words Alexa Wang
Do you want to play golf but don’t know how? This beginner’s guide will show you the ins and outs of starting a game. You’ll learn about equipment, lessons, tips, and more!
Try out different golf games
Rather than splashing out on expensive gear and heading for a full round of golf, you can now try golf in many forms. City mini golf has become a cool evening activity. Golf ranges have now become gamified, making the experience more like 10 pin bowling and more and more short courses and now open.
These mini golf experiences are a great way to dip your toe into the game of golf and develop your skills in putting or hitting longer golf shots. Yes, this isn’t like the competitive golf you see on tv, but these experiences will certainly help you develop as a player.
Group lessons make it social
A few golf lessons can be a fun way to spend an evening with friends. You’ll have the opportunity to learn together and develop your skills as you go. If there’s one thing we know about young professionals, it’s that they love being social!
Beginner golfers will learn the basics, while intermediate golfers can take advantage of these fun get-togethers and gain feedback on their technique from experienced coaches.
If you don’t have any keen friends, group lessons are a great way to meet like-minded people to play golf with in the future.
Learn the basics of golf equipment
It’s all fun and games until you need to buy a new set of golf clubs. There are many factors that go into choosing the right equipment – your height and size, to your preferred playing style, so it can be hard for beginners to know where they should start.
Luckily I’ve put together some tips on how best to choose the golf gear that is right for you. Many new players wonder if they need fancy custom-fit equipment, but this is rarely the case, if you are over 6’3″ or under 5’3″ then yes custom fitting is an option you should consider, but you will be fine to try out golf with standard equipment, to begin with. Just be aware that there are specific men’s and women’s golf clubs you can buy.
You can opt for new golf clubs, but it may also be worth checking out second-hand golf clubs when getting into the game. This will save you some money, and allow you to spend more on a set that is right for you at a later date.
A new set of golf clubs costs around $300-$1,000 to buy, but second-hand sets can be found for as little as $150, and they can often be in excellent condition.
What other golf gear is needed?
Besides golf clubs, you need a few golf balls and possibly some golf shoes when you start to play. Golf balls cost anywhere from a few dollars to over $30 per dozen, but no matter the price they should all fly straight when hit well.
Golf shoes aren’t a must, but as you start to swing with more speed you’ll find golf shoes give you far better grip on the ground and will likely improve your ability to hit the centre of the golf club.
A golf glove isn’t just there to make you look the part, it helps you hold the golf club with less force, allowing you to make a freer swing. You don’t need a golf glove to play, but it’s worth adding one to your golfing gear if you start to play frequently.
Other benefits of playing golf
Golf not only gives you a fun new activity but also offers many other benefits. For example, it can help to keep your brain sharp and active as you learn new skills which will improve with practice. It is a great way of staying fit through walking for long distances (4 – 8 miles), along with some short explosive swings – so don’t be surprised if you start looking lean and toned after starting to play!
Lastly, golfing offers some fantastic scenery throughout the world. You can be walking along beautiful clifftops, standing next to a lake or meandering through a forest attempting to steer your little white ball safely to the hole.
Even if you don’t play your best golf, you’ll still have a great day out and about, before tucking into a well earned bite to eat and drink afterwards.
