First Time Going to a Golf Course? Here's What You Need To Know...

So you recently decided to take up golf and you're loving it so far. You've been to the range a few times, practicing hard at your new sport, and maybe even had a lesson or two from a local pro. But one thing is certain, you're hooked and you want to step it up one level. You want to try out a real golf course. First impressions are a huge thing, especially in the golfing world,  so here are a few tips that can make your first time at a golf course as rewarding as it can be.

 

 

 

First time heading out to a golf course? Check out these tips below (image: wallpaperswide.com)

 

 

1) Start out with an easy course 

This is probably the best tip I can give to newcomers. For your first time, it is wise to play a course that is both shorter in length and easy in difficulty. This was the mistake I made. The first course I played was pretty tough. In fact, it's still one of the more difficult courses I've played (for those curious, it was Mill Run Golf Club's Championship Course). I had gone with a few friends and while I had a great time with them socially, I did play pretty poorly. I was able to hit a few good shots here and there, but most of my shots were short tops, slices or overshots. And most of my time was spent searching for my ball in either the rough, hazards, or OB areas. Easier courses, in general, are usually more forgiving in terms of hazards and OB areas. Bad shots can usually be found and there's a lot less risk on each hole.

But you're a new golfer, so how exactly do you tell if a course is easy or tough. Well luckily, the various golfing associations around the world have thought of this and developed the "Slope and Course Rating" evaluation. In layman's terms, these are numbers that represent what a scratch (course rating) and bogey golfer (slope) would shoot at said course. It's a bit more detailed than that, but all you really need to know is, in most cases, the lower the numbers, the easier the course. You'll also find that depending on what tee box you play from, the slope and course ratings will change. This brings us to our next tip.

2) Don't play from the long tees! 

Most people will naively think that playing from the longer tees just makes the hole longer. While this is true in most cases, longer tee boxes can also introduce new features/hazards into a hole, or make them more pronounced. For example, a dogleg par 4 might introduce fairways bunkers when played from the longer tees, or make your second shot a lot tougher. Don't feel pressured to start from the longer tees, even if you can hit it far. The requirements equally for both accuracy and distance increase the farther back the tee boxes are. Often times, accuracy is the harder of the two to control. At most courses, the red or white tees are a great place to start. Golf is a tricky sport even for the best players, so there's no need to make it any harder than it has to be, especially for a newcomer learning the game.

3) Book a 9-hole twilight round

I've said this a few times before, most recently in my "Why Don't More People Golf" article, but I am a huge fan of the 9-hole twilight (after 5pm) round. From a time perspective, nine holes of golf will probably take a new golfer about 2-3 hours, a much more manageable and easier to work with time-slot, compared to a full round.

In terms of vibes, I've often found that the atmosphere at a golf course during the twilight time is much more relaxed, compared to earlier times. People seem to be more easy-going and less uptight. It's a great environment for a new golfer and its usually less busy. You can re-take a shot or play two balls without having others complaining. Plus the prices are usually cheaper, which always help. 

4) Don't feel intimidated

There's absolutely no need to feel intimidated playing a golf course. Every golfer at some point was a beginner. That being said, there's a few things you can do to feel less intimidated. For example, if the group behind you is playing quicker or putting pressure on you, feel free to let them through. Don't let them ruin your golfing experience and they'll almost always willingly go ahead when offered. If you're worried that you won't play well on the course, a quick bucket at the driving range before your round is an excellent way to get dialed in. 

 

Another thing newcomers might not realize is that a course is much different from a driving range. Your shots now have meaning and distance isn't everything. But this shouldn't intimidate you at all. Your shot routine will still be the same as on the driving range (something to note though, playing off plastic tee mats at a driving range is vastly different than playing on real grass at a course, as we wrote about years ago). On a course, what's changing now is your mindset before your short; you're thinking about club selection, wind, what to avoid, etc.

5) Alone vs with others 

For years now, I've been hearing mixed opinions about going at it along or with a group of golfers for your first time on a golf course. I can see both sides of the argument and to be fair, there are pros and cons to both. 

Let's start with going alone. You do have the benefit of not feeling like you are the worst in the group or that you are holding up your playing partners. It's just you and the course, similar to a driving range experience. But it does come at a price, some may feel intimidated to go at it alone and may get caught up with things like course expectations, rules and so on. Plus, unless you're going to a quieter course or at a less busy time, you will most likely be paired up with another person or two. 

Going with a group can be a positive experience. Like I said earlier, this was what my first time was like. In my case, my group of friends were okay golfers, but knew the ropes. They weren't competitive and just enjoyed being on the course. Even though my golf wasn't the best that day, it was fun to watch how my friends approached each hole and I felt that I learned a lot from them. They didn't just give me some generic swings tips, but showed me what your mindset should be like for different holes. For example, playing away from the hazards, how to set up an approach shot. I couldn't quite execute it all at the time, but I learned what to do.

6) Relax and have fun

Yes its a bit cliche, but sometimes it just has to be said. There's no need to be stressed or worried about anything. That's exactly the opposite of what golfing is supposed to be about. Sure, you'll hit bad shots, you'll lose a few balls, you might play slow, but that's all part of the experience. All golfers, regardless of skill level, still do this from time to time. But I can guarantee at some point during your round, you'll do something great, something that makes you want to keep coming back. So there's no need to stress out. Eventually, you'll find that the golf course can be a place to relax, catch up with your friends and even have some friendly battles between them.

 

 

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So there you have it! Six basic tips for newcomers heading out to the course for the first time. I hope you learned something from this and, more importantly, that you enjoy yourself. The game of golf is truly a sport like no other and it's great to see that more and more people are getting into it.

If you have some tips that you would like to share with us, drop them in the comments below. Or feel free to share your first golf course experience with us!

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews