how to play a golf course for the first time

8 tips on How to play on a New Golf Course for the First Time

• Do your homework. Doing your homework will help to eliminate the suspense of playing on a new golf course; you get to feel the course virtually.
• Golf GPS or Golf Watch. ...
• Head to the course early. ...
• Find help before teeing off. ...
• Tee it Forward. ...
• Strategize for every shot. ...
• Hit towards the middle of the green. ...
• Enjoy the round. ...

Full Answer

What is the best way to learn to play golf?

2 days ago · Avoiding penalty shots on courses you are playing for the first time should be the No. 1 priority. Even if it feels a bit too conservative, steering clear of out-of-bounds and water hazards should...

What are some tips for a first-time golfer?

Take a conservative approach to the first hole. Play the hole as a bogey and avoid the double and triple bogeys. A par will feel like a birdie. 8. When teeing off, find the flattest spot on the tee box. If the hazards are to the right, tee off as far right as possible. This opens up the fairway, giving golfers a bigger target. 9.

Should you go to the golf course before you are ready?

Apr 13, 2020 · Here are my to 8 tips for how to play a golf course that you've never played before. Check out Golfholics Here https://bit.ly/34v9biKSubscribe to our Newsle...

Do I need a tee time at the golf course?

Use a conservative game plan. During your first round on a given course, you really don’t have enough local knowledge to take many risks. Instead, you should do your best to stick with a conservative plan, playing toward the wide side of the fairways and the middle of the greens.

What should I know before playing golf for the first time?

How do you play golf the first time?

How should a beginner approach golf?

Where do you start on a golf course?

How do you approach a new golf course?

How can I teach myself to play golf?

How do you not embarrass yourself on the golf course?

What are you supposed to wear to a golf course?

How often should a beginner golfer practice?

Should a beginner get fitted for golf clubs?

Is golf easy to learn?

How long does it take to learn golf?

How far apart are tee times on golf courses?

Golf courses can't offer "grace periods" like restaurant reservations. Tee times are typically 6-to-10 minutes apart and when the group ahead of you has teed off, the starter expects you to be ready to jump on the tee. Arriving at the course for a tee time 15 minutes early is about as close as I cut it.

How many clubs do you need to play golf?

A set (or half set) of clubs that includes a couple woods, various irons, a wedge and putter. Rules stipulate you can have 14, but you'll be fine at first with seven. Or, just bring a putter, wedge and wood.

What does it mean to play golf at Twilight?

Playing golf at twilight probably means fewer golfers on the course. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor. If you are a beginner, chances are you are going to feel a little nervous your first time to the course and you may be wary about playing with new people.

How far away should you be when hitting a golf drive?

Better safe than sorry. If you hit your drives 200 yards, let them be at least 250-300 yards away. When waiting for a green to clear, you should wait for the group to be completely off the green and walking or riding to the next tee well out of the way.

How many sets of tees are there in golf?

Most courses have between three and five sets of tees. If it's your first time, you should feel no shame in playing from the forward tees and working back as you feel comfortable. Don't be afraid to play from the shortest set of tees on your first trip to the course. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor.

How to bag drop a golf course?

Some courses will have signs pointing towards a bag drop. Follow them, leave your clubs with the attendant and then and park your car. (If there is no one at the bag drop, you can take your clubs out and set them on the rack. The attendant may have just gotten tied up for a few minutes). Some courses, especially municipal courses, lack a bag drop attendant. In this case, park your car and carry your clubs to the clubhouse.

What is the job of a ranger in golf?

Their job, if done properly, is to keep an eye on the players and make sure there are no bottlenecks on the course.

Introduction

Playing on a new golf course for the first time brings excitement, but it can be quite challenging for golfers. Most golfers who have been playing the games all their lives can take for granted the fact that they are playing on the course for the first time despite not knowing what lies ahead.

8 tips on How to play on a New Golf Course for the First Time

Doing your homework will help to eliminate the suspense of playing on a new golf course; you get to feel the course virtually. Create time to research the course online using Google, YouTube, forums, or the course website. Some course websites have almost enough information to get you ready ahead of your round.

Conclusion

Golf is a challenging game to play, even though it brings a ton of joy. Playing on a new golf course will post some challenges to you but using these 8 tips will set you for success in your next play on a new course. Proper preparation before playing on a new course will soothe the nerves and bring some confidence to your arrival and start.

How to play golf for beginners?

Some golf courses are better for beginners than others. As you browse the options in your market (check out our Courses Near You landing page to find the most convenient options), here are a few elements to look for: 1 Find a scorecard online and look at all the teeing options. Most courses these days have three or more sets of tees. As a beginner, you should want to play one of the forward sets that is usually between 4,500-5,500 yards. Anything longer than 6,000 yards is starting to get pretty tough. A slope/rating under 70.0/120 would be a good place to tee up from. If you're really worried about playing a course that's too hard, you could look up the course overhead map and see how wide the playing corridors are (or if houses line many fairways), how many bunkers and forced carries there are. 2 Even better, look for a short course or executive course. These courses are great because you can get in a lot of holes in less time and they are usually more affordable to play. As a beginner, there really is no sense in playing a tournament-caliber, $75-100 golf course yet - they're usually just tougher, longer and have faster, less forgiving greens. Short courses on the other hand are affordable, welcoming, quick to play and you should still get in all the shots you need to practice. I particularly like them for short game and approach shot work.

Why are golf courses so good?

These courses are great because you can get in a lot of holes in less time and they are usually more affordable to play. As a beginner, there really is no sense in playing a tournament-caliber, $75-100 golf course yet - they're usually just tougher, longer and have faster, less forgiving greens.

How far in advance do you have to post a tee sheet?

Each course has a different policy when it comes to opening up their tee sheet. Most local public or municipal courses only post their tee times 5-7 days in advance. For nicer courses that book more tourist play, that window might stretch from 14-90 days in advance.

How to book a tee time?

There are three ways to book a tee time: Phone: The first option is to pick up the phone and call the pro shop. You'll tell the person on the phone what day you want to play and what time, how many in your group, and they will share availability for that day and settle on a time.

What to do if tee sheet is full?

If you get to the course and the tee sheet is full, you can put your name on the walk-on list and wait for a no-show. If that fails, just buy a bucket of balls if they have a driving range or work on your putting for awhile. And maybe make a tee time for your next round while you're there.

What do you need to know about golf?

It is also not a bad idea to know a few of golf’s basic rules: Familiarize yourself with the official way to drop a ball, to take relief from an unplayable lie, what to do if your ball is out of bounds and what to do if you hit your ball into a hazard.

How to spot a good golfer?

1. Nail the basic fundamentals. You can spot a good golfer before they even hit the golf ball. Their key fundamentals of posture, grip and stance are all good, and they usually have a very specific order which they do these things (known as a pre-shot routine) which helps them repeat these each and every time.

What is the best wood for a fairway club?

A great choice for a reliable fairway club might be your most lofted fairway wood, like a 7-wood. A 7-wood would still travel a reasonable distance and be more consistent than a lesser lofted option.

What is the proper posture for putting?

A good, basic putting posture is to bow from your hips, have your eyes over the ball and your arms hanging below your shoulders.

How to chip golf?

For a basic golf chip: Hold the club lower on grip, with a more narrow stance, lean your weight and torso towards the target, and make a basic putting motion that brushes the grass. I would choose a pitching wedge for this shot, and practice getting comfortable with it.

How to find your golf club yardage?

Write all the clubs you have on a piece of paper, and when you hit a shot reasonably well, use an app like GolfLogix (an affiliate company of GOLF.com), a range finder like a Bushnell, or walk off the yardage yourself and write it down. These numbers will change over time, but knowing your distances will help your consistency on the course.

How to adjust your feet on a golf club?

Put simply: Grip the club, step and bow, then adjust your feet.