Aaaah, Golf! It’s a wonderful game isn’t it? Once you get hooked it’s a passion that is sure to last you a lifetime. However, when you’re just starting out, that first trip to the course can be overwhelming. Here are a few things to keep in mind to put your mind at ease, and make your first day out on the links much more enjoyable!
1. Relax
Let me tell you about First Tee Jitters. If you’re just learning how to play golf you may have not heard the term yet, or maybe you know what they are and you’re terrified of them! Regardless, they are nothing to be worried about.
Imagine you’re standing over your ball on the first tee. You have no idea what you’re doing and everyone is watching. You break out into a cold sweat and start praying that you don’t swing and miss! That’s First Tee Jitters in a nutshell. An intense feeling of nervousness, and not wanting to screw up majorly, while everybody is watching. And, as I said earlier, it’s completely unnecessary. As bad as you think you are at this game, I can guarantee you there is someone worse out there. Heck, some people have played for years and still don’t get better! Just relax, put any negative thoughts out of your mind, and focus on bringing your best swing to the golf ball every time. Do that, and by the end of the round you’ll be hitting shots that make you say “what was I so worried about?!”.
2. Play Your Own Game
In life, and in golf, everybody is different. Just do your own thing! Some people hit certain shots better than others and some people hit the ball further than others. Who cares? At the end of the day that stuff doesn’t show up on your scorecard. Which brings me to another mini-tip: develop your own “personal par”.
When you head out to the course for the first time, you’ll be handed a scorecard. As you drive (or walk) up to the tee on each hole, look at what par is. Then, look at the hole and decide: can I finish this hole in that many strokes? If the answer is no, then adjust the scorecard. If it’s your first time out, and you’re playing a 500-yard par 5, you may want to adjust the par to 6 or 7. Now, with that in mind, I will say this: Challenge Yourself! Don’t make your personal par so high that you’re shooting your par the first time out. It’s just meant to be a tool to help you learn, have fun, and not get so frustrated early on in your golfing life.
3. Head to The Range
I know, I know. Boring advice, right? We all want to run out and hit the course right away, but the truth is that when you’re learning how to play golf a little time practicing beforehand doesn’t hurt. Now, I’m not saying go out and whack 220 balls in an hour like a maniac. Typically, for practice, I will hit 30-70 golf balls. I usually opt for whatever the “small range bucket” is at that particular course, and I focus on making my practice more effective. If you’re going to the driving range right before your round, then that number will work for you too. However, if you can, I’d like to see you go to a local range the night before and hit about 50-100 balls. You’re still going to take your time and practice effectively, but getting the extra reps in will help when you’re first starting. If you go the night before, then don’t go when you get to the course the next day. When you show up for your tee time just work on your short game. You’ll be too tired out if you hit balls both days.
Golf can, and will, be a great game for you. It’s a great way to meet people, get outside, and bond with the people closest to you. Follow these tips and I promise you’ll learn to enjoy the journey of learning how to play golf.