Beginning golfers check list…
Golf can be the most rewarding game that we can play. It is about the only game we can play from a young age to a very old age. Unfortunately form many golf can be an intimidating game to learn . Learning a few things from this check list may help relieve some stress. Golf has a habit of making people feel insecure and inadequate in the beginning of the journey. You may go through some awkward feelings at first but remember, everyone starts somewhere and you deserve to have a chance to play.http://bit.ly/1VUbOCr
When you first start playing golf you will meet a bunch of people at work, at the gym or in a bar that “shoot in the 70”s.” Scoring in the 70’s is a very low score and is estimated to only happen to less than 5% of all golfers and breaking 90 by less than 20%. So don’t be intimidated by all the big talk, we all remember how big the fish was that got away so don’t let this keep you from playing.
The fact is that most golfers are not very good, if you consider breaking 80 good. For average players breaking 100,keeping score accurately, is a good round. Don’;t be intimidated by what you might score on 18 holes. Most golfers are more worried about their own game than your game and not paying to much attention to your shots. So relax and follow some or all of the advice bellow and you will be on your way to becoming comfortable on the golf course.
Making an appointment (tee time)
Most courses allow you to make tee times online but I would suggest calling and talking to someone so you can learn a little about the facility. ….
1. Making a tee time can be confusing to a new golfer but if you ask the following questions it will work fine.
a. When you call the golf shop use something close to this script, “high, we have (one, two, three, four) players and would like to play on (name day) at or around (name time). If they have an opening you like then say, “I just have a couple of questions before I book the time, have your punched the greens recently and is the golf course in good shape? You could additionally ask if you will be short on time that day “how long does a round take at this time normally.” You would then ask, “how much are the green fees for each player”? If all answers are good be prepared to provide a credit to secure the time. You may also want to ask the following questions if it applies for your group;
i. We have a player with an injury, can we get a handicap flag for the golf car?
ii. Is this a hard golf course to walk
iii. Do you have a twilight rate
iv. Do you have a senior rate.
v. Is the golf course wet from the recent rain
vi. Is this a difficult golf course for beginners
vii. Is there any tournaments the day we are playing going on
viii. Do you have a beverage cart on the course
ix. Do you have a driving range
x. Is there a locker room available
xi. What do you charge for a golf car or pull cart
Don’t be late to the golf course
2. Show up on time, ½ hour minimum before the scheduled tee time
a. This is a key to not annoying the people you may be playing with and starting off feeling panicked. If you show up a few minutes before your tee time, want to grab a drink at the snack shop, need to buy balls, have to use the rest room and then rush to the tee you will be nervous and will also irritate the people you are playing with. ½ hour to one hour before your tee time is when you should arrive at the golf course.
b. If it is a new golf course to you google the golf course and use your gps but also print out the directions on paper and put the phone number of the golf course on the page just in case you get lost.
Know what type of golf course you are playing
3. Know if you are playing a private, resort or public course
a. It is important to know this as each type of facility has their own customs or idiosyncrasies. Silly things such as where to put on your shoes, should you drop off your clubs at the club drop or carry them to the golf shop? If you are used of playing high end resort or private clubs and show up looking for the attendance to take your golf clubs at a municipal course it can be embarrassing. When you drive up to a new golf facility look for the bag drop sign, if there is a club attendant waiting at the bag drop open the trunk, if not carry them from the car yourself. There is a general etiquette for different golf facilities. Don’t worry if you forget and get any of these wrong most people don’t care that.
i. Private club – depending on the area of the country you may or may not drop your clubs off but you do not normally change your shoes in the parking lot. Carry your shoes to the locker room and change your shoes there. If there is no bag drop or attendant carry your bag to the cart area or golf shop and leave them there.
ii. Resort – Normally there will be someone at the bag drop area, leave your clubs there and it is ok to change your shoes in the parking lot.
iii. Public or Municipal golf course – Park your car, change your shoes then carry your bag to the check in area. Depending on the golf facility keep your clubs someplace where you can see them or where you don’t have to worry about someone “borrowing” a golf club from your bag.
Time to go to the golf shop and check in
4. Checking in to the golf shop should be easy
a. Find the golf shop, if you get lost and almost anyone will help direct you. Go to the counter and just say “high I am xxx xxxxx checking in for the (8:00am or your time) tee time with the (name of the group) smith group. Let them find the time and then let the golf professional or person behind the counter know, I am checking in for (me, Johnson and me, the entire group) and hand over the credit card or cash. You should get a receipt and keep that in your pocket until you tee off, just in case. The etiquette for paying depends upon if you are playing with a group of friends, you were invited for a business round etc. If it is a group of friends or you are playing as a single go ahead and pay for yourself. If you are with another type of group let the golf shop know you have arrived and let them know you will check in as a group. This will give you time to figure out who is paying, normally you are paying for yourself.
b. It is good to know if your group is walking, riding or taking pull carts, these fees will be taken care of upon checking if for the green fees. Ask the person at the counter if there is a practice range and if the balls are included or do you need to purchase the balls separately. Many facilities will hand you a token for the driving range. When you go to the range you will see a machine with baskets near it, put the coin in the machine and the basket under the part where the balls come out. Make sure you put the basket in the proper place first.
c. You can now relax, use the rest room, grab a soda and head to either the putting green or keep hitting balls at the practice area. Keep your eyes open for the rest of your group.
d. When it is fifteen to twenty minutes before your tee time you should already see the people you are paired with, if not check with the golf shop to see if they have checked in.
e. At 10 minutes before your tee time head to the first tee and there may or may not be a starter. If there are a lot of people on the first tee ,(typically public course,) ask the group on the tee what time their tee time is. This will let you know if you are next or if the tee times are running late.
Do you have all your tools, golf equipment
5. Equipment
a. Make sure you have enough golf balls, tees, golf glove, full set of clubs and proper shoes before you go to the first tee.
b. You should have at least 12 – 24 balls in your golf bag just in case you have a problem with a lake or difficult hole.
c. Make sure you have at least 12 tees, you can normally find additional tees on tee boxes during the round
d. If you don’t have a decent set of clubs rent a set at the golf shop. Rental fee can vary from $15 to $40 unless you’re at a high end resort course. Every player must have their own set of clubs with at least a couple of woods, six irons, a wedge or two and a putter. It is in poor taste to bring a half of set of clubs and try to borrow clubs during the round of golf.
e. You don’t need to have golf shoes even though they do help. If you don’t have golf shoes you can wear tennis shoes. Never where work boots, dress shoes, high heels or any type of foot wear that could cause damage to the soft grass and putting surface.
What color tee markers do you play
6. Which tee boxes do I play
a. You have made it to the first tee congratulations
i. If you do not know everyone in the group introduce yourself and shakes hands
ii. Let the group know what tee markers you will be playing from, see below
iii. Wish everyone good luck!
b. Choose at tee to play from, he typical layout of tee boxes by color are as follows
i. Red – Ladies
ii. Yellow – Better Lady players, Junior and Seniors
iii. White – Advance Ladies, Advanced Juniors and Mens regular
iv. Blue – Advanced Men
v. Black – Very Advanced Men
c. This may appear sexist and that is because it is. Many men players hit the ball farther then many women but this is obviously not always the case. You should play the tee’s that are most comfortable for you to play, don’t be intimidated to play a set of tee’s that are for players more advanced. If you are playing with a golf buddy don’t be afraid to ask which tees they recommend, take the easier tees almost always unless you are playing well and want to challenge yourself
Basic Rules on the golf course
7. Basic rules once you’re on the first tee and the rest of the course.
a. Turn off or at least put your phone on vibrate. It is considered very rude to have your phone ring during the round and even worse to talk on the phone. If you have to take a call keep it on vibrate and when you do talk on the phone walk at least 30 yards away, talk very quietly and make the call very short. Some private course forbid cell phones in the club house and on the golf course and you can be asked to leave if they see your phone. Don’t get caught.
b. When you’re on the tee box, a player getting ready to hit, they have put the tee in the ground and they are within a few yards of the ball starting the pre-shot routine, stop talking, moving or taking practice swings. This is true for the entire round for whenever someone is almost ready to hit a shot. Most players take about 20 – 30 seconds before they hit each shot and expect quiet and stillness from the group they are playing with.
c. Standing behind a player on the target line is also considered rude if you are with 20 yards. As a rule of thumb just try never to stand behind or in front of a player on the target line.
d. After the first shot is hit the player farthest away from the hole is supposed to have the “honor “, that means it is your turn if you are the farthest from the hole in the group, “away”.
e. When you are on the putting green you do not want to step on a player’s line. This will be confusing at first but the player’s line is between where the ball starts and where the player anticipates the ball rolling towards the hole. To be safe, take a look a where each players ball is in relation to the hole and try to stay at least three feet away from the intended target lines. This may mean that you have to walk off the green to go around a ball and that is OK and proper etiquette.
Don’t spend your day searching for balls
8. Looking for golf balls,
a. As you learn to play golf you will lose a lot of golf balls. You may be shocked how many ball you lose per round so when you start don’t buy expensive balls. You may even consider buying used balls, there are many sites on line.
b. When you do lose a ball there are rules and etiquette to follow. If you don’t follow the rules below you will become one of those golfers no one likes to play with
i. If you hit a ball into a place, out of bounds or where you don’t think you can find it hit another ball. Before hitting the ball tell the group, “I am going to hit a provisional ball in case I don’t find the first one.
ii. Under the rules of golf you have five minutes to find your ball or it is deemed lost even if you find it after that time
iii. In the real world of golf if you hit a ball someplace that you don’t think you could find it or even if you did find it you couldn’t play it, abandon the ball and move on.
iv. If you search for your ball you should take no more than three minutes.
v. If you are losing a lot of balls the group will get tired of helping you look so let the group know, “ don’t worry about that ball I have plenty more.”
vi. If you cause your group to look for balls all day and slow the group down you will not be asked to play very often. If you are playing at the same place often the word will get around and people will start to avoid you so just be considerate of the other players, bring extra balls and don’t take too much time looking for balls.
How to drive the car on the golf course
9. Golf car etiquette is important
a. Never drive the golf car within 30 yards of the green, within 10 yards of a tee box or into a bunker, “sand trap”.
b. Do not put your foot on the gas pedal when a player is getting ready to hit, this releases the brake and can be very loud on many types of golf cars.
c. Don’t drive closer to the hole than the player hitting unless you are very far off their target line. Remember, golfers hit their balls in all kinds of directions they shouldn’t so always be careful not to put yourself in a position to be hit by the ball.
Don’t be slow and keeping score
10. Keeping score and pace of play
a. If you are new to the game keeping score is very over rated. You will play with some golfers that will want to force you to keep score. If you don’t want to keep score or want to keep your own score just tell the score keeper of the group that you are playing a practice round and won’t be keeping score today. If you are fairly new to the game this gives you permission to pick up the ball and move it closer to the hole if you are struggling.
b. Remember, when you start your just not going to be very good at first so take it easy on yourself and enjoy the adventure. It is ok to hit a few shots but one you have hit the ball six or more time from the tee box pick up your ball. When the group gets to the green and drop your ball on the edge of the green and say, “ I am just going to finish from here” If it take you more than three putts pick up the ball and walk to the side of the green.
c. Pace of play is key to enjoying your round and the rest of your group enjoy playing golf with you. You don’t want to have to rush and as long as you are playing decent you shouldn’t feel rushed. As a general rule if you are at double the par of the hole it is time to pick up your ball and either move it to the green when everyone else gets to the green or just keep it in your pocket until the next hole. Even if it makes you mad that you are not playing well and have to pick up your ball, pick it up and relax. if you keep the pace of play fast enough and you have a good attitude everyone will enjoy playing golf with you and will invite you to play with them again. Most golfers are not very good so just don’t slow everyone down and you’re a good playing partner.
Good advice is rarely free, be warned
11. Getting advice from you fellow players
a. This is mostly aimed towards beginner woman golfers, sorry. Most guys can’t wait to give advice to guys or girls. The ironic part about this is most the “experts” that will try to give you advice either on the practice range or on the golf course are not very good themselves. You don’t want to get into an argument with this teacher or feel like you have to be rude to get rid of them. When a player is trying to help, and they are trying to help, just let them know that you are working on a swing change with your PGA golf instructor. If they ask you what you’re working on just say “ I am just working on some fundamentals and I don’t think I should try anything new, but thank you.” If they insist on asking more questions just say, “I am new to the game and I promised my instructor I would only work on what we discussed in the last lesson so please don’t get me confused.” If the person asks who your instructor is just say” I don’t think you would know him or her, they are not from around here.” If the person continues, which is rare but some people are pushy, just say,” look I appreciate you trying to help but you are getting me frustrated, do me a favor and let me work on my game the way I would like and please don’t give me any more advice so we can both enjoy the day. This should work or tell the person to be quiet……
Attitude is everything in golf
12. It’s all in the attitude
a. One thing no one likes is someone bitching, moaning, complaining, whining, yelling, swearing or just acting like a jerk on the golf course. This goes for all levels of players. The truth about golf is that no one besides you really cares that much how good you play. So remember that when you hit a bad shot it is ok to be disappointed but keep your complaining to a minimum, at least externally. Everyone likes the golfer who is not playing well but yet continues to be positive and encourage the rest of the group. Just remember, don’t infect the rest of the group with a negative attitude.
It is almost over
13. At the end of the round
a. When the last put on the last green is holes it is time to shake hands and say something nice like,” thank you Ted / Mary, I really enjoyed the round, we should do it again sometime soon.” Make sure to shake everyone’s hand and then move off the green to let the next group hit their shots. If you are a man you should take off your hat during the handshakes.
b. If you are riding in a golf car and there is a person cleaning your clubs at the club house it is customary to tip this person $2 to $5 per person or more at some facilities.
c. With most groups when the round is completed it is time to head into the restaurant / bar for a drink. You don’t need to hang out for a long time but it is polite to a least have a diet coke – Lemonade – beer or whatever you enjoy. After this drink if you need to leave simply say, “again it was fun playing with the group today but I have to be going before I am late. “ “Let me know if you want to play again in the next few weeks, thank you”. Then put your clubs in the car and go to your next location.
Hopefully there is something in this that will help the newer golfer. This is a quick, abbreviated attempt to help a new golfer understand the basic golf culture and to feel more comfortable playing golf. If you read the above notes a few times you should feel much more at ease the next time you go to a golf course. If you are more at ease the odds are you will not only play better but you will enjoy the experience more.
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Jim Hartnett, PGA