You’ve watched golf on TV, or maybe heard other people talking about it, and thought, “I want to try this game.” How hard can it be? In answer to this question, if you already know people who play, there you have an entry point, but if you don’t, finding a way to get started can be a daunting and overwhelming experience.
I’m here to help those who have absolutely no idea where to start. With over 20 years of coaching experience, I can now confidently say that beginner coaching is my favorite demographic to work with. Two years ago I set up a Women’s Get into Golf program which saw over 200 women complete the 3 week course. I understand the many preconceptions about the type of people who play golf and who it is suitable for, as well as the ups and downs you will inevitably encounter along the way, so without further ado, let’s move on to…
What type of golf do you want to play?
This sounds like a trick question, but it’s not. A recent PGA (Professional Golfers Association) research project found that 22.4 million adults in Britain and Ireland play golf, but only 4.9 million of them play on a course. Over the past 5 years, golf’s popularity has exploded thanks to Adventure Golf destinations and driving ranges featuring gamified setups.
If you just want to hit balls on a driving range – fine, no problem, you can find a way to be the best you can be in that environment. If you want to start and jump into a course, your journey will be slightly different.
The bottom line is that you find the type of golf that suits your needs and that you love what you do.
I have worked in several different golf environments, from top clubs in Surrey to local public fee-paying facilities. I would choose your local public driving range or a paid course every time. The reason is that while most golf clubs are doing what they can to change their culture by relaxing rules, dress codes and being more welcoming to the public, many are not doing so. Have you ever seen an adult yell at another person because of the length and color of their socks? Or a committee meeting called for an inconsistent raisin ratio in fruit scones? Well, you could still benefit from this at many golf clubs in the UK today, so choose a venue whose target market is you.
As a beginner, you should be able to ask how to proceed, take a chance and find out what is required to participate in this venue. If the person you’re talking to isn’t really happy to answer your questions, try elsewhere. Prioritize your comfort and enjoyment and don’t give your hard-earned money to companies that don’t value your business.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
How much will golf cost?
It depends on the type of golf you want to play. If you just want to try your hand at the driving range, you can rent a bay and clubs for an hour for an average cost of £15 or less.
If, however, you want to buy equipment and join a golf club, this represents a much larger investment. Depending on the brand, a set of golf clubs can cost anywhere from £400 or less for a beginner set, or around up to £2,500 for a premium set.
Another great option to save money is to buy used. Many professional stores located at golf clubs and at your local driving range may have a second-hand section offering major brands at a fraction of the price. Or stay online and check out websites that cater to the second-hand market, such as Golf Bidder, Cash for Clubs and Replay Golf, to name a few. If you fancy staying local, Facebook Marketplace can often be a treasure trove of second-hand bargains.
For a 7-day annual golf club membership, you can expect to pay between £700 and £2,500 plus. Offers are available, however, and many clubs are doing what they can to adapt to modern life with flexible off-peak options or quarterly memberships. You can even join a program like Play More Golf which buys you a certain number of rounds at different local courses near you.
Before you even consider joining a golf club, it is imperative that you do your research and think realistically about how often you will be able to play. The last thing you want is for it to feel like that annual gym membership, where you go so few times that it ends up costing you £50 per game!
Do you really need lessons?
YES! Of all the money you could potentially spend on golf in the years to come, no matter what type of golfer you choose to become, purchasing golf lessons is the money best spent . Any golf professional worth their salt will be able to teach you the basics of good setup and swing technique, while answering all your questions about the game. Want to know more about different shot types – ask your pro, want to meet other beginners to play with – ask your pro, what type of golf ball should you use – ask your pro, you get the idea. That’s not to say there aren’t bad pros, because there are. If your pro is more interested in telling you how he almost made it on tour but (insert sad story of injury or double stint), then steer clear! Find a professional who is passionate about coaching and who helps you achieve your goals.
(Image credit: WIGB)
How hard is golf to learn?
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, golf is hard, really hard. You’re trying to hit a small ball with a small clubface toward a target that’s often hundreds of yards away, on a wide variety of courses. No two shots you play will ever be the same. It’s a game that you never stop learning. Ask the top 10 golfers in the world how good they are, and they’ll tell you what they’re working on and what needs improvement.
It is essential to manage your expectations to ensure that you do not become discouraged in the early stages. You’ll have days where you wake up and you can throw the ball and send it wherever you want, and then you’ll have days where you feel like you’ve never held a club before. Then there is the never-ending quest for more consistency that all golfers covet.
The magic of golf lies in its difficulty. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be such a feat to play well. It’s the rollercoaster of emotions it can evoke that makes it fun! As cliché as it may sound, playing golf is the epitome of having to fall in love with the learning process and hoping that hard work pays off, and as the golf saying goes: “The more I The more I train, the luckier I get!
(Image credit: Howard Boylan)
Do you have to buy all the equipment?
For the practice, not at all. You can wear whatever you want and you can usually rent golf clubs. If you are going to a golf course, you will need to research the club’s dress code. The vast majority of golf clubs require you to wear golf specific clothing and may have a rule prohibiting jeans for what may be worn in the clubhouse. Goals are constantly changing as to what constitutes appropriate golf attire and clubs tend to set their own rules, so it’s worth doing a little research. If you want to get fitted, get started and look the part, head to your local club’s pro shop or golf supermarket to see what they have on offer and try before you buy. If you’re more of an online shopper, type “women’s golf clothing” into your search engine of choice to browse at your leisure.
When it comes to all equipment, when it comes to the club, how much you will need will depend on your progress and what you want to accomplish on the golf course. If you only want to play a few times a year, half a set will be enough. Alternatively, if you really want to get stuck in, arrange a bespoke fitting session where clubs, often at no extra cost, are built to suit your swing and physical makeup. Just like having the right pair of shoes to fit your feet, it will make a difference in your ability to hit the ball successfully and, ultimately, your enjoyment.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
What should I know?
Think of range golf as if you were riding a bike in a completely empty parking lot, and think of a golf course as if you were on a public road. To enjoy the driving range, you can Jon Snow do it, knowing nothing other than how to collect a basket of balls and load the range technical screen on your bay. Par for the course, though, you need to understand some fundamentals of traffic law to play it safe.
If you are playing alone, you will need to know where to tee off, which clubs are best to play from and from where. You will also need to know the etiquette of replacing divots, repairing field marks, how to play and let people pass.
Going to a golf course for the first time can feel like being thrown into the sea and not being a good swimmer. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the environment, only take one shot and deal with the consequences, and did I mention the people watching you. I can reassure you with the last one and promise you that golfers are pretty self-obsessed creatures and only think about their own games and golf shots, so they don’t really care how you hit the ball. ball ; I can understand that this doesn’t necessarily make things less scary the first few times.
Parting advice
Find your place and find your people. For example, a golf course that welcomes you by name and people with whom you enjoy spending your precious free time. Golf should be an escape that gives you the opportunity to get away from your usual daily life, relax and challenge yourself. Golf can be whatever you want it to be, I truly believe it has something to offer everyone and if you are lucky enough to find a hobby that you look forward to discovering, you are winning at life.
