How to start playing Golf?
- Justin Ruiz
- Jul 25, 2022
- 5 min read
Interested in playing golf? As recently as 2020, over 25 million individuals played at least one round of golf in the United States alone, and the popularity of the sport continues to rise year over year. There are three reasons in particular why so many enjoy playing the sport today.
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Why play golf?
The first is that it allows one to “get away” from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a few hours and truly enjoy nature. Golf courses can offer some of the most beautiful scenery that nature has to offer and can act as a way for one to put the stresses of life to the side and just enjoy playing. So many played after the Covid-19 pandemic in particular because it acted as a way to simply get out of the house and get some exercise in. Whatever the reason, golf is unique from other sports such as basketball or baseball in that no two golf courses are the same. It is next to impossible for one to get bored playing golf with all of the options that are available throughout the world today.
The next reason why so many enjoy playing golf is the challenges that it presents. What makes golf unique is that there are many different aspects to it that one has to master in order to truly become great. If one desires the ultimate challenge, golf provides a great avenue. However, it is not difficult enough that only a few individuals can truly become good at it. Golf is so appealing because whether one is 9 or 90, male or female, almost anyone can pick up a golf club today and become good at the game in a short period of time.
The last reason why many enjoy playing golf is the camaraderie that it offers. There are few things better than spending a weekend round out on the course with friends. There are many leagues and tournaments that one can play in regardless of how good they are at the game, providing one with endless opportunities to develop new friendships both on and off the course.
How to start golfing?
With that being said, what is the best way to start golfing? What is important to keep in mind first of all is that golf can take a bit of time to learn; it is not something one can pick up in a day or two due to the many different aspects of the game one has to learn, whether it is hitting a driver, chipping around the greens, and so forth.
The best place to start is to reach out to family and friends who play the game. They can provide information about what all is needed to play the game as far as golf balls and golf clubs, but also how and where they first started playing the game of golf as well.
Another place to consider is the local golf course. Another great aspect about the game of golf is that there are many who are friendly and willing to help out anyone trying to play the game for
the first time. Visiting a local golf course and talking to a PGA Professional will allow one to gain an overall sense of what is required to play the game of golf.
Should I take lessons?
Many recommend visiting with a golf professional and getting lessons when first starting to play the game of golf, and there are many good reasons for this. In order to become good at the game of golf, one needs to have a consistent golf swing. In other words, one should have a golf swing that they can easily repeat without having to over-think things. While there are many different ways to swing a golf club, a golf professional can help find a particular swing that is easily repeatable and allows one to gain confidence in their golf game. Getting lessons early on will help one to show how to do things the right way from the start, which in turn leads to needing less time to get good at the game of golf.
Lessons can come in a variety of forms. The most popular way is to physically visit a golf course and get a lesson from a PGA Professional, but with the advent of the internet it may soon be a thing of the past. YouTube provides a great outlet to learn the basics of golf and putting in some research on forums and social media can be useful as well. As stated earlier, however, there are many different ways to play the game of golf and some may be more useful to learn than others. Do not assume that all golf instruction videos can be useful and make sure to properly vet them ahead of time.
Do I need to buy clubs?
It is advisable to buy clubs when first starting to play golf, but do not be daunted by the prices for new clubs. One does not need to buy expensive brand clubs at the start of their golfing journey, and there are many different options to choose from. The first and most popular option for new golfers buying clubs is discount retailers such as Walmart or Target. They provide new starter sets for men, women, and kids at reasonable prices. Pawn shops are another great option, as golfers tend to trade in their used clubs there for newer ones elsewhere, which means great discounts for those on a budget. Lastly, consider golf retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods during holiday months. Black Friday in particular is a great time to look for clubs at these establishments, as they offer deep discounts on both new and used clubs.
Hit the course and play a round!
After buying clubs and perhaps getting a lesson or two in, the next step is to simply hit the local golf course and play a few rounds. Golf is the kind of sport where practice makes perfect, and the best practice comes from actually going out onto the course and hitting the ball around. When it comes to figuring out when to play, the best time is during the week in the late afternoon if possible. There generally won’t be many people out on the golf course, allowing one to
practice in peace. Do not worry about hitting a particular score when playing for the first few months either. The goal is to learn how to play the game and have fun. Try out shots from different lies and putt from different areas of the greens. This will give you a better idea of how to approach certain shots and give you more confidence as you progress through each round.
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