Any tips for a first-timer on a golf course?

Question

Tomorrow I'm going to a 9-hole public golf course for the first time with one of my buddies. I'm kind of nervous. He has played on golf courses a couple of times, but basically we are both beginners. He basically knows what it's like on a golf course but I don't.

I've been to the driving range many, many times, just never out on a course. My friend keeps telling me that we should go and I finally agreed. I can drive the ball pretty far, but I often have trouble and slice the ball far to the left. I can't really drive it consistently. I have done a little bit of work with irons but I'm not very good at it. I've also never putted before in my life (mini golf doesn't count!).

So are there any tips or things I should know about before I tee off tomorrow? I just don't want to make a complete fool of myself. Also, how am I to determine which iron to use in which situation? I have a full set (I think). I have so many questions, but can't think of them all to put here!

Please help.

Answer 1

Well, to begin with, don't go with any expectations of playing well.  Make sure that you take lots of extra balls because you WILL lose some.  

Most important of all:  PACE OF PLAY.   You MUST keep up with the group ahead of you.  (Within 1/2 hole).  Even if there's nobody behind you (unlikely on a public course if the weather is decent) don't fall behind.  There is absolutely nothing more frustrating for golfers than being behind a poor group that is playing slowly.  

As far as play goes; just take nice smooth swings, don't try to overpower the ball.  You're better off hitting it a shorter distance and keeping it on the fairways than pounding it and having it slice into the rough/bush all the time.  Keep your expectations low and keep moving.  Have fun.

Answer 2

Before you even place one foot on a golf course both you and your buddy should get a copy of the abbreviated rules of golf and study Section l, Etiquette. Get that down cold pat. Keep up with the people ahead of you and not in front of the people behind you. If you are taking too many strokes, pick up your balls and proceed to the next teeing ground. Help each other by watching each players golf ball. And enjoy your experience.

Answer 3

try to make a hole in one. you cant slice a ball to the left, its called a hook. use a small number iron for longer shots

Answer 4

this is the exact reason that I believe every person should have to take a class on golf etiquette or take a test to pass out of it.

Answer 5

You certainly sounds like an anxious beginner to me. Reminds me of the days when I just started golf....

You have a quite a handful of concerns...I'll try to answer them as follows:

1. You buddy knows the course better than you. << Then you should adopt conservative play. Meaning to say don't rush and don't go for distance. Rather play safe and use a club that you are confident of hitting it straight. Between the distance and getting into the fairway & greens. Choose the latter>>

2. You can't control your drive even though once a blue moon you can hit a bomber. <<Refer to my answer to your concern 1. Remember play conservatively. It doesnt pay for you to get wild shots throughout your entire game>>

3. For sure, NEver use a putter to tee off! haha. Other than that there's no stopping you of using whatever club in whatever scenario. Just remember that between your irons, they are set at a distance of 10meters difference. So estimate the distance to pin and select your clubs accordingly.

Answer 6

this should help http://golf.about.com/od/rulesofgolf/a/g...

Answer 7

Etiquette, etiquette, etiquette.

Raking bunker: if you step in the bunker (because your ball is there) when you leave, rake it to even out the sand surface, so the next player's ball will not be in your sand divot, or footprint

It's your turn if your ball is furthest away from pin.

When someone's is putting on the green it's your job to pull the flag out if you're closest to it.  Leaving the flag in is against USGA rule.

Play ready golf, i.e. when someone else is getting ready to hit their ball, be ready to hit your ball, that includes thinking which club you should hit, taking practice swing, walking to your ball, etc, so there is not considerable delay hitting your ball.  However, do not do anything which may distract other players from hitting their shot, especially in his pre-shot routine.

Teeing off: the player who scored the lowest in the previous hole has the honor to hit first.  If there was a tie, the person who teed off the previous hole will keep his honor.  But most players play ready golf, i.e. whoever's ready.  But make sure that they did say it, some golfers can be a stickler when it comes to this.  But on a 9 hole course, it'd be ready golf.

For 9 hole you should go through it in around 2 hours.  Anything longer than 2:30 hours is playing slow, and golfers hate slow players.

Answer 8

Keep your head down, when lining ip from the tee box make sure your shoulders stay sguare woth the hole, one way to do this is by holding a club across your chest, when looking at the ball keep your eye on the ball through full swing, if you take your eye off the ball and look up you will probably miss the ball. and most inportant a good swing slow on the backswing and then don't swing through like a baseball bat.

Answer 9

First of all always remember etiquette. As you have mentioned a few things regarding the fact. Stick with these facts.

: When ever you hit a ball out of the bunker you must always rake it to keep it clean for the next person.

: You are know when to hit the ball on the fairway or green if you are the farthest away then you go first. The closest person goes last.

: Usually when you get to the green someone should pull the flag and put it on the ground for courtesy

:ALWAYS REPLACE YOUR DIVOT! This is huge in golf, you never want to be a golfer who's ball is stuck in a divot.

A divot is a chunk of ground pulled apart when you swing, if that happens just put it back as best  as you can.

:Don't scream or yell ( even if its a water shot)

:When teeing off, concentrate on the ball, and always look down at it.

:Last rule of thumb, don't let go of the club!

When you go golfing just relax and enjoy yourself, and try not to hit the people ahead of you.

Answer 10

dont look up and dont over swing

dont let ur shodow get in front of other golfers

raking bunker is when after hitting out of a bunker there should be a rake near by and rake up ur footprints in the sand

when someone else is putting let them aim when there over 3 feet away with the pin in and when they hit pull it out before the ball rolls to the hole

dont tee up the ball too high or too low u may hit it high or top it

always let the other person tee off first on the first on the first hole

the person farthest away from the hole always hits first after everyone has hit of the tee box

never let ur wrests swing while putting

ur hands should be infront of the head of the club in chipping and putting

u should know how for u can hit ur irons

dont get disuraged

dont talk or move when smeones hitting

and most of all be calm and enjoy it

Have Fun

               Nate