What's the best way for a beginner to start playing golf?

Question

What's the best way for a beginner to start playing golf?

Answer 1

Buy a club and go and play on some of those small mini courses.

A book about the game might help your understanding too.

Answer 2

I started 4 years ago and now play off 19 ...my partner bought me a set of 6 lessons - i had 3 and then pro told me to go and hit range for a month and go out with my partner a couple of times then come back for other 3 lessons.

Made sure i joined club where i could play on saturdays with mixed capabilities and then just went for it.  Went to range at least once a week (often much more) and continued to have lessons for next couple of years at beginning of season.Good to have lessons as you don't learn any bad habits and if its good enough for tiger to have daily lessons then i will have the odd one too.

Loved it but it helped that my partner was an addict (played off 3) who got me into it and took me out a lot at beginning when i was totally rubbish

Dont buy cheap new set of clubs - better buying second hand good set which will last you at least a year until you know your swing speed etc and then you can splash out.

Answer 3

get a driver, fairway wood, 7 iron, pitching wedge, and a putter (for starters). go 2 the range nd take some lessons. then go 2 a par 3/executive nd play as much as u can. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

Answer 4

lessons are a good way to start. Start by playing on off hours like morning or afternoons on the weekdays when most courses are not so crowded. If you have a Buddie that plays you can play best ball with him, hit your shot and play who ever is in better position. It's a good way to not stress about hitting good shots all the time and will help with your confidence until you get the hang of playing on the course.

Answer 5

hit the ranges... need to practice the swings... then hit the mini golf course (the kind for the kids)... practice there... then hit the big guns.

Answer 6

Hopefully the following two pages will help.....

Answer 7

getting some clubs...duh!

Answer 8

If you can afford it, take lessons.  I have never taken a lesson myself because I'm a trial and error type person.  I bought a set from Wal-Mart, bought Tiger Woods book, and got a subscription to Golf Magazine.  I shoot in the 80's for the most part.  Some days are better than others.

Answer 9

Start at a pitch and putt. Golfer get obsessed with the long game but the driving range is BORING when you're starting out, at least P&P gives you a game - and if you don't learn chipping and putting, you'll never be able to play anyway.

In parallel with that, get a short course of lessons from a professional. If money is tight, they often run group classes which work out very reasonable. There you can develop the ability to hit longer shots.

Once you can connect with the ball fairly reliably, borrow a set or buy second-hand and get out on a local muni course, and see if you fall in love with the game! I hope you will.

Answer 10

go to a driving range and hit a bucket of balls remember to keep your eye on the ball,your head down,and laugh it off when you miss the ball all together.we have all missed the ball when we started.

Answer 11

Put the ball thing on the little tee thing and whack it with a club thing. That's a very good way to start.

Answer 12

if your serious about playing get some lessons from a club pro. Some clubs offer free lessons to beginners

Answer 13

Take lessons as soon as possible. Spend a couple of weeks between lessons going to the range working on your swing thoughts from the previous lesson. Find the flat spot on a practice green and putt (six feet putts) as often as possible. Sign up for a few captains choice tournaments as a D player and have fun.

Answer 14

I can't believe no one mentioned group lessons for beginners. It depends on your area, but in Chicago almost every town has a public golf course and discount group lessons if you live in that town.

Even if you don't live in Chicago, any public golf course or driving range will have group lessons for beginners. This is the best way to start because everyone in your group will be a beginner and you won't feel as much pressure when you're by yourself on the range getting advice from Joe Shmoe.

Don't worry about equipment at first, any $100 set from Walmart will do fine.

Also, stick with par three or “executive” courses which are shorter and less scary.

What really got me to the next level was playing more golf course golf, not driving range golf. There’s no substitution for the different situations and different lies on a golf course. You never hit off a flat mat on the fairway.

You can either sneak on late in the day or ask the marshall if you could practice on one of the holes. People who shoot 85 and below play 100 rounds a year or more (straight from Golf Magazine April 2008).

Get group lessons for beginners, that's the best way to start. Every good group lesson program will have at least one lesson for the full swing, chipping, pitching, putting and ettiquette. Don't go for a group lesson plan that only has the full swing.

Answer 15

get yourself down to the golf range and hit a few practice balls and ask around see if someone would like to take you under thier wing for a game.