playing it can be frustrating and expensive unless you invest time learning what you need to know.
The key is in starting small and not taking everything too seriously too soon. Professional golfers advise against spending weeks on a driving range in the beginning to avoid developing bad habits which are very hard to break.
Spending some time on a range, however, will help you to get your muscles moving and to understand what types of clubs and balls to use. It will also help you to find out whether you have an aptitude and interest.
Find an inexpensive course and wear comfortable, loose clothing that doesn’t bind your arms and shoulders. Save the money you would spend on professional golf clothing for later.
Borrow a simple three-club set from a friend or rent clubs from the clubhouse - a “nine iron”, a “wedge”, and a “number 5 wood” is plenty for a beginner. In fact, you’ll use the wedge less on a driving range, but you can add a putter and practice in the putting area later. Some putting areas have miniature sand traps to practice escaping.
While practicing you need to relax, observe those who hit well and imitate their stance, posture and grip. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. It’s absolutely normal to miss a few.
Enjoy your practice and don’t get discouraged. Remember, you’re simply teaching your body how to swing, and how an impact and an angle affect the ball’s flight.
On the putting green start very close to the hole - no more than two feet away. When you can make 25 putts in a row more or less consistently (even the pros sometimes miss a two-footer!), move back to six feet, ten feet, twenty feet, but no farther.
When driving or putting stand firm and stable, so that a casual push wouldn’t knock you over. Golf is all about proper balance, concentration, and some simple physics.