Welcome to the fascinating world of golf! If you’ve landed on this page, you’re likely feeling a mix of excitement and perhaps a little intimidation about starting your golf journey. You’re definitely not alone.
My name is Zach, and I’m the founder of The DIY Golfer. Like many of you, I started as a beginner and worked my way up to playing competitive Division 1 college golf. Now, I’m passionate about sharing my love for this incredible game with aspiring golfers like you.
As you’ll quickly discover, golf can seem overwhelming at first. Beginners often grapple with questions like:
- What golf clubs should I buy to start?
- What are the essential rules of golf? And what about golf etiquette – is that really a thing?
- Most importantly, how do I even hit the golf ball straight and get it airborne?
These are all valid concerns, and it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit lost. But relax, you’ve come to the right place.
This guide is designed to be your complete roadmap for learning golf. I’ll break down everything you need to know to confidently start playing and, more importantly, enjoy the process of becoming a golfer.
Let’s get started!
Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Golf Journey
One of the biggest hurdles for new golfers is having unrealistic expectations. The golf industry often doesn’t help. You’re bombarded with marketing promising instant distance gains with the latest equipment. While there are definitely ways to accelerate your progress, learning golf takes time, patience, and consistent practice.
A Realistic Timeline for Golf Improvement
To help you stay grounded, here’s a realistic timeline for your golf development, assuming you can dedicate 1-3 days per week to practice and play.
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Months 1-3: The Initial Challenge
- Expect frequent visits to the driving range and golf stores as you get equipped and start practicing.
- Prepare for frustration. You’ll miss the ball often, and hitting it where you intend will feel nearly impossible at times.
- “What am I even doing?” will likely be a recurring thought.
- On the golf course, losing balls will be common. You’ll likely need to pick up your ball frequently to maintain pace of play.
- But, you’ll also experience those exhilarating moments – a few pure shots that will ignite your passion for golf. “That was amazing! I love golf!” you’ll exclaim.
- The urge to quit might arise. Resist it! This initial phase is the toughest.
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Months 3-12: Building Consistency
- You’ll start to see improvement at the driving range, hitting more consistent shots.
- Playing on the course will become more manageable, with the ability to complete some holes without needing to pick up your ball.
- YouTube and online golf tips will become your new rabbit hole, potentially leading to more confusion than clarity as you try different techniques.
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Year 2: The Fun Begins
- Golf transforms into genuine fun.
- You’ll be able to play full rounds, keeping pace with more experienced golfers.
- Your score will start to matter more as you aim to break scoring milestones like 100 or 90.
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Years 3+: Becoming a True Golfer
- You’ll reach a skill level where you can enjoy playing at nicer golf courses and even plan golf trips with friends.
- Your equipment knowledge will expand, leading to upgrades and personalized gear choices.
- Golf lingo will become second nature.
- You’ll accumulate golf apps and gadgets.
- Congratulations, you’re now a committed golfer!
With these realistic expectations in mind, let’s dive into a 7-step guide: Golf for Beginners.
Step 1: Assembling Your Beginner Golf Equipment
Note: For convenient shopping, I’ve compiled beginner equipment recommendations for both men and women in one place on Amazon. [Find beginner golf club sets here.]
It’s no secret that golf equipment can be expensive. It’s tempting to spend thousands right away, but you absolutely don’t need to when you’re just starting out.
Your initial goal is to get a basic set of clubs that allows you to practice at the driving range and play on the course. Remember, these beginner clubs are likely to be upgraded within a year or two if you stick with golf, so don’t stress about perfection right now.
Where to Buy Beginner Golf Equipment
Navigating the golf equipment market can be overwhelming. There are countless options and many salespeople eager to sell you the latest, most expensive clubs.
Essential Features for Your First Golf Club Set
Choosing your first set of golf clubs presents numerous choices: new or used, individual clubs or a set, in-person or online purchase?
Here’s a simplified approach:
- The Easy Way: Purchase a beginner golf set online (Amazon recommendations below). This is often the most convenient option.
- The More Involved Way: Dive deep into research. You could explore used clubs, piece together a set, and consult detailed guides like my guide to buying golf equipment for a more customized approach.
For simplicity and value, buying a beginner set online, particularly from Amazon, is often the best route for new golfers. As mentioned, you’ll likely upgrade as you improve, so overthinking this initial purchase isn’t necessary.
How Many Golf Clubs Do You Need as a Beginner?
For a complete beginner, 10-12 clubs are plenty to start with. As you advance and refine your game, you’ll eventually want a full set of 14 clubs, the maximum allowed in golf.
Most beginner sets on Amazon offer various configurations, typically including essential clubs like a pitching wedge, sand wedge, irons, fairway wood, driver, and putter.
- 9/10/12-piece sets: Highly recommended for beginners. These sets provide enough versatility without being overwhelming. With 9 clubs, you can handle virtually any shot a beginner will encounter.
- 14-piece sets: A full set offering every type of club. While comprehensive, it’s not necessary for beginners. However, if you prefer having every possible club from the outset, it’s an option.
Other Essential Golf Accessories for Beginners
Besides a golf set, you’ll need a few additional items before you can play a round.
Here’s a list of essential accessories:
- Golf balls
- Golf shoes
- Golf GPS (App, watch, or rangefinder)
- Basic accessories (tees, divot repair tool, ball marker, towel, etc.)
Choosing the Right Golf Balls for Beginners
Early on, you will lose golf balls. It’s just part of learning. Therefore, price should be your primary concern when choosing golf balls.
While some golf balls are designed to help beginners hit the ball further, the reality is that the type of golf ball won’t significantly impact your game until you start consistently scoring below 100.
For beginner golfers, the 36-pack of Wilson Profile Distance golf balls is a top choice. Wilson is a reputable brand, and this pack offers excellent value at less than $1 per ball – about as affordable as you can get without sacrificing decent quality.
Selecting Beginner Golf Shoes
There isn’t really such a thing as a “beginner golf shoe.” However, golf shoes are a worthwhile investment from the start.
While you could play golf without them, I strongly recommend getting a pair early on to get used to the feel and stability they provide. As someone who played competitive golf, I wouldn’t dream of playing without golf shoes. They significantly enhance your swing stability.
If you plan to walk the course frequently (as opposed to using a golf cart), investing in quality golf shoes is even more crucial. You’ll typically walk around 3 miles for 9 holes or 6 miles for 18 holes. Comfortable and supportive shoes are essential.
FootJoy is a leading golf shoe brand with excellent options for both men and women, such as the FJ Flex and FJ Fuel models. These shoes offer subtle, built-in “spikes” for good grip without the pronounced spikes of traditional golf shoes.
Choosing a Golf GPS for Beginners
Measuring distances on the golf course is crucial for club selection. There are three main ways to get distances:
- Free Golf GPS Apps for iOS or Android: My top recommendation for beginners. Apps like The Grint, 18Birdies, and Garmin Golf are free and provide GPS distances, score tracking, and stat tracking.
- Golf GPS Watch: If you find carrying your phone cumbersome, a GPS watch is a convenient alternative. Watches like the Garmin Approach S10 provide distances to the green and sometimes offer score tracking features.
- Laser Rangefinder: The most accurate option and my personal preference as an experienced player. However, for beginners, the precision of a rangefinder isn’t essential. If you prefer a rangefinder, the Bushnell Tour V5 is a top-tier choice. Budget-friendly options like the Gogogo Sport Vpro exist, but Bushnell is the gold standard for accuracy and reliability.
Essential Golf Accessories for Beginners
To complete your beginner golf setup, here are a few essential accessories:
- Golf tees
- Divot repair tool
- Ball marker
- Golf towel
- Golf glove (optional, but recommended for grip and comfort)
Step 2: Mastering the Basic Golf Swing Fundamentals
With your equipment sorted, it’s time for the exciting part: learning to swing the golf club and actually play golf!
Where to Begin with the Golf Swing?
Golf is a continuous learning process, regardless of your skill level. To make your practice most effective, focus on learning these key fundamentals in this specific order:
- Proper Golf Grip: The grip is your only physical connection to the golf club. Mastering a proper grip is fundamental to every shot. I recommend using a grip trainer at home to build muscle memory. See my detailed guide on how to grip a golf club.
- Chip Shot: This short game shot is used frequently around the greens. It’s a fundamental shot to learn early.
- Pitch Shot: A longer short game shot than a chip, the pitch shot is essentially a mini-full swing. Learning it helps develop good swing fundamentals applicable to the full swing.
- Iron Shots: Hitting irons can be challenging initially, but it’s crucial to learn.
- Full Swing with Driver: The most exciting shot for beginners! Focus on smooth tempo, good posture, and solid contact when learning to drive. Correct tee height is also important.
- Bunker Shot: While more advanced, you’ll inevitably find yourself in a sand bunker. Knowing the basic setup for escaping bunkers is essential.
Effective Ways to Learn Golf
While The DIY Golfer promotes self-teaching, there are exceptions, especially for beginners. Learning the golf swing from scratch can be very challenging on your own. I know this firsthand, having learned through YouTube videos, websites, and lots of experimentation.
Instead of purely self-teaching, I recommend starting with group lessons.
Option #1: Group Golf Lessons
Group lessons are excellent because they are affordable and provide valuable hands-on instruction, particularly crucial in your first few months. They also create a less intimidating environment, as most participants are beginners at the same skill level.
Option #2: Private Golf Lessons
If your budget allows, private lessons offer personalized instruction. Packages of 6-10 lessons (30-minutes each) typically cost $400-$600. Instructors usually teach at driving ranges or golf courses.
Option #3: Joining a Country Club
For those committed to golf long-term, joining a country club can be a fast track to improvement. It’s a significant investment, but offers numerous benefits:
- Less Crowded Courses: Country club courses are usually less busy, providing a relaxed environment for beginners to learn at their own pace without pressure to rush.
- Access to Experienced Instructors: Country clubs often have head pros who offer private lessons and typically have more extensive teaching experience.
- Additional Amenities: Country clubs often include facilities like pools and social events, making it a family-friendly option while you pursue golf.
Option #4: Online Golf Lessons
A very budget-friendly way to learn is through online golf lessons. For example, I offer a beginner’s guide to golf video course to help you learn the fundamentals, understand the swing, and get the most out of the game at your own pace.
Step 3: Practice at the Driving Range
Driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, and social golf venues like Topgolf provide great practice environments.
To improve consistently, aim to visit the driving range at least once a week and hit 50-100 balls.
Here are my best practice tips for beginner golfers at the driving range:
- Use Alignment Sticks: Posture and alignment are crucial. Nearly all beginners misalign themselves. Using alignment sticks helps train your body to align correctly to your target from the start. Get GoSports alignment sticks and start practicing alignment drills.
- Practice on Real Grass: While any practice is beneficial, hitting from real grass provides better feedback on your ball striking. Artificial mats can mask poor contact.
- Focus on Key Clubs: Prioritize practicing with your driver, fairway woods, wedges, and short irons. While mid and long irons are important, beginners benefit most from focusing on the clubs they’ll use most frequently around the greens and off the tee.
For more driving range practice tips, explore my other guides on effective golf practice.
Step 4: Playing Beginner-Friendly Golf Courses
While no golf course is exclusively “beginner-friendly,” some courses are more welcoming to new players than others.
As mentioned earlier, country clubs are ideal for beginners with the budget for membership due to their typically less crowded environment, allowing for a relaxed learning pace.
Public golf courses are more common and accessible but can be very busy.
For beginners, choose public courses with lower green fees. These courses often attract more beginners and may have a more relaxed atmosphere.
The time of day and day of the week also significantly impact course crowdedness. Play during less busy times to avoid pressure from golfers behind you to play quickly.
Least Crowded Times to Play Golf:
- Weekdays (especially mid-week)
- Weekends after 4 PM (twilight rates offer reduced fees and fewer crowds)
Booking a Tee Time
To play golf, you need to reserve a playing time, called a “tee time.”
Most golf courses allow online tee time booking through their websites or third-party platforms. You can also book by calling the golf shop directly.
Golf Course Dress Code
Golf course dress codes have become more relaxed over time, especially at public courses compared to private clubs.
However, it’s good to be aware of general guidelines:
Men’s Golf Dress Code
- Collared shirt (polo shirt)
- Golf shorts or golf pants (khakis or similar)
- No denim jeans or athletic shorts
- Shirt tucked in
Women’s Golf Dress Code
- Collared shirt or golf top
- Golf shorts, golf pants, or golf skirt/skort
- No denim jeans or athletic shorts
- Shirt tucked in or neatly styled
Basic Golf Etiquette for Beginners
Golf etiquette is essential and often taken seriously. Unfamiliarity with etiquette can lead to frustration from other golfers. Luckily, it’s straightforward to learn.
Key Etiquette Rules to Remember:
- Keep Pace of Play: This is the most important rule for beginners. As a new golfer, you’ll take more shots, search for balls, and generally play slower. Aim for around 12-15 minutes per hole. If you’re exceeding this, pick up your ball and move to the next hole to avoid delaying groups behind you. If the course is uncrowded, take your time and enjoy! Evenings are often less busy for this reason.
- Minimize Movement and Noise: When someone is about to hit, stand still and be quiet. Distractions can disrupt their concentration.
- Cart Etiquette: Don’t drive golf carts directly past golfers who are preparing to hit. Maintain a respectful distance.
- Putting Green Etiquette: Avoid walking on someone’s “line” – the imaginary path between their ball and the hole. Step over their line to avoid leaving spike marks that can affect their putt. While some golfers are very particular about this, it’s most crucial on short putts.
- Cart Distance from Greens: Keep golf carts at least 50 yards away from the putting green to protect the green’s surface.
- Bunker Raking: If you hit a shot from a sand bunker, rake the sand afterwards to smooth out your footprints for the next player.
- Maintain Safe Distance: Stand at least 10 feet away from a golfer when they are swinging for your safety.
- Tee Box Positioning: Be aware of where to stand on the tee box when others are teeing off (see image below).
Basic Golf Terms and Rules
Knowing basic golf terminology and rules enhances your understanding and enjoyment of the game.
Basic Golf Scoring
- Lowest score wins in golf.
- Each hole has a “par,” indicating the expected number of strokes for an experienced golfer to complete the hole. Par is determined by hole length:
- Par 3: Holes under 250 yards.
- Par 4: Holes between 250-450 yards.
- Par 5: Holes over 450 yards.
- Par values may vary slightly based on the tees (championship, men’s, women’s) being played.
- “Making par” means completing a hole in the designated par number of strokes. For example, taking 4 strokes on a par 4 hole is making par.
Essential Golf Rules for Beginners
- Teeing Off: Begin each hole by teeing off from within the tee box area, between the tee markers.
- Order of Play (Honors): The player farthest from the hole generally plays next (except on the first tee where starting order is often predetermined or based on the previous hole’s score). On subsequent shots, the player farthest from the hole plays first.
- Penalty Strokes: Penalties are added to your score for rule infractions, such as hitting the ball out of bounds, into a water hazard, or losing your ball.
- Putting Green Rules: On the green, you are allowed to repair ball marks, remove loose impediments (natural objects like leaves or twigs), mark your ball’s position, lift and clean your ball, and replace it in the exact marked spot.
- Flagstick (Pin): You can choose to leave the flagstick in the hole or have another player remove or attend it while you are putting.
Step 5: Maintain a Positive Attitude and Realistic Expectations
Golf can be incredibly frustrating. What starts as a fun hobby can quickly become a source of anger if you let it.
Remember, golf is meant to be enjoyed. While improving your score is a common goal, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your enjoyment or your playing partners’ experience.
As you learn, take deep breaths and try to smile. Bad shots, swing inconsistencies, and unlucky bounces are all part of the game.
I highly recommend reading “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” by Dr. Bob Rotella. This book offers valuable perspective on managing expectations, staying mentally strong, and ultimately enjoying golf more while improving your scores.
Step 6: Join a Golf League or Participate in Tournaments
While solo practice can be rewarding, golf is fundamentally a social game. It’s a fantastic way to build friendships and spend quality time with others.
Joining a local golf league is a great way to meet new people, socialize, and challenge yourself to improve in a friendly competitive environment. Many cities have leagues for various skill levels.
For those seeking more competitive play, consider joining amateur golf tours like Golfweek’s Amateur Tour. These tours organize tournaments for golfers of all skill levels, providing opportunities to compete and track your progress.
Step 7: Continuous Learning, Equipment Upgrades, and Consistent Practice
The final step is an ongoing process. Golf offers endless learning opportunities, and mastery is a lifelong pursuit. That’s part of its enduring appeal.
When to Upgrade Your Golf Clubs
Eventually, your beginner golf clubs will start to limit your progress.
I recommend upgrading your equipment gradually and thoughtfully.
A truly great golf set isn’t bought as a pre-packaged set; it’s custom-built to your preferences and game.
Start by investing in a high-quality driver. Next, upgrade to better quality wedges, followed by a set of irons suited to your improving game. Choose a golf bag you love, and continue upgrading other clubs as needed.
Consider getting a professional golf club fitting. A fitting session will help determine the ideal club types, specifications, and shaft flexes for your swing and game.
Balancing Driving Range Practice and Course Play
In the early stages of learning, repetition practice at the driving range is crucial for developing your swing mechanics and building consistency. However, there’s no substitute for playing on a real golf course to learn course management, adapt to different lies, and develop your mental game.
Ideally, aim for a balanced approach, splitting your practice time equally between driving range sessions and playing rounds on the course.
Conclusion and Next Steps
I hope this comprehensive guide has given you a solid “quick start” to learning golf.
If you found this guide helpful, I have much more to offer! Including a FREE personalized golf practice plan designed to help you maximize your practice effectiveness and accelerate your golf journey. Take advantage of this free resource to continue improving and enjoying the game of golf!
