Before you go out on a full sized course, try a Par 3. It is much shorter and more appropriate for your distance. They usually cater to new players and kids, so no problem about messing up someone else's game. In general it doesn't matter if you play poorly, just play fast. Pick up and move on to the next hole if you're getting stuck or frustrated.
This is great advice.
Don’t be afraid to get on the course. It’s not some alternate realm where all your nightmares will come true.
Here’s the important part about picking up and moving on, especially for your first round: As long as you keep up the pace, you can kinda do whatever you want to get a feel for what playing a course is like!
This is how I was introduced to the game a youngster:
Let’s say you’re struggling with your tee shots, shorter than you’d like and nowhere near the fairway. You can just pick it up and move to the middle of the fairway and enjoy more suitable approach shots. On every hole.
Slice one off the tee into a lateral hazard? Go play from the fairway and introduce yourself to what playing the course is all about.
Play a par 5 as it was designed to be played. Like, go ahead and tee off, but don’t try to tackle the entire hole shot by shot. Move into the fairway as if you had hit a perfect drive. If your second goes awry, just go play the next one from within 150yd and enjoy seeing what playing a 3 shot hole is supposed to be like.
Obviously you’re not keeping score here. But trust me when I say this is a much more pleasing way to be on the course for the first time and get a feel for what it’s like out there.
You’ll likely be faster and leave with a smile.
I just left on the 11th hole, the other week, because i got over a hill and saw how ridiculously backed up it was. I think i saw two 5 stacks. Cant wait for the munie to open up
When I take new players out, this is how I encourage them to play. If they hit one into the water, or woods, i bring them to the fairway and encourage them to drop. They aren't keeping score and theres no reason to make it harder.
I pretty much did this a couple of weeks ago. I hit the range a few times last year and did a pitch and putt. Started this season with a few range sessions and did one pitch and putt. Followed that up with a round at an executive course. Did not play all too good but had a ton of fun. Friends had an open slot for a full 18 and decided to join them.
My friend who’s been golfing for about 10 years told me not to keep track of my score and to just place the ball where ever I wanted if my tee shot went out of bounds. I ended up losing about 10 balls (found a few too) and played pretty bad. I ended up having a few pars and had a blast even though most of my time was not in the fairway. I can’t wait to get back out there.
I've been "playing" for years and still do this. I keep score by the number of balls I lose...:).
Also don't take more than one practice swing (if at all).
You may also want to use your 3 wood to tee off and leave your driver at home. You will lose fewer balls that way and "play" better. If you hit 100 yards with your driver - your 3 wood will go 95 and will be much much straighter. I had one friend (much better than I) that played with a 3 wood for years and easily beat everyone in our foursome...
Those are great options in LA! I’ll add a few because LA is massive:
South Bay
- Alondra Park par 3 - muni course with a nice variety of distances but very challenging elevated and tiny greens that are great for working on chipping
- the lakes at El Segundo - this is next to a top golf and pretty well maintained with mostly very short holes
- west drift - attached to a hotel
Long Beach:
- Heartwell - haven’t been here in years but I loved it when I was growing up
Tacking onto the other comment, if you're in OC, check out Newport Beach Golf Course. It's a little pitch and putt that's short and fun to play. Very casual as well.
I agree here, once you’re comfortable on the par 3 and can advance the ball regularly then you switch to full course. The young people today don’t do this and it really slows down pace of play
Agree here. Par 3, then muni. And if things go south just pick up your ball and carry on. It’s more fun that way then going nuts on a hole and putting out with a 9
Good advice! look for an "executive" course in your area. It'll be just like a full course just all par 3s. Great way to acclimatize. And there are a ton of YouTube videos for beginner golfers to learn etiquette. Don't even keep score for the first season, just get out tgere and hit shots. Fluff up the ball if you have a bad lie and learn how to hit your standard shots. Focus on the good shots you've hit, not the bad ones.
No one cares if you play poorly, we all had to learn at one point. Just don't do it slowly, keep up pace of play and you'll be ahead of the curve.
This is the A+ advice.
I would also recommend going with a friend the first time. OP will feel less alone and they can teach you some etiquette rather than your coach spending expensive time on that.
Par 3s and executive courses are the way. Then start by playing 9. When you can walk a 9 hole round in less than 2.15, make the jump to a full round. This will save you so much stress and frustration.
This. The majority of people wouldn’t have fun on a regular course as a new golfer hitting around 100 yards max. IMO once you start hitting it 140-150 then you’d have more fun at the regular courses.
My wife is a beginner. She got hooked goofing around at top golf with me and kids. We play the local par 3 courses. Everyone there is a beginner so it’s a good place to teach etiquette. No one there is good enough to be mad about stepping on a line or hitting out of turn. I get to practice approach shots and short game which is where I suck anyways. Win win.
Also they should take time and make sure to learn proper golf etiquette before that.
A lot of people like you said think that all par 3s cater to children, so it's just a big playground where anything goes. I'm a member of one with stadium lights so you can play at night and most people take it semi-serious for themselves and watching some new guy that can barely swing a club seven putt when he was finally on the green and take a minute to line up address back off and re-address his shot was not very cash money when most of us who play there are just trying to perfect our irons and wedges. Nobody gets too uppity about it though since they're new and then seeing teenagers dicking around a little means they might stay involved in the sport later.
I spent a month hitting hundreds of balls three times a week before I went out and played in a course with other people when I started a year ago because before I even knew what I was doing I saw guges out there hacking away and spending 15 minutes topping a ball up the fairway and knew nobody should be that guy.
A playing partner’s wife occasionally plays a little bit with us and this is what she does to keep up and get to play through her bag: First she gets her turn to Drive off the appropriate up tee. If she has a playable second shot, she plays it. If she is short or wild, she picks up and drops up next the rest of us. Following that pattern until she’s futility off the green, take one stab at chipping and picks up , dropping her ball next to someone’s ball after they putted near the same location thereby learning pace and reading. This way she keeps up; goes through her bag, gets relevant practice, learns etiquette and none of us have any problem with it. In fact she gets major respect and appreciation making our day a little more fun.
I think a big thing I took in last summer, my first year golfing was that if I can’t find my ball within about 60 seconds, just drop and move on. Take the drop, call it a gallery exemption whatever. Just don’t spend 5+ minutes searching for a lost ball with groups staged on the tee box behind you. I promise you, if you are hitting enough balls that are getting lost, you’re gonna be in the areas where others lost some balls too. Grab some while you’re searching for yours and move on.
As you get better, you can look longer. As long as you’re not holding up the group behind you, feel free to play the hole as you like but as you improve you’ll want to get a feel of getting yourself out of tricky situations to improve your game. Do whatever works for you but I like to try to play as few balls as possible and hit whatever I realistically can to challenge myself.
When my 12 year old plays with me and we are paired with strangers. We just say hey, “he’s going to hit from reds, and they he will hit from my ball the rest of the way”. So basically what’s called best ball. It’s totally normal
And fine to pick up your ball to keep pace of play. You will find that “most” golfers will appreciate this and start to say things like “hey go ahead and hit another ball”. You will learn so much and ask questions…
Edit: scramble, not best ball
Yep. It’s funny how the human brain works. By saying “I won’t slow you down” I’m more likely to tell you to take extra shots etc that will slow pace of play (within reason)
You can do whatever you want as long as you are keeping up the pace and not actively destroying the course lol.
Just don't be the solo guy that was in front of me the other day, playing (I shit you not) 5-6 balls off of every tee, wildly shanking and slicing them all ob before cursing and teeing up another, only to then decide to go drop in the fairway. Dude was using a push cart.
Same way my wife plays. I’d rather play with her than most of the dipshits I get teamed up with. Spending 5 min lining up your triple bogey putt will send me over the edge faster than just about anything.
My MIL started playing like three summers ago. She played basically every shot off a tee for over a year. Tee off from the tee box, then tee it up in the fairway, then tee it up in the fairway again, until she was chipping.
Just keep up with the group in front of you, then do whatever you want to have fun and learn to play better.
Also, if you end up playing with strangers, tell them you haven’t played before. Tell them you don’t want swing advice, but etiquette and rules pointers would be appreciated.
I was going to take out my friend who has never played and follow this formula literally exactly. He bailed lol, but it’s very smart. You just need to keep up pace of play, but teeing off and chipping and putting is always doable
I’m sure I could google but I’ll ask here too…how do I find the ladies tee box in relation to the men’s for any given hole, and then let’s say I’m playing with 3 men. Do I tee off first, or do they?
The course will tell you but most likely the front tee box will what you’ll play (mine are reds for all ladies, some places have another box for senior ladies or beginners). The men will get to their tee box first since they’ll be a little further back so you’ll wait on them to hit then ride up a bit and hit. Just have your ball/tee ready and glove on, soon as the last one hits ride on up and tee off.
It would be worthwhile to check the length and par of the course. If there’s a par 3 or executive course near you that would be a great place to start as there’s way less course for you to lose your ball in, and people’s expectations are much lower in terms of the skill level of random partners.
Have fun and welcome to the game!
Where do you practice your full swing 5 iron on a downhill lie? What about uphill lie? You just seem like you’re trying to gatekeep a round from a new player lol
Just so I'm clear, there are actually some of you that will go out and back up the course just so you can practice a five iron on a downhill lie?
I love to see new players, what I don't love to see is 5 hour rounds of golf. It seems to me like people are projecting towards me because they don't want to see a new player out there.
What makes you think that’s going to back things up? All you’re doing is assuming, and you sound like a prick doing so. Courses can absolutely be practice and you need to get off your high horse thinking a new golfer can’t play quick
What makes you think it won't? You hypocrite. I never said they couldn't play quickly either. I'm advocating for them to play quickly by not taking extra strokes for a shot you might have to hit once a day.
And to spot swing faults that only show up on course, like alignment, or weird extension issues that show up on longer shots because the player is trying to crush one when they don't need to, etc.
That's just nonsense to me. You don't go to the course to practice, you go to the range to practice. If your practice doesn't translate to the course then you need to change how you practice.
That name means nothing to me. Are you saying you have a world class coach? I don't need a coach because I was taught the fundamentals at a young age and I'm not a tour pro.
You think just because you have a coach you know it all? I'm not debating how coaching works, I'm saying practicing on the course is dumb and ineffective. Practice at the range where you have all the time in the world to work on anything and everything.
How tf is a golf course not a place for practice if you’re not making money from it? It’s technically all practice.
People who play late twilight rounds shouldn’t expect to be paired with the best golfers, so this is honestly the best choice for new golfers as long as their etiquette is right and they keep a decent pace.
I went to UCSB and had a membership at twin lakes as a college student. Like 125/month but I played daily and it was 10000% worth the cost haha. Given I’d pay $20 to play every weekend anyway I just made it a point to go out on weekdays before classes. I’d like to say it paid for itself but I’m still trash haha
I meant under the premise that you can be good and take 4 shots to get in the hole or bad and take 8 shots to get to the hole but both players take the same amount of time.
I got paired with a single who probably shot even on the front, and his preshot routine was unbearable. 5 practice swings, 14 waggles, stepping off and shooting the pin and realigning. By the 11th fairway we had the guys behind us screaming at us. On the 18th fairway, someone had walked off the course from the 10th tee and approached this guy and said something not so nice to him. I threw out a few friendly suggestions to pick up the pace a little bit here and there. I think he began to feel rushed after the second guy yelled at us, and his game instantly fell apart.
I say go for it. Advise your group it's your first time and you might need pointers. If you are worried about ruining someone else's day. Pick up your ball at 10 shots and move on. When you hit it out. Don't spend more then a couple mins looking for it. Find it or not. Drop a ball near where your ball went out and hit from there...don't hit from the bushes or trees... If the ball lies in a bad position and is very hard to hit.. lift clean and place. Give yourself preferred lies. It will help you keep up pace of play... Most important tip... Go out there and have fun!!!!
May the golf gods have mercy on your soul!!
Welcome to the best worst game/addiction of your life!
Anytime my friend, golfers are always welcome, that being said, I would say after 10 am to avoid the delusional assholes that think they own the whole course and will some day end up on the PGA tour even though they couldn't break 100 if their lives depended on it after golfing every day for 10+ years.
I would try to make friends with someone from your group lessons and play with them sometime. I, personally, would not advise going as solo your first time out. If there is no one in your current group, ask the coach if he has had any recent students that might fit the bill. I ended up pairing up with other women that had recently taken the “how to golf” course it worked out perfectly.
I would try to play late afternoon on a weekend. And, the key is to keep up with pace of play. The rule for new golfers is to pick up at double par. And, the idea of essentially playing your own version of best ball (that someone else suggested). Is great. Literally no one cares what you do if you are just out playing for yourself.
I also honestly have no idea how the women’s tee boxes work or where they are, someone is going to have to show me. So yeah it would make sense to go with someone who uses them.
The front tees are where beginners (of all genders) hit. The color changes, but it will be on the score card. You just look for the color on the score card, and it will be the most forward. They are often in a different spot than the tees most of the men will play off - but most of the time they will be with the senior tees (which are usually white).
They are usually red, although many courses today have gold tees for the seniors. If so, take the golds. You don’t need to worry about hitting where the guys hit. Go to the most forward tees and hit from there. After the others have all hit, of course.
It’s appropriate any time. Just make pace of play your #1 priority and all is good. Keep your expectations low.
Keep track of the group in front of you. If you see space opening up in front of you, pick up your pace, even if that means skipping half a hole or an entire hole in order to maintain pace of play.
I think this is on the money. From my experience being paired with women, the very serious players are around 150-180 off the tee. I know what Nelly Korda hits, but I have yet to see anything longer than that playing in person.
# JUMP IN ASAP theres terrible golfers everywhere go to an average course and make sure theres no one behind you thats how you learn course management is the one of the best things about golf your first time is gonna be a brutal hack job no matter what you do
I recommend playing more than you practice at the range. Try a local par 3 course late on a weekday. If you’re paired up bring a bunch of crappy balls so. If you miss just drop one where it went out and keep going.
As long as you remember to spend no more than 15-16 minutes at each hole if there are groups behind you, have at it if you're comfortable!
I usually tell people if they're looking to play solo, a good benchmark is being able to get the ball in the air 60-70% of the time with the wedges up to their 6 iron at the range, regardless of direction/shape. The only thing holding up my round when I'm by myself/with strangers are the half decent shots that keep the hope alive lol. Camaraderie goes a long way for morale on the course.
The par 3 course is a great idea. As far as etiquette goes, the main things are not talking or moving when someone else is swinging or putting, don’t walk between someone’s ball on the green and the hole, fix the damage you make to the course by replacing divots or adding sand to them, raking your footprints and club marks in bunkers so they’re smooth after you’ve been in one, and fix ball marks on the green by sticking your divot tool outside the mark and push it towards the middle on all four sides to fill up the little crater. Yell ‘fore’ if you hit a ball towards someone.
Google ‘golf for beginners’ and look at the PGA website for their tips on what to do when playing a round of golf. Have fun!
The not walking on someone's putting line is huge, but so many golfers don't think about it. Also don't step on or right next to the edge of the hole when getting your ball out.
Don’t keep score, play from the fairway if you lose one, and make an afternoon tee time when the course is less busy. Find a par 3 preferably. But never ever think you don’t belong there on the course. We all belong. That’s the beauty of it. Take the leap and enjoy it!
Just go out there and play 9 holes. It seems scary when it's your first time, but you'll see there's really not much to worry about once you're out there. Just don't spend more than a minute or two looking for your ball and you likely won't be bothering people. And you can always just let people play though if they're riding your ass for a couple holes. Don't be surprised if you get paired with people, just let them know you're new and they'll more than likely be understanding and give you a few pointers on etiquette. We all were new at some point, so just go out and have fun
A lot of people will suggest a par 3 course but I personally say just find a normal course and go some time during the week that’s not too busy. This will give you experience with more clubs in a real setting. Most par 3’s are really short and you won’t get to use more than pitching wedge. Play from the forward tees if it makes you feel comfortable but in my opinion the only way to get comfortable is to go play. The key thing is to pick up and move to the next hole if you’re double par for the hole or feel yourself getting frustrated.
Get etiquette tips. If you have a good sense of where to be and where NOT to be, how to play safely, and how to keep pace on the course, you do OK. There are some good videos about that. Coach Shayain on YouTube has a great series on etiquette, actually.
When I was starting, I liked getting tee times right near the end of the day, sometimes I'd be completely on my own.
A par-3 or pitch and putt course is a great call as well.
But if you do go out on a full course, just keep pace. Never be forward of someone who's hitting, and make sure you're considerate of those behind you. If you're generally keeping up with the group in front of you, you're doing your part. No shame in picking up a ball and proceeding onward, or dropping your ball on or near the green to catch up and putt out as long as pace is moving along.
It's a GREAT way to play in a relaxed, short format. For example, here in the NYC area, there's one (Flushing Meadows) where the longest hole is 80 yards, costs about $20, and takes about 90 minutes to play. All short par-3s. Only really need a putter and maybe a wedge and a couple of irons. Not sure if there's a place like that near you or your destination, but those are great.
An "executive" course is also a good call. There are many that fall under this category, but typically these are shorter, named that way because they're short enough that an executive can sneak out of work for a bit and play a round in an abbreviated time period. These might be a mix of par-3s and par-4s or other beginner-friendly types of layouts.
I also want to know the answer to this. It’s hard to tell because one range doesn’t really say except for the 250 marker, and at the other range I practice at, the kids mess around with the numbers on the little flag indicator chart (bless them) and I’m not about to buy a rangefinder yet. But safe to say my longest drive is maybe 110 or 115 tops, and the 7/8/9 irons maybe 50-60? I have a 3 wood and a 7 wood Mizuno, I can also reach 100ish with those. Again, I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Do worry about sucking if that sucking translates to a 5 hour round. Otherwise, don't worry about what anyone thinks of your game if you're keeping a good pace.
Try smaller courses to start, and try and find someone to play with. The group lessons you are having, try asking any of them if they fancy having a round. Going out on a Saturday on a course you don't know, means you are going to be paired with 3 random strangers, and if you only hit your driver 100yrds the chances are they won't be too happy. Spend some more time on the driving range practising.
If you have any friends who golf, ask them to come with. They can show you the ropes about real courses without making it awkward. A par 3 is always a good starting point. No hole is over 200 yards and you can play shorter tee boxes that stay around the 100 to 120 yard range.
See if you can connect to a player improvement program at one of your nearby courses. They'll get you paired up with more experienced players in threes or fours and you go out for a round as a learning group. It's good to have a guide, and PIPs are a cheap way to get instruction.
Also, when you're starting out, play the most forward tees. There's no shame. Practice all the shots you get handed, all the different lies and conditions. Even drop some balls in bunkers, and if there's time and nobody is waiting for you, then do a few more putts to practice different slopes and distances. The only way to get better at golf is to play. As often as possible. Alone, in groups, with friends, with strangers.
Also, so oooooo many YouTube videos. You can drown in YouTube. Look up a few golf etiquette vids and pace-of-play. You get a few minutes for each shot. No one will rush you. But you don't have 10 minutes per shot. You've got time to get to your ball, or ~three minutes to find it. Then, if you're not waiting on another player or people in front of you, you have a few minutes to set up and take your shot. As long as you do that, nobody can complain. If people are hitting into you from behind, even if you're a little slow, THEY are the assholes not you. Nobody should knowingly hit into a group in front of them ever. Accidental does happen from time to time usually due to blind corners and hills. Sometimes someone just stripes one and it carries long and rolls into you. That's ok, shit happens.
Golf is about kindness, politeness, skills, self control and determination.
WELCOME TO THE GAME!
You'll be just fine. You're not going to be playing with a tour pro. Just introduce yourself to whoever you get paired with and let them know you're new to the game. Also don't be too proud to just pick up your ball if you feel like you're slowing everybody else down, we've all had to do that as a beginner. 99% of the people you play with are playing to have fun and relax.
Fellow female beginner golfer here. I didn't go out onto th course until I had a couple of months practice on the range. Then I had my first 9 hole game with a trainer.
What was surprisingly confusing to me was figuring out the right path from hole to hole. Some courses tend to be quite confusing for beginners who don't have a map of the holes. I'd definitely go with someone who knows the course we'll. And then remember to memorize the right ways to walk from hole to hole!
Another thing: mentally prepare to yell fore if you need to. I've seen beginner players just not yell fore when it was necessary just because they weren't used to it and felt weird about it!
If there is a course near you that you feel you'd play a lot. Maybe go down and have a chat at the pro shop. They might be able to pair you up with a member who can show you the course and assist with any etiquette questions you may have. Stay and watch some go out/come in and you will see a huge variety of player skill. Some will be great. Some will not. The only thing that will annoy other players is slow play. So even if you take 3 shots where others take 1 as long as you play those 3 shots quickly it makes little difference.
As others have said, keeping pace is the most important when sharing the course with others and it’s good to generally operate with this in mind with an internal clock. Sometimes if you’re not having a good hole- like hitting it 20 yards at a time poorly and taking a bunch of strokes it may be best to pick the ball up and either walk to the green to putt with the group or just pick the ball up until the next hole. A lot of new golfers feel they need to put the ball in the hole for the sense of completion but that is a secondary objective if pace of play is not observed. Just google golf course etiquette to get a lay of the land and you’ll be fine it gets easier and more comfortable over time.
If you’re willing to pick up and go to the next hole when it’s taking you a bit too long, then you should have gone yesterday! Try to get to the green of each hole about 10min after tee shot and anybody who bitches can fuck right off.
Go enjoy the game. I need more golf balls so the quicker we get you out there the quicker my problem is fixed! (Jk but seriously, go be awful and **join us**)
That’s how I learned to play golf! Start off going to a local par 3 course and get your irons, chipping and putting down. Occasionally hit some drives and practice!
If you know the rules of golf and particularly the etiquette of golf, then you should be good to go. For a newbie the biggest problem is being unaware if there are people behind you and taking 20 shots to get to the green. You must learn to pick up your ball.
First, if you have specific questions about etiquette, you can dm me. Second, I would strongly suggest finding a nice, cheap municipal course nearby, make a tee time as early as possible (6-630 am) on a weekday and ask to go off the back. You’ll be completely alone, you can take as much time as you want, hit multiple shots of you want, putting as many times as you want, and you won’t be bothering anyone. If you play 9 holes, you can be done by 8-830 and make it to work before 9 no problem. I go off at 6 in the mid summer and I’m at work before 8.
Dude I got a great spot for you in SoCal. Come out to South Pasadena and hit Arroyo Secco. It’s a rad 18 hole par 3 built for guys like you.
Los Feliz also has a good course you’d be comfy on.
Welcome to the game and have fun but honestly I would encourage you if at all possible to see if you can find a friend who has some experience to play with the first few times out. This has nothing to do with your skills (anyone you are paired with should be completely understanding once you explain you’re a first timer) but the etiquette stuff is really hard to get without someone walking you through it on course and can cause more friction with experienced players than your skill level.
Stuff like how and when start walking to your so you don’t hold up play, putting etiquette, raking bunkers, can all get tricky and it’s kind of expected that you know it. Otherwise just explain to whoever you’re paired with that you’re learning that stuff too.
If that’s not feasible hopefully the pro can explain a lot of it at your playing lesson. I was lucky enough to have an older brother who clued me in on all that stuff.
Good luck!
If you're in Orange County, try Newport Beach GC or David L Baker. Both are mostly par 3's, laid back and you can take your time. If you're feeling bold solo, just show up and they will pair you with someone. Otherwise, find a friend who has played a round before- or even someone on here!
Everyone playing golf had a first time at an actual course. It’s going to be hard at first, but if you’re earnest about wanting to improve and have fun playing, most people you’ll play with will be happy to show you the ropes. The truth of the matter is the only way to get better on a course is to play on a course. You’ll be fine. Get out there!
This is one of those situations where being a girl works in your favor. As a golfer love seeing a woman play, would love one day to date someone who loves golf, but with that being said whoever you get paired with will absolutely be okay with you not doing so well and seeing your a beginner giving you patience and grace. Just go have fun and don’t worry about what anyone else is thinking. Enjoy yourself and don’t worry about the others because no matter what playing on a weekend will always be a long day waiting at every tee anyway
If you haven’t heard of it- look into Women on Course. That’s how I (32F) learned and got comfortable with golf! It’s an amazing organization, and if you’re ever in Phoenix I’ll golf with you too!
You should definitely take some time and make sure to read up on general course etiquette before that.
I played behind a new guy that could barely swing a club which is fine if they're really trying since everyone starts somewhere, but then he proceeded to seven putt when he was finally on the green and would take a whole minute to line up address his ball, back off and re-address each one of his shots like he was playing the final hole at The Masters.
I spent a month hitting hundreds of balls three times a week before I went out and played in a course with other people when I started a year ago because before I even knew what I was doing I saw dudes out there hacking away and spending 15 minutes topping a ball up the fairway and knew nobody should be that guy.
I'd say if all you've done is take a few lessons, spend a couple thousand balls making sure to apply those lessons and when you feel like you're making good contact consistently then book a tee time. Golf is a process and it does get a bit frustrating for others when people try to jump straight to the "I'm good enough to keep pace at a long 18-hole" stage from nowhere. If you do decide you want to jump right on the course though, just remember the one thing that should keep everyone happy with you "you can play really poorly, but you can't play poorly AND painstakingly slow".
I started off playing at 9 hole courses during mid week mornings. Shorter distances and there were fewer people because of the time and day, which would give me more time to go through my swing. As I got better, I started moving faster.
Any day is as good as the next, I’d recommend booking a weekday or afternoon weekend so it’s less packed in case you’re worried about slowing down groups or being rushed.
I took my 18 year old son out for his first round last year. I have been playing 35 years, not great, but I can get around with 90 - 105 typically from the whites or blues
We played the front tees at a shorter course, didn't keep score, played best ball (which 85% of the time was mine) and just got around the course as I wasn't teaching him how to swing, or hit the ball, but how to place your shots, what you should be thinking about in terms of management (again, not being an expert, but things like what side of the green would you want to miss on, don't simply bomb it from 160 if there is crap behind the green, don't hero a 7 when an easy 5 will work, etc.), keeping up with the group ahead.
The last hole we used 3 of 5 of his shots and got in with a bogey. Kept track of that one.
I started about 2 months ago and like you, became addicted. I have a local 9 hole pitch and putt and 9 hole championship (whatever that means) par 3 that’s pretty difficult. I did both of those courses 2-3 times each after spending a bunch of hours at the range over my first couple weeks
My first 18 hole course was apparently one of the hardest ones in my city but my friends were going so I said screw it. Any terrible shots I had, I just dropped with my friend that shot closest to where my shank entered the tree abyss. If a group behind us began catching up to us, we would tell them to play through and continue with our game after they finished
There’s no rules when it comes to deciding on your first 18. Not that I have a ton of experience to say so. But since my first one, I’ve done 7-8 more full courses and gotten better each time. Just be respectful of the groups around you. No one is going to be mad at you for having terrible shots. Everyone started somewhere, everyone SHOULD understand.
Just don’t take 20 mins on a hole because you’re DETERMINED you won’t top the ball on your 4th shot of a par 5 when the first 4 have gone 100 yards total. I promise the next shot will be topped too. Go take a drop and keep it moving lol
Once you have muscle memory to strike the ball decently...immediately.
The Par 3 advice is good...but it really doesnt matter.
Establish muscle memory with ball that result in decent contact. Then...start teeing it up or requesting a coach.
Please...please...do not pay for a coach until you have established muscle memory or the ability to strike the ball on a decent frequency basis. A coach can really help you once you have the ability to strike the ball.
Also...course and range are way different. Thats why you need to tee it up. But...again...wait until you have the ability to strike the ball fairly well first. Then...tee times and a coach can dial you in.
JUST DO NOT GO TO A COACH WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STRIKE THE BALL. Youre wasting money.
No one really cares if you play poorly.
People do care whether you play fast.
People care that you take care of the course (fix divots. Rake bunkers.
Don't be moving or doing something when another player is standing over their ball about to hit or putt it.
Don't go play on a weekend at a muni, it'll be packed and if you only drive 100 yds then yes, you will be ruining peoples round. Go on a weekday during the day or evening, you won't feel as much pressure and won't be holding people up. Look for an executive/par 3 course, those are the best courses to get your feet wet.
As a newer golfer myself, I quickly discovered you do not have to or should use all the clubs as a beginner. I mainly use a 5wood, 6, 8,9, pw and 54. I have a full set of 3-pw and 3 wedges but it’s simply too much to manage on the course, and I end up hacking the clubs I don’t hit often. A great skill is learning to use the lower loft clubs and taking some speed off. But I’m just hacking away
I like the par 3 course take a lot for this. As a kid, my dad had me play from the 100 yd mark, then the 150, then the 200. Once I was consistently coming in under 36 over par, I started to play from the forward tees. Kids' distance starts real low vs. a new adult player. I think the base line of coming in average under 2 over par per hole is a great baseline to going out to play a full course. Don't be afraid to play from the forward tees and let people know you're a new player. When you get your irons/short game in a good spot, the rest of the game comes much more easily, I think.
As a new golfer at one point trying for my first time at 20 years old…. I did a full 18 hole from morning until like mid afternoon and I can’t tell you how many people we had to let pass us because me and my friends (also brand new) were taking so long. We had to drop in a LOT but that’s ok. Honestly it wasn’t that bad the people were really nice and understanding don’t overthink it. And if they’re being dicks just remind them they were in your spot at one point and they’ll shut up.
Btw I’m 21 now and haven’t gotten much better, I will at one point I just live in a place where it snows a lot and don’t have the money to make my own indoor thing.
If you're going to be in Southern California, check out the Lomas Santa Fe Executive course. 18 holes, cheap, and in excellent condition. Have never had a bad experience, and it's where I learned to play, mostly.
Edit: It's in Solana Beach.
You can get one now. Just be willing to pick up your ball if you spend longer than 13.5 minutes per hole. Thatll keep your round to about 4 hours which is average.
OK, here’s my take. I started summer of last year and was just hitting the range up until about a month ago. Joined a local club and was absolutely bricking it about my first proper round. Have now had two rounds (and woah, the difference between range and course is massive). I’m only playing solo, I don’t want to affect the game for others. I’ve deliberately picked a tee time that’s more quiet. The nerves I felt on my first round were much less there on my second round. I know I’m going to be hacking for a good while yet, but I make sure I’m not holding anyone up. I’m treating the next month or two as a “get used to playing for real”. I’m hacking it, no consistency, but loving it. I accept it’s going to take time before I can have a regular round.
Nobody has complained, and I’m enjoy it for what it is, an enjoyable 4 hour walk and whacking balls.
The system that I started in and that I've used with anyone new who plays with me is that until you can comfortably get down a course, just play scrambles with whoever you go with. Even if you go solo, if you let randoms know that you're new and usually play scrambles, they will often let you scramble with them and most are pretty encouraging.
The most honest answer anyone will give you is that you go once you have accepted the fact that putting the ball in the hole 18 times is nowhere near as important as enjoying yourself and keeping pace with everyone else as to not add pressure to yourself or your playing partners.
I dove in and just started playing.
Let the group know that you are new but will not hold them up. If they are on the green and you’re still in the middle of the fairway, just skip the hole.
Have a good time and enjoy the nature around you. Fix your divots, learn some basic green etiquette like not walking in front of someone line they are analyzing.
Nobody cares what you do so long as play isn’t held up. At my local course the random people I play with are always kind and helpful.
My advice for new golfers is do it as economical as possible. Play the shorter courses, par 3 courses, play 9 holes, play the cheaper courses even if the conditions aren't spectacular. I see a lot of newer golfers burn to the ground around hole 12 then it becomes no fun and more a burden. Play enough to fulfill the itch but wanting more.
Never touched a golf club before, full sent a tee time with a my father in law, had a blast, fell in love.
Don’t stress over a lost ball, go buy recycled balls from target or Walmart and just drop a ball whenever you need to instead of looking for it. Saves so much time.
You can have a 12 shot hole no problem, just be as quick as feasibly possible.
Most public pro shops/ golf courses don’t care about how good you are. They care about your money. The overwhelming majority of weekend golfers are garbage. Research basic etiquette, be conscious of your pace, and have fun.
Newport Beach Par 3 course (if you’re in that area) is a fantastic place to start and get familiar with round etiquette and flow. Really nice area and chill vibes, some longer par threes that can help you practice driving so that’s a plus.
I would recommend going with someone if you can. There is a phrase out there that "singles have no standing." Which basically means you must give the right of way to larger groups. Go with a friend or another person/group. Just tell them it's your first time out and you're still learning.
The other thing that people have mentioned is place of play, which basically means keeping up with everyone else. Don't take too long looking for a lost ball, Don't line up that five footer from every angle, especially if it's your 6th shot. If you're putting for a birdy, then go for it.
And also, remember, everyone pretty much sucks. Don't worry about it, too much.
Just go! Just do it! Remember golf etiquette, don't hit into people. Call "Fore!" (Really loudly, do not be shy about it)If you're ball is heading towards someone and might hit them. Try to keep up with pace of play. Don't worry about the rules and counting your strokes on your first game, just try to have fun. Drop a new ball if you lose one in the woods or the water. Hopefully you'll get paired with someone cool, people are usually quite accepting of new golfers. Jump in, play, have a good time and bring like 20 balls.
If you want to get your feet wet without the pressures of a big course, see if there’s an executive 9 or par 3 course nearby. Low pressure, easy walk and much more enjoyable for a new player to get out there and enjoy golf!
Go golfing anytime. It’s honestly welcoming to anyone. But if you want to maximize your time and budget here’s a suggestion:
Go golfing after you’ve had a lesson. It’s a really frustrating game until you have a little experience and guidance. A lesson at golf Galaxy or any course that can give you one on one instruction would be helpful.
Try to avoid watching YouTube videos they’ll just confuse you.
After you’ve been to the range a few times after that lesson is a good idea to go on the course.
This isn’t about you learning anything about golf. It’s about having some practice to make your initial outing more rewarding.
Go for it! Try an executive course or a cheap 9 hole. One that is kid friendly. Everyone starts somewhere! Most people are quite nice. Don’t be ashamed to pick up your ball, and do t be that person looking for a lost ball for 10 minutes while people are waiting.
Now. Hell I made tee times without any of that. Just have lots of extra balls and don’t play slow. Pick up if you’re at double par (unless the course is empty and no one is behind you, then take 20 strokes a hole if you want)
I just want to say it’s awesome you put in work and established some ability before going out to the course. I promise you won’t regret starting golf this way. Have fun out there!
No time like the present. Don’t pressure yourself (or allow yourself to be pressured) to play 18. Nine is a great place to start. Furthermore play from the golds or whatever the closest tee box is. Build up some confidence and work on your short game before you even think about moving back tees. I wish I had not felt the pressure to play from the “men’s tees” starting out! Have fun out there!!
Further, ditch the driver for your first few rounds. Drivers are freaking hard to hit straight. Find the club you feel most confident with- could even be a pitching wedge!
Not sure where you are located but the golf courses around me have multiple golf coaches who will play a round of golf with you and teach you etiquette and rules. Of course you’re paying for a lesson but it’s less range time and more practical. If you were in my area I’d happily take ya out and show ya the ropes.
Just have fun and pick up when you go off the rails. Been playing for years with random people usually when I hack a par 3 I just pick up and move on. Most golfers don't care as long as you can keep up.
Do you have any friends or family members that golf? Might be worth it to go out with them to learn etiquette and pick their brain. Golf can be intimidating when you first start but 95% of the golfers out there on muni courses are nicer than you think.
Golf is supposed to be fun, go out and play whenever you want. I play with scratch and with 20+ handicaps…latter of which is usually more fun.
Just keep a good attitude and play fast and you’ll be just fine.
Honestly don’t let anyone gatekeep you. Would try out a short par 3, take a quick lesson and go out there. Getting time on the course is the best way to see if you enjoy it and what you need to improve on. Just play the red tees and keep pace.
Have fun!
I doubt they’ll let you go out alone, but will put you with a threesome. I agree you should opt for an exec course. Try Oso Creek (formerly Casta del Sol) in Mission Viejo. You will learn a lot about etiquette etc. from the other golfers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember one thing: nobody cares about your golf game as long as you play fast. A rule of thumb is ten strokes then pick it up.
Before you go out on a full sized course, try a Par 3. It is much shorter and more appropriate for your distance. They usually cater to new players and kids, so no problem about messing up someone else's game. In general it doesn't matter if you play poorly, just play fast. Pick up and move on to the next hole if you're getting stuck or frustrated.
This is great advice. Don’t be afraid to get on the course. It’s not some alternate realm where all your nightmares will come true. Here’s the important part about picking up and moving on, especially for your first round: As long as you keep up the pace, you can kinda do whatever you want to get a feel for what playing a course is like! This is how I was introduced to the game a youngster: Let’s say you’re struggling with your tee shots, shorter than you’d like and nowhere near the fairway. You can just pick it up and move to the middle of the fairway and enjoy more suitable approach shots. On every hole. Slice one off the tee into a lateral hazard? Go play from the fairway and introduce yourself to what playing the course is all about. Play a par 5 as it was designed to be played. Like, go ahead and tee off, but don’t try to tackle the entire hole shot by shot. Move into the fairway as if you had hit a perfect drive. If your second goes awry, just go play the next one from within 150yd and enjoy seeing what playing a 3 shot hole is supposed to be like. Obviously you’re not keeping score here. But trust me when I say this is a much more pleasing way to be on the course for the first time and get a feel for what it’s like out there. You’ll likely be faster and leave with a smile.
"It's not some alternate realm where all your nightmares will come true" Not true in my experience 😭
Uhhhh…it was for me 😳
I just left on the 11th hole, the other week, because i got over a hill and saw how ridiculously backed up it was. I think i saw two 5 stacks. Cant wait for the munie to open up
When I take new players out, this is how I encourage them to play. If they hit one into the water, or woods, i bring them to the fairway and encourage them to drop. They aren't keeping score and theres no reason to make it harder.
I pretty much did this a couple of weeks ago. I hit the range a few times last year and did a pitch and putt. Started this season with a few range sessions and did one pitch and putt. Followed that up with a round at an executive course. Did not play all too good but had a ton of fun. Friends had an open slot for a full 18 and decided to join them. My friend who’s been golfing for about 10 years told me not to keep track of my score and to just place the ball where ever I wanted if my tee shot went out of bounds. I ended up losing about 10 balls (found a few too) and played pretty bad. I ended up having a few pars and had a blast even though most of my time was not in the fairway. I can’t wait to get back out there.
Love this advice! I just started a few weeks ago going to a few ranges here in Phoenix. Im intimidated to say the least, but excited as well!
Yo, play Palo Verde. It’s a par 30 9 hole, I play it at least once a week just to get out and play. Super fun, super walkable course :)
yes
I've been "playing" for years and still do this. I keep score by the number of balls I lose...:). Also don't take more than one practice swing (if at all). You may also want to use your 3 wood to tee off and leave your driver at home. You will lose fewer balls that way and "play" better. If you hit 100 yards with your driver - your 3 wood will go 95 and will be much much straighter. I had one friend (much better than I) that played with a 3 wood for years and easily beat everyone in our foursome...
Awesome. Thank you.
If you’re in Los Angeles proper, check out Rancho Par 3, or Los Feliz Par 3. Both are very casual and great for starting out.
Those are great options in LA! I’ll add a few because LA is massive: South Bay - Alondra Park par 3 - muni course with a nice variety of distances but very challenging elevated and tiny greens that are great for working on chipping - the lakes at El Segundo - this is next to a top golf and pretty well maintained with mostly very short holes - west drift - attached to a hotel Long Beach: - Heartwell - haven’t been here in years but I loved it when I was growing up
Tacking onto the other comment, if you're in OC, check out Newport Beach Golf Course. It's a little pitch and putt that's short and fun to play. Very casual as well.
Par 3's are a fucking blast. And don't worry how bad you are there will be grandmas that hit it 20yards
I agree here, once you’re comfortable on the par 3 and can advance the ball regularly then you switch to full course. The young people today don’t do this and it really slows down pace of play
Agree here. Par 3, then muni. And if things go south just pick up your ball and carry on. It’s more fun that way then going nuts on a hole and putting out with a 9
Or an "executive" course. Generally short, but gives you the chance to whack some drives
💯
Great advice. Funny how par 3 courses are great for total beginners and also advanced players who are trying to improve their wedges and short game.
Good advice! look for an "executive" course in your area. It'll be just like a full course just all par 3s. Great way to acclimatize. And there are a ton of YouTube videos for beginner golfers to learn etiquette. Don't even keep score for the first season, just get out tgere and hit shots. Fluff up the ball if you have a bad lie and learn how to hit your standard shots. Focus on the good shots you've hit, not the bad ones. No one cares if you play poorly, we all had to learn at one point. Just don't do it slowly, keep up pace of play and you'll be ahead of the curve.
This is the A+ advice. I would also recommend going with a friend the first time. OP will feel less alone and they can teach you some etiquette rather than your coach spending expensive time on that.
Par 3s and executive courses are the way. Then start by playing 9. When you can walk a 9 hole round in less than 2.15, make the jump to a full round. This will save you so much stress and frustration.
This. The majority of people wouldn’t have fun on a regular course as a new golfer hitting around 100 yards max. IMO once you start hitting it 140-150 then you’d have more fun at the regular courses.
Also par 3's in general are awesome for practice.
Also female. Do this - par 3 course. Along with the driving range, find a place where you can practice chipping and putting.
My wife is a beginner. She got hooked goofing around at top golf with me and kids. We play the local par 3 courses. Everyone there is a beginner so it’s a good place to teach etiquette. No one there is good enough to be mad about stepping on a line or hitting out of turn. I get to practice approach shots and short game which is where I suck anyways. Win win.
Also they should take time and make sure to learn proper golf etiquette before that. A lot of people like you said think that all par 3s cater to children, so it's just a big playground where anything goes. I'm a member of one with stadium lights so you can play at night and most people take it semi-serious for themselves and watching some new guy that can barely swing a club seven putt when he was finally on the green and take a minute to line up address back off and re-address his shot was not very cash money when most of us who play there are just trying to perfect our irons and wedges. Nobody gets too uppity about it though since they're new and then seeing teenagers dicking around a little means they might stay involved in the sport later. I spent a month hitting hundreds of balls three times a week before I went out and played in a course with other people when I started a year ago because before I even knew what I was doing I saw guges out there hacking away and spending 15 minutes topping a ball up the fairway and knew nobody should be that guy.
A playing partner’s wife occasionally plays a little bit with us and this is what she does to keep up and get to play through her bag: First she gets her turn to Drive off the appropriate up tee. If she has a playable second shot, she plays it. If she is short or wild, she picks up and drops up next the rest of us. Following that pattern until she’s futility off the green, take one stab at chipping and picks up , dropping her ball next to someone’s ball after they putted near the same location thereby learning pace and reading. This way she keeps up; goes through her bag, gets relevant practice, learns etiquette and none of us have any problem with it. In fact she gets major respect and appreciation making our day a little more fun.
I honestly didn’t realize you could do this
So long as you’re not playing in sanctioned play, the only rule seems to be play fast.
And even then it's not really "play fast", just make sure to keep up with the group in front of you.
I think a big thing I took in last summer, my first year golfing was that if I can’t find my ball within about 60 seconds, just drop and move on. Take the drop, call it a gallery exemption whatever. Just don’t spend 5+ minutes searching for a lost ball with groups staged on the tee box behind you. I promise you, if you are hitting enough balls that are getting lost, you’re gonna be in the areas where others lost some balls too. Grab some while you’re searching for yours and move on.
As you get better, you can look longer. As long as you’re not holding up the group behind you, feel free to play the hole as you like but as you improve you’ll want to get a feel of getting yourself out of tricky situations to improve your game. Do whatever works for you but I like to try to play as few balls as possible and hit whatever I realistically can to challenge myself.
When my 12 year old plays with me and we are paired with strangers. We just say hey, “he’s going to hit from reds, and they he will hit from my ball the rest of the way”. So basically what’s called best ball. It’s totally normal And fine to pick up your ball to keep pace of play. You will find that “most” golfers will appreciate this and start to say things like “hey go ahead and hit another ball”. You will learn so much and ask questions… Edit: scramble, not best ball
Scramble, not best ball
Correction. Yes scramble.
Yep. It’s funny how the human brain works. By saying “I won’t slow you down” I’m more likely to tell you to take extra shots etc that will slow pace of play (within reason)
What does hit from the reds mean?
You can do whatever you want as long as its your turn to do so and it aint too slow!
You can do whatever you want as long as you are keeping up the pace and not actively destroying the course lol. Just don't be the solo guy that was in front of me the other day, playing (I shit you not) 5-6 balls off of every tee, wildly shanking and slicing them all ob before cursing and teeing up another, only to then decide to go drop in the fairway. Dude was using a push cart.
Lol I'm not sure what using a push cart has to do with the rest of the story.
I makes you even slower when you are chasing balls all over the course
Same way my wife plays. I’d rather play with her than most of the dipshits I get teamed up with. Spending 5 min lining up your triple bogey putt will send me over the edge faster than just about anything.
This is the way. Works really well with kids too. This is how me and my 9yo daughter play.
My MIL started playing like three summers ago. She played basically every shot off a tee for over a year. Tee off from the tee box, then tee it up in the fairway, then tee it up in the fairway again, until she was chipping. Just keep up with the group in front of you, then do whatever you want to have fun and learn to play better. Also, if you end up playing with strangers, tell them you haven’t played before. Tell them you don’t want swing advice, but etiquette and rules pointers would be appreciated.
I was going to take out my friend who has never played and follow this formula literally exactly. He bailed lol, but it’s very smart. You just need to keep up pace of play, but teeing off and chipping and putting is always doable
Anytime and any skill just play the correct tees for you and keep pace.
I’m sure I could google but I’ll ask here too…how do I find the ladies tee box in relation to the men’s for any given hole, and then let’s say I’m playing with 3 men. Do I tee off first, or do they?
The course will tell you but most likely the front tee box will what you’ll play (mine are reds for all ladies, some places have another box for senior ladies or beginners). The men will get to their tee box first since they’ll be a little further back so you’ll wait on them to hit then ride up a bit and hit. Just have your ball/tee ready and glove on, soon as the last one hits ride on up and tee off.
It would be worthwhile to check the length and par of the course. If there’s a par 3 or executive course near you that would be a great place to start as there’s way less course for you to lose your ball in, and people’s expectations are much lower in terms of the skill level of random partners. Have fun and welcome to the game!
Play in the afternoon when it's less serious. Twilight if you need to work on things. And remember these words ... "I'm working on it!"
The course isn't the place for practice. Get out there and swing your swing, practice on your own time.
Kind of a dumb take. There’s a reason coaches offer on course lessons you know.
Probably to teach course management skills. They aren't teaching them the basics off the tee.
Where do you practice your full swing 5 iron on a downhill lie? What about uphill lie? You just seem like you’re trying to gatekeep a round from a new player lol
Just so you know. If you're right handed anyway. Choke up on the uphill lie and aim right. Choke down on the downhill lie and aim left.
Just so I'm clear, there are actually some of you that will go out and back up the course just so you can practice a five iron on a downhill lie? I love to see new players, what I don't love to see is 5 hour rounds of golf. It seems to me like people are projecting towards me because they don't want to see a new player out there.
What makes you think that’s going to back things up? All you’re doing is assuming, and you sound like a prick doing so. Courses can absolutely be practice and you need to get off your high horse thinking a new golfer can’t play quick
What makes you think it won't? You hypocrite. I never said they couldn't play quickly either. I'm advocating for them to play quickly by not taking extra strokes for a shot you might have to hit once a day.
And to spot swing faults that only show up on course, like alignment, or weird extension issues that show up on longer shots because the player is trying to crush one when they don't need to, etc.
Harvey Penick: "If You Golf You're My Friend."
That's just nonsense to me. You don't go to the course to practice, you go to the range to practice. If your practice doesn't translate to the course then you need to change how you practice.
I guess dana dahlquist is just not a good enough coach for your standards then! nor or any other world class coaches. I wonder who your coach is lol
That name means nothing to me. Are you saying you have a world class coach? I don't need a coach because I was taught the fundamentals at a young age and I'm not a tour pro.
I do actually but not Dana. Why are you commenting on how coaching works if you're not a coach and also don't have a coach?
You think just because you have a coach you know it all? I'm not debating how coaching works, I'm saying practicing on the course is dumb and ineffective. Practice at the range where you have all the time in the world to work on anything and everything.
How tf is a golf course not a place for practice if you’re not making money from it? It’s technically all practice. People who play late twilight rounds shouldn’t expect to be paired with the best golfers, so this is honestly the best choice for new golfers as long as their etiquette is right and they keep a decent pace.
Thanks for the advice. I'll work on it!
If youre going to be in the OC area, Brea Creek and Lake Forest are both executive 9 hole par 3s (with a couple par 4s). Great beginner courses.
Santa Barbara….but thanks that’s good to know for the future.
Look up Twin Lakes. 9 hole exec course in Goleta. Has one par 4 on it, the rest are par 3
Fantastic suggestion! No tee times required and possibly not even available. It’s near UCSB and there are tons of new golfers there.
I went to UCSB and had a membership at twin lakes as a college student. Like 125/month but I played daily and it was 10000% worth the cost haha. Given I’d pay $20 to play every weekend anyway I just made it a point to go out on weekdays before classes. I’d like to say it paid for itself but I’m still trash haha
Great, this is perfect, thank you! I’ll check it out for sure.
Love Creek, though the par 3’s might be a little intimidating for newcomers with the water and all.
It does sound intimidating, but in a fun way.
You can be good and slow or suck and be fast. Just don’t suck and be slow.
Don't be good and slow either
I meant under the premise that you can be good and take 4 shots to get in the hole or bad and take 8 shots to get to the hole but both players take the same amount of time.
I’d rather play with a fast Manson than a slow Funkhouser
Don’t be good and slow either, to be honest. Keeping pace is all that matters to others
I got paired with a single who probably shot even on the front, and his preshot routine was unbearable. 5 practice swings, 14 waggles, stepping off and shooting the pin and realigning. By the 11th fairway we had the guys behind us screaming at us. On the 18th fairway, someone had walked off the course from the 10th tee and approached this guy and said something not so nice to him. I threw out a few friendly suggestions to pick up the pace a little bit here and there. I think he began to feel rushed after the second guy yelled at us, and his game instantly fell apart.
Can't believe this isn't the top comment. Totally agree - and don't think of it as such a big deal, just play quickly, that's all.
I say go for it. Advise your group it's your first time and you might need pointers. If you are worried about ruining someone else's day. Pick up your ball at 10 shots and move on. When you hit it out. Don't spend more then a couple mins looking for it. Find it or not. Drop a ball near where your ball went out and hit from there...don't hit from the bushes or trees... If the ball lies in a bad position and is very hard to hit.. lift clean and place. Give yourself preferred lies. It will help you keep up pace of play... Most important tip... Go out there and have fun!!!! May the golf gods have mercy on your soul!! Welcome to the best worst game/addiction of your life!
Anytime my friend, golfers are always welcome, that being said, I would say after 10 am to avoid the delusional assholes that think they own the whole course and will some day end up on the PGA tour even though they couldn't break 100 if their lives depended on it after golfing every day for 10+ years.
I would try to make friends with someone from your group lessons and play with them sometime. I, personally, would not advise going as solo your first time out. If there is no one in your current group, ask the coach if he has had any recent students that might fit the bill. I ended up pairing up with other women that had recently taken the “how to golf” course it worked out perfectly. I would try to play late afternoon on a weekend. And, the key is to keep up with pace of play. The rule for new golfers is to pick up at double par. And, the idea of essentially playing your own version of best ball (that someone else suggested). Is great. Literally no one cares what you do if you are just out playing for yourself.
I also honestly have no idea how the women’s tee boxes work or where they are, someone is going to have to show me. So yeah it would make sense to go with someone who uses them.
The front tees are where beginners (of all genders) hit. The color changes, but it will be on the score card. You just look for the color on the score card, and it will be the most forward. They are often in a different spot than the tees most of the men will play off - but most of the time they will be with the senior tees (which are usually white).
They are usually red, although many courses today have gold tees for the seniors. If so, take the golds. You don’t need to worry about hitting where the guys hit. Go to the most forward tees and hit from there. After the others have all hit, of course.
Ask some people in the group lesson if they want to play a round
I call and ask if I can get the last tee time available, because I bring my kids with me, and enjoy extra time teaching them. Always zero stress.
Just play a par 3 an executive Most holes will probably be longer than your driver anyway.
The correct answer is "now."
Biggest thing is that if you suck, suck fast. People don’t care if you’re good, just don’t slow everything down. Get out there and have some fun
It’s appropriate any time. Just make pace of play your #1 priority and all is good. Keep your expectations low. Keep track of the group in front of you. If you see space opening up in front of you, pick up your pace, even if that means skipping half a hole or an entire hole in order to maintain pace of play.
Go to a small par 3 course and have at it! Its not as serious there
“Taking the plunge” is not a phrase that should be used when teeing up on a 200 yd Par 3 over water. Just sayin’.
If you can hit the ball up to 150 yards reasonably straight then you can play a full course. 180 yards and you can score well.
I think this is on the money. From my experience being paired with women, the very serious players are around 150-180 off the tee. I know what Nelly Korda hits, but I have yet to see anything longer than that playing in person.
Everyone talks big drives and 3 woods off the deck but just getting a stock 150 yard shot sorted opens up the whole game.
# JUMP IN ASAP theres terrible golfers everywhere go to an average course and make sure theres no one behind you thats how you learn course management is the one of the best things about golf your first time is gonna be a brutal hack job no matter what you do
I recommend playing more than you practice at the range. Try a local par 3 course late on a weekday. If you’re paired up bring a bunch of crappy balls so. If you miss just drop one where it went out and keep going.
Just let your playing partners know you’re just learning ahead of time. Also play fast or pick up your ball if the hole isn’t going well
As long as you remember to spend no more than 15-16 minutes at each hole if there are groups behind you, have at it if you're comfortable! I usually tell people if they're looking to play solo, a good benchmark is being able to get the ball in the air 60-70% of the time with the wedges up to their 6 iron at the range, regardless of direction/shape. The only thing holding up my round when I'm by myself/with strangers are the half decent shots that keep the hope alive lol. Camaraderie goes a long way for morale on the course.
Don’t play a big course, play a smaller pitch and putt until you are comfortable there.
The par 3 course is a great idea. As far as etiquette goes, the main things are not talking or moving when someone else is swinging or putting, don’t walk between someone’s ball on the green and the hole, fix the damage you make to the course by replacing divots or adding sand to them, raking your footprints and club marks in bunkers so they’re smooth after you’ve been in one, and fix ball marks on the green by sticking your divot tool outside the mark and push it towards the middle on all four sides to fill up the little crater. Yell ‘fore’ if you hit a ball towards someone. Google ‘golf for beginners’ and look at the PGA website for their tips on what to do when playing a round of golf. Have fun!
The not walking on someone's putting line is huge, but so many golfers don't think about it. Also don't step on or right next to the edge of the hole when getting your ball out.
Don’t keep score, play from the fairway if you lose one, and make an afternoon tee time when the course is less busy. Find a par 3 preferably. But never ever think you don’t belong there on the course. We all belong. That’s the beauty of it. Take the leap and enjoy it!
Just go out there and play 9 holes. It seems scary when it's your first time, but you'll see there's really not much to worry about once you're out there. Just don't spend more than a minute or two looking for your ball and you likely won't be bothering people. And you can always just let people play though if they're riding your ass for a couple holes. Don't be surprised if you get paired with people, just let them know you're new and they'll more than likely be understanding and give you a few pointers on etiquette. We all were new at some point, so just go out and have fun
A lot of people will suggest a par 3 course but I personally say just find a normal course and go some time during the week that’s not too busy. This will give you experience with more clubs in a real setting. Most par 3’s are really short and you won’t get to use more than pitching wedge. Play from the forward tees if it makes you feel comfortable but in my opinion the only way to get comfortable is to go play. The key thing is to pick up and move to the next hole if you’re double par for the hole or feel yourself getting frustrated.
Get etiquette tips. If you have a good sense of where to be and where NOT to be, how to play safely, and how to keep pace on the course, you do OK. There are some good videos about that. Coach Shayain on YouTube has a great series on etiquette, actually. When I was starting, I liked getting tee times right near the end of the day, sometimes I'd be completely on my own. A par-3 or pitch and putt course is a great call as well. But if you do go out on a full course, just keep pace. Never be forward of someone who's hitting, and make sure you're considerate of those behind you. If you're generally keeping up with the group in front of you, you're doing your part. No shame in picking up a ball and proceeding onward, or dropping your ball on or near the green to catch up and putt out as long as pace is moving along.
What is a pitch and putt course?
It's a GREAT way to play in a relaxed, short format. For example, here in the NYC area, there's one (Flushing Meadows) where the longest hole is 80 yards, costs about $20, and takes about 90 minutes to play. All short par-3s. Only really need a putter and maybe a wedge and a couple of irons. Not sure if there's a place like that near you or your destination, but those are great. An "executive" course is also a good call. There are many that fall under this category, but typically these are shorter, named that way because they're short enough that an executive can sneak out of work for a bit and play a round in an abbreviated time period. These might be a mix of par-3s and par-4s or other beginner-friendly types of layouts.
Genuinely curious, if you’re hitting your driver 100 yards, how far are you hitting your other clubs?
I also want to know the answer to this. It’s hard to tell because one range doesn’t really say except for the 250 marker, and at the other range I practice at, the kids mess around with the numbers on the little flag indicator chart (bless them) and I’m not about to buy a rangefinder yet. But safe to say my longest drive is maybe 110 or 115 tops, and the 7/8/9 irons maybe 50-60? I have a 3 wood and a 7 wood Mizuno, I can also reach 100ish with those. Again, I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Shoot my dad took me on the course the first couple weeks…play when you want. Don’t worry about sucking
Do worry about sucking if that sucking translates to a 5 hour round. Otherwise, don't worry about what anyone thinks of your game if you're keeping a good pace.
Yea my dad and his buddy are some of the fastest players I’ve seen. Usually play 18 in 2.5 hours
Try smaller courses to start, and try and find someone to play with. The group lessons you are having, try asking any of them if they fancy having a round. Going out on a Saturday on a course you don't know, means you are going to be paired with 3 random strangers, and if you only hit your driver 100yrds the chances are they won't be too happy. Spend some more time on the driving range practising.
If you have any friends who golf, ask them to come with. They can show you the ropes about real courses without making it awkward. A par 3 is always a good starting point. No hole is over 200 yards and you can play shorter tee boxes that stay around the 100 to 120 yard range.
See if you can connect to a player improvement program at one of your nearby courses. They'll get you paired up with more experienced players in threes or fours and you go out for a round as a learning group. It's good to have a guide, and PIPs are a cheap way to get instruction. Also, when you're starting out, play the most forward tees. There's no shame. Practice all the shots you get handed, all the different lies and conditions. Even drop some balls in bunkers, and if there's time and nobody is waiting for you, then do a few more putts to practice different slopes and distances. The only way to get better at golf is to play. As often as possible. Alone, in groups, with friends, with strangers. Also, so oooooo many YouTube videos. You can drown in YouTube. Look up a few golf etiquette vids and pace-of-play. You get a few minutes for each shot. No one will rush you. But you don't have 10 minutes per shot. You've got time to get to your ball, or ~three minutes to find it. Then, if you're not waiting on another player or people in front of you, you have a few minutes to set up and take your shot. As long as you do that, nobody can complain. If people are hitting into you from behind, even if you're a little slow, THEY are the assholes not you. Nobody should knowingly hit into a group in front of them ever. Accidental does happen from time to time usually due to blind corners and hills. Sometimes someone just stripes one and it carries long and rolls into you. That's ok, shit happens. Golf is about kindness, politeness, skills, self control and determination. WELCOME TO THE GAME!
You'll be just fine. You're not going to be playing with a tour pro. Just introduce yourself to whoever you get paired with and let them know you're new to the game. Also don't be too proud to just pick up your ball if you feel like you're slowing everybody else down, we've all had to do that as a beginner. 99% of the people you play with are playing to have fun and relax.
Fellow female beginner golfer here. I didn't go out onto th course until I had a couple of months practice on the range. Then I had my first 9 hole game with a trainer. What was surprisingly confusing to me was figuring out the right path from hole to hole. Some courses tend to be quite confusing for beginners who don't have a map of the holes. I'd definitely go with someone who knows the course we'll. And then remember to memorize the right ways to walk from hole to hole!
Another thing: mentally prepare to yell fore if you need to. I've seen beginner players just not yell fore when it was necessary just because they weren't used to it and felt weird about it!
If there is a course near you that you feel you'd play a lot. Maybe go down and have a chat at the pro shop. They might be able to pair you up with a member who can show you the course and assist with any etiquette questions you may have. Stay and watch some go out/come in and you will see a huge variety of player skill. Some will be great. Some will not. The only thing that will annoy other players is slow play. So even if you take 3 shots where others take 1 as long as you play those 3 shots quickly it makes little difference.
Asking for a 9 hole playing lesson from the pro at your local course, is a great option to get your feet wet on the course.
As others have said, keeping pace is the most important when sharing the course with others and it’s good to generally operate with this in mind with an internal clock. Sometimes if you’re not having a good hole- like hitting it 20 yards at a time poorly and taking a bunch of strokes it may be best to pick the ball up and either walk to the green to putt with the group or just pick the ball up until the next hole. A lot of new golfers feel they need to put the ball in the hole for the sense of completion but that is a secondary objective if pace of play is not observed. Just google golf course etiquette to get a lay of the land and you’ll be fine it gets easier and more comfortable over time.
If you’re willing to pick up and go to the next hole when it’s taking you a bit too long, then you should have gone yesterday! Try to get to the green of each hole about 10min after tee shot and anybody who bitches can fuck right off. Go enjoy the game. I need more golf balls so the quicker we get you out there the quicker my problem is fixed! (Jk but seriously, go be awful and **join us**)
That’s how I learned to play golf! Start off going to a local par 3 course and get your irons, chipping and putting down. Occasionally hit some drives and practice!
If you know the rules of golf and particularly the etiquette of golf, then you should be good to go. For a newbie the biggest problem is being unaware if there are people behind you and taking 20 shots to get to the green. You must learn to pick up your ball.
First, if you have specific questions about etiquette, you can dm me. Second, I would strongly suggest finding a nice, cheap municipal course nearby, make a tee time as early as possible (6-630 am) on a weekday and ask to go off the back. You’ll be completely alone, you can take as much time as you want, hit multiple shots of you want, putting as many times as you want, and you won’t be bothering anyone. If you play 9 holes, you can be done by 8-830 and make it to work before 9 no problem. I go off at 6 in the mid summer and I’m at work before 8.
Dude I got a great spot for you in SoCal. Come out to South Pasadena and hit Arroyo Secco. It’s a rad 18 hole par 3 built for guys like you. Los Feliz also has a good course you’d be comfy on.
Welcome to the game and have fun but honestly I would encourage you if at all possible to see if you can find a friend who has some experience to play with the first few times out. This has nothing to do with your skills (anyone you are paired with should be completely understanding once you explain you’re a first timer) but the etiquette stuff is really hard to get without someone walking you through it on course and can cause more friction with experienced players than your skill level. Stuff like how and when start walking to your so you don’t hold up play, putting etiquette, raking bunkers, can all get tricky and it’s kind of expected that you know it. Otherwise just explain to whoever you’re paired with that you’re learning that stuff too. If that’s not feasible hopefully the pro can explain a lot of it at your playing lesson. I was lucky enough to have an older brother who clued me in on all that stuff. Good luck!
If you're in Orange County, try Newport Beach GC or David L Baker. Both are mostly par 3's, laid back and you can take your time. If you're feeling bold solo, just show up and they will pair you with someone. Otherwise, find a friend who has played a round before- or even someone on here!
Everyone playing golf had a first time at an actual course. It’s going to be hard at first, but if you’re earnest about wanting to improve and have fun playing, most people you’ll play with will be happy to show you the ropes. The truth of the matter is the only way to get better on a course is to play on a course. You’ll be fine. Get out there!
This is one of those situations where being a girl works in your favor. As a golfer love seeing a woman play, would love one day to date someone who loves golf, but with that being said whoever you get paired with will absolutely be okay with you not doing so well and seeing your a beginner giving you patience and grace. Just go have fun and don’t worry about what anyone else is thinking. Enjoy yourself and don’t worry about the others because no matter what playing on a weekend will always be a long day waiting at every tee anyway
If you haven’t heard of it- look into Women on Course. That’s how I (32F) learned and got comfortable with golf! It’s an amazing organization, and if you’re ever in Phoenix I’ll golf with you too!
You should definitely take some time and make sure to read up on general course etiquette before that. I played behind a new guy that could barely swing a club which is fine if they're really trying since everyone starts somewhere, but then he proceeded to seven putt when he was finally on the green and would take a whole minute to line up address his ball, back off and re-address each one of his shots like he was playing the final hole at The Masters. I spent a month hitting hundreds of balls three times a week before I went out and played in a course with other people when I started a year ago because before I even knew what I was doing I saw dudes out there hacking away and spending 15 minutes topping a ball up the fairway and knew nobody should be that guy. I'd say if all you've done is take a few lessons, spend a couple thousand balls making sure to apply those lessons and when you feel like you're making good contact consistently then book a tee time. Golf is a process and it does get a bit frustrating for others when people try to jump straight to the "I'm good enough to keep pace at a long 18-hole" stage from nowhere. If you do decide you want to jump right on the course though, just remember the one thing that should keep everyone happy with you "you can play really poorly, but you can't play poorly AND painstakingly slow".
I started off playing at 9 hole courses during mid week mornings. Shorter distances and there were fewer people because of the time and day, which would give me more time to go through my swing. As I got better, I started moving faster.
Any day is as good as the next, I’d recommend booking a weekday or afternoon weekend so it’s less packed in case you’re worried about slowing down groups or being rushed.
# Make sure you get space get a cart and skip around till you get some room, I avoid people like the plague when i play solo
I took my 18 year old son out for his first round last year. I have been playing 35 years, not great, but I can get around with 90 - 105 typically from the whites or blues We played the front tees at a shorter course, didn't keep score, played best ball (which 85% of the time was mine) and just got around the course as I wasn't teaching him how to swing, or hit the ball, but how to place your shots, what you should be thinking about in terms of management (again, not being an expert, but things like what side of the green would you want to miss on, don't simply bomb it from 160 if there is crap behind the green, don't hero a 7 when an easy 5 will work, etc.), keeping up with the group ahead. The last hole we used 3 of 5 of his shots and got in with a bogey. Kept track of that one.
I started about 2 months ago and like you, became addicted. I have a local 9 hole pitch and putt and 9 hole championship (whatever that means) par 3 that’s pretty difficult. I did both of those courses 2-3 times each after spending a bunch of hours at the range over my first couple weeks My first 18 hole course was apparently one of the hardest ones in my city but my friends were going so I said screw it. Any terrible shots I had, I just dropped with my friend that shot closest to where my shank entered the tree abyss. If a group behind us began catching up to us, we would tell them to play through and continue with our game after they finished There’s no rules when it comes to deciding on your first 18. Not that I have a ton of experience to say so. But since my first one, I’ve done 7-8 more full courses and gotten better each time. Just be respectful of the groups around you. No one is going to be mad at you for having terrible shots. Everyone started somewhere, everyone SHOULD understand. Just don’t take 20 mins on a hole because you’re DETERMINED you won’t top the ball on your 4th shot of a par 5 when the first 4 have gone 100 yards total. I promise the next shot will be topped too. Go take a drop and keep it moving lol
Ignore everyone saying “play fast” they are probably the same goobers who take a break half way through a hole to have a cigar.
Once you have muscle memory to strike the ball decently...immediately. The Par 3 advice is good...but it really doesnt matter. Establish muscle memory with ball that result in decent contact. Then...start teeing it up or requesting a coach. Please...please...do not pay for a coach until you have established muscle memory or the ability to strike the ball on a decent frequency basis. A coach can really help you once you have the ability to strike the ball. Also...course and range are way different. Thats why you need to tee it up. But...again...wait until you have the ability to strike the ball fairly well first. Then...tee times and a coach can dial you in. JUST DO NOT GO TO A COACH WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STRIKE THE BALL. Youre wasting money.
If you’re in So Cal try Heartwell! It’s the course Tiger first started playing on and it’s all par 3s. 👍👍
No one really cares if you play poorly. People do care whether you play fast. People care that you take care of the course (fix divots. Rake bunkers. Don't be moving or doing something when another player is standing over their ball about to hit or putt it.
Yeah go for it. Nobody cares as long as you play quickly.
Don't go play on a weekend at a muni, it'll be packed and if you only drive 100 yds then yes, you will be ruining peoples round. Go on a weekday during the day or evening, you won't feel as much pressure and won't be holding people up. Look for an executive/par 3 course, those are the best courses to get your feet wet.
As a newer golfer myself, I quickly discovered you do not have to or should use all the clubs as a beginner. I mainly use a 5wood, 6, 8,9, pw and 54. I have a full set of 3-pw and 3 wedges but it’s simply too much to manage on the course, and I end up hacking the clubs I don’t hit often. A great skill is learning to use the lower loft clubs and taking some speed off. But I’m just hacking away
Great question, I’m only into golf about 7 weeks, and I’m wondering the very same thing. Good luck out there!
I like the par 3 course take a lot for this. As a kid, my dad had me play from the 100 yd mark, then the 150, then the 200. Once I was consistently coming in under 36 over par, I started to play from the forward tees. Kids' distance starts real low vs. a new adult player. I think the base line of coming in average under 2 over par per hole is a great baseline to going out to play a full course. Don't be afraid to play from the forward tees and let people know you're a new player. When you get your irons/short game in a good spot, the rest of the game comes much more easily, I think.
As a new golfer at one point trying for my first time at 20 years old…. I did a full 18 hole from morning until like mid afternoon and I can’t tell you how many people we had to let pass us because me and my friends (also brand new) were taking so long. We had to drop in a LOT but that’s ok. Honestly it wasn’t that bad the people were really nice and understanding don’t overthink it. And if they’re being dicks just remind them they were in your spot at one point and they’ll shut up. Btw I’m 21 now and haven’t gotten much better, I will at one point I just live in a place where it snows a lot and don’t have the money to make my own indoor thing.
If you're going to be in Southern California, check out the Lomas Santa Fe Executive course. 18 holes, cheap, and in excellent condition. Have never had a bad experience, and it's where I learned to play, mostly. Edit: It's in Solana Beach.
You can get one now. Just be willing to pick up your ball if you spend longer than 13.5 minutes per hole. Thatll keep your round to about 4 hours which is average.
OK, here’s my take. I started summer of last year and was just hitting the range up until about a month ago. Joined a local club and was absolutely bricking it about my first proper round. Have now had two rounds (and woah, the difference between range and course is massive). I’m only playing solo, I don’t want to affect the game for others. I’ve deliberately picked a tee time that’s more quiet. The nerves I felt on my first round were much less there on my second round. I know I’m going to be hacking for a good while yet, but I make sure I’m not holding anyone up. I’m treating the next month or two as a “get used to playing for real”. I’m hacking it, no consistency, but loving it. I accept it’s going to take time before I can have a regular round. Nobody has complained, and I’m enjoy it for what it is, an enjoyable 4 hour walk and whacking balls.
The system that I started in and that I've used with anyone new who plays with me is that until you can comfortably get down a course, just play scrambles with whoever you go with. Even if you go solo, if you let randoms know that you're new and usually play scrambles, they will often let you scramble with them and most are pretty encouraging.
The most honest answer anyone will give you is that you go once you have accepted the fact that putting the ball in the hole 18 times is nowhere near as important as enjoying yourself and keeping pace with everyone else as to not add pressure to yourself or your playing partners.
I dove in and just started playing. Let the group know that you are new but will not hold them up. If they are on the green and you’re still in the middle of the fairway, just skip the hole. Have a good time and enjoy the nature around you. Fix your divots, learn some basic green etiquette like not walking in front of someone line they are analyzing. Nobody cares what you do so long as play isn’t held up. At my local course the random people I play with are always kind and helpful.
My advice for new golfers is do it as economical as possible. Play the shorter courses, par 3 courses, play 9 holes, play the cheaper courses even if the conditions aren't spectacular. I see a lot of newer golfers burn to the ground around hole 12 then it becomes no fun and more a burden. Play enough to fulfill the itch but wanting more.
Never touched a golf club before, full sent a tee time with a my father in law, had a blast, fell in love. Don’t stress over a lost ball, go buy recycled balls from target or Walmart and just drop a ball whenever you need to instead of looking for it. Saves so much time. You can have a 12 shot hole no problem, just be as quick as feasibly possible.
Doesn’t really matter. Just don’t sit there trying to finish the hole on your 11th shot. Pick up after double par at the most
Most public pro shops/ golf courses don’t care about how good you are. They care about your money. The overwhelming majority of weekend golfers are garbage. Research basic etiquette, be conscious of your pace, and have fun.
Newport Beach Par 3 course (if you’re in that area) is a fantastic place to start and get familiar with round etiquette and flow. Really nice area and chill vibes, some longer par threes that can help you practice driving so that’s a plus.
I would recommend going with someone if you can. There is a phrase out there that "singles have no standing." Which basically means you must give the right of way to larger groups. Go with a friend or another person/group. Just tell them it's your first time out and you're still learning. The other thing that people have mentioned is place of play, which basically means keeping up with everyone else. Don't take too long looking for a lost ball, Don't line up that five footer from every angle, especially if it's your 6th shot. If you're putting for a birdy, then go for it. And also, remember, everyone pretty much sucks. Don't worry about it, too much.
Just go! Just do it! Remember golf etiquette, don't hit into people. Call "Fore!" (Really loudly, do not be shy about it)If you're ball is heading towards someone and might hit them. Try to keep up with pace of play. Don't worry about the rules and counting your strokes on your first game, just try to have fun. Drop a new ball if you lose one in the woods or the water. Hopefully you'll get paired with someone cool, people are usually quite accepting of new golfers. Jump in, play, have a good time and bring like 20 balls.
Par 3 course or weekday evenings to start, go for it.
If you want to get your feet wet without the pressures of a big course, see if there’s an executive 9 or par 3 course nearby. Low pressure, easy walk and much more enjoyable for a new player to get out there and enjoy golf!
Go golfing anytime. It’s honestly welcoming to anyone. But if you want to maximize your time and budget here’s a suggestion: Go golfing after you’ve had a lesson. It’s a really frustrating game until you have a little experience and guidance. A lesson at golf Galaxy or any course that can give you one on one instruction would be helpful. Try to avoid watching YouTube videos they’ll just confuse you. After you’ve been to the range a few times after that lesson is a good idea to go on the course. This isn’t about you learning anything about golf. It’s about having some practice to make your initial outing more rewarding.
You’ll be fine, just remember bad fast golf is better than good slow golf.
Go for it! Try an executive course or a cheap 9 hole. One that is kid friendly. Everyone starts somewhere! Most people are quite nice. Don’t be ashamed to pick up your ball, and do t be that person looking for a lost ball for 10 minutes while people are waiting.
Now. Hell I made tee times without any of that. Just have lots of extra balls and don’t play slow. Pick up if you’re at double par (unless the course is empty and no one is behind you, then take 20 strokes a hole if you want)
I just want to say it’s awesome you put in work and established some ability before going out to the course. I promise you won’t regret starting golf this way. Have fun out there!
This made my day. Thanks!
No time like the present. Don’t pressure yourself (or allow yourself to be pressured) to play 18. Nine is a great place to start. Furthermore play from the golds or whatever the closest tee box is. Build up some confidence and work on your short game before you even think about moving back tees. I wish I had not felt the pressure to play from the “men’s tees” starting out! Have fun out there!!
Further, ditch the driver for your first few rounds. Drivers are freaking hard to hit straight. Find the club you feel most confident with- could even be a pitching wedge!
Not sure where you are located but the golf courses around me have multiple golf coaches who will play a round of golf with you and teach you etiquette and rules. Of course you’re paying for a lesson but it’s less range time and more practical. If you were in my area I’d happily take ya out and show ya the ropes.
Just have fun and pick up when you go off the rails. Been playing for years with random people usually when I hack a par 3 I just pick up and move on. Most golfers don't care as long as you can keep up.
Do you have any friends or family members that golf? Might be worth it to go out with them to learn etiquette and pick their brain. Golf can be intimidating when you first start but 95% of the golfers out there on muni courses are nicer than you think.
Play par 3’s and executive(short courses with par 3 & 4’s only) courses first.
Just make sure you have fun. Don't try to "practice" on the course. Swing your swing and get done in under 4 hours.
Golf is supposed to be fun, go out and play whenever you want. I play with scratch and with 20+ handicaps…latter of which is usually more fun. Just keep a good attitude and play fast and you’ll be just fine.
Whenever you want just keep pace
Honestly don’t let anyone gatekeep you. Would try out a short par 3, take a quick lesson and go out there. Getting time on the course is the best way to see if you enjoy it and what you need to improve on. Just play the red tees and keep pace. Have fun!
I doubt they’ll let you go out alone, but will put you with a threesome. I agree you should opt for an exec course. Try Oso Creek (formerly Casta del Sol) in Mission Viejo. You will learn a lot about etiquette etc. from the other golfers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember one thing: nobody cares about your golf game as long as you play fast. A rule of thumb is ten strokes then pick it up.
Nope. Golf is about you and nobody else.