Many people get hooked on this game quickly and spend the rest of their lives having fun and trying to master it. Learning how to play golf will be a fun experience, but without proper training, it can be frustrating.
Fortunately for you, this site will give you the tools you need to improve your game much faster and easier than those that have not found this instruction.
Most first-time golfers are invited to play by someone that has been golfing for a while. If that is the case, they can guide you on the rules and etiquette as you play. In this article, I will not attempt to give you all of the official rules of golf as established by the USGA.
I have a link to that information in the right sidebar, but it is optional to read them for our purposes. Golf can be played with stringent or relaxed rules determined by the golfers as they get ready to tee off.
Remember, golf should be fun! As long as everyone is playing by the same rules and mindful of the other golfers on the course, the rules can be flexible. I recommend that you go to a practice range and practice your swing before playing golf. If you have never hit a golf ball before, this will be an eye-opener. Trust me!
The General Rules of Golf
The rules of golf can be fairly complex, but for the first-time golfer playing a friendly game, they can be quite straightforward. The game of golf has many variations, stroke play, match play, skins, etc. Still, for this instruction, we will stay with “stroke play” since it is by far the most common game played by the average golfer and those at professional tournaments, including the Majors.
Basically, you are trying to put your ball in the cup in the least number of strokes. At the end of the round, the person that has the lowest score wins. Pretty simple, right? Well, it is.
Each individual hole is made up of 3 components the tee box, the fairway, and the green, with various hazards thrown in, like water, sand, and trees. Each stroke of any club is counted as 1 stroke. A 250-yard drive counts as 1 stroke, the same as a 3-inch putt.
Heading To The Course
A lot of courses will require you to call ahead for a tee time. Some will allow walk-ons. When you get to the course, you will tee off according to your tee time. If the course allows walk-ons, you will simply get in line on the first tee and wait your turn. First come, first served.
When to Tee Off
You can tee off if no one is in front of you or when you determine that the people in front of you are far enough ahead that there is no way you can hit them.Once everyone has teed off, the person that is furthest from the green will be the next to hit. Be careful not to get out in front of the person hitting the ball.
Under some circumstances, if you are on the opposite side of the fairway and you can watch the person hitting, you can proceed with caution to your ball if you determine that you will not be hit.
On The Green
Once everyone has reached the green, the flag can be removed. Do not remove the flag until everyone is on the green. The person furthest from the cup putts first. A person on the green with a long putt may request that you leave the flag in to help them see the hole.
If this is the case, you must be near the flag and be ready to pull it out before the ball reaches the cup. Once everyone has putted into the hole, replace the flag and proceed to the next tee.
Congratulations again!! You have just finished your first golf hole!
What To Expect
Most golf courses will insist that everyone in your group has their own set of clubs. This is because you will often be hitting your ball from opposite sides of the fairway, and it would be way too slow for players to share clubs.
If the person you are golfing with has not lent you a set of clubs to play with, most, if not all, golf courses will have a rental set available to you. These clubs are generally not of very high quality, but for the first-time player, they will do.
When you arrive at the course, you will enter the clubhouse and pay for your round. You will determine how many holes you are going to play, 9 or 18, or more, and pay accordingly. Many courses will also give you the option of renting a golf cart to drive. This option is personal, and the two people usually share the cost in the cart.
At this point, you will head for the first tee and await your turn, either according to who was there first or by the official starter. You will start on the first hole and tee your ball up for your first shot. Each tee box will have a set of markers or multiple sets of markers to indicate where you should tee your ball.
Always tee your ball between and behind the markers. This is because the course managers will move the tee area around in the tee box to allow grass to re-grow.
The reason for multiple sets of markers is to add more challenge to your round by moving you further back or to allow women golfers to move closer to the green. You may choose the set of markers you want to hit from. Most golf courses will have a set of women’s tees placed ahead of the men’s tee.
Maximum Number Of Golfers
The maximum number of golfers allowed in a group is 4. Occasionally if the course is not busy or under other circumstances, the course may allow five golfers in a group, but this would be sort of rare.
Club Selection
The club you select will determine the distance your ball needs to travel. Longer, less lofted clubs will hit the ball farther with more roll, while the shorter, more lofted clubs will hit the ball a shorter distance and with less roll.
The First Tee
On the first tee, decide on the rules you will all follow. How will you handle a ball hit out of bounds? What about a lost ball? To speed up the game for new players, it’s best to simply place a new ball on the fairway near where the original ball was lost. This will allow the game to continue smoothly without any unnecessary delays.
Are you going to allow a mulligan?
What Is A Mulligan?
A mulligan is a “do over” A mulligan is not legal under the official rules of golf but is common during friendly games. If you hit a bad shot, you tee up again and hit another shot with no penalty.
The most common mulligan rule is that it is used only on the first swing of the game. The Mulligan rules are determined before the first shot is taken. Here are some variations. Only on the first shot
- 1 mulligan per nine holes.
- 1 mulligan per nine holes but only on the tee.
- 1 mulligan per round.
Pars, Bogies, Birdies, and Eagles?
Each golf hole is assigned a “par.” That simply means that you are expected to get your ball in the hole in that number of shots. If the hole is a par 3, you will try to get your ball in the hole in 3 shots or less. Generally, you are allowed 2 putts after reaching the green, so the fairway’s length determines the hole’s par.
For example, if the hole is 130 yards away, most golfers would be expected to be able to hit the green in 1 shot leaving 2 putts to get their par. This would be a par 3.
If the hole is 330 yards long, no one is expected to hit the green in 1 shot, so you would be allowed 2 shots to reach the green and 2 putts to make par. So it would be a par 4. Now, most people do not hit par on every hole. Sometimes you will be under par (a great hole), or you will be over par (a not-so-great hole).
If you are on a 150-yard par 3 hole, and you hit the green with your first shot and then make your first putt, you have just scored a birdie! A birdie is one shot under par. If, on the same hole, you take 2 shots to hit the green and 2 putts or any combination of shots and putts that add up to 4, you have just bogied that hole. A bogie is 1 shot over par.
If it takes 5 shots to get in the hole, you have double bogied, and 6 shots, you have triple bogied, etc. So what is an eagle? An eagle is 2 strokes under par. For example, on a par four, you hit your drive halfway to the hole, and your next shot goes into the hole. You have just scored an eagle.
Golf Etiquette In The Tee Box
Once your golf partner has set up for his or her shot, you must stay completely silent and still until they have taken their swing. This rule applies whenever someone is taking any type of shot.
Stand back far enough that your partner will not be concerned about hitting you with their swing. Never drive a golf cart onto a tee box.
Etiquette On The Green
Always stay still and quiet when others are putting. Be ready to putt when it is your turn. Do not walk across other golfers putting lines. Leaving a footprint between their ball and the cup could affect their shot.
Never drive a golf cart too close to the green, and never onto the green. Check with the course rules for how far you should stay away. Pull carts and bags should also be left off the green.
If your ball is between the hole and another player’s ball, you should mark the location of your ball with a coin or ball marker and pick up your ball until after they have putted.
General Etiquette
Always be mindful and courteous to other golfers on the course. Keep up a fast pace. Golf is not a sprint, and you should take your time when hitting your ball but don’t waste time in between. Always be ready to hit when it is your turn, whether on the tee in the fairway or on the green.
If you are struggling and taking too much time, you may want to pick up your ball and place it on the green or move to the next tee. Move off the green as soon as everyone has finished putting. Do not stand around talking or look back at the fairway counting your strokes.
If you lose a ball, do not take too long to look for it. Place another ball on the fairway and continue playing.
Fixing A Divot
Occasionally, a golfer will hit the ground during his or her swing and take up a big chunk of grass and dirt this is called a divot. When this happens, always pick up the grass and clump of dirt and place it back in its original location. It will re-establish itself and continue growing.
Fixing A Ball Mark
When hitting a high shot to the green, your ball will sometimes leave a dent in the green this is called a ball mark. Use a tee or ball mark tool to carefully dig around the dent and tamp it back flat with your foot or the sole of your putter.
Playing Through
If space has opened up between your group and the group ahead of you due to your slow play and you have a faster player or group behind you, it is an excellent idea to let the faster group or player play through.
This can be done in different ways. For example, if you are a foursome and a single player is behind you, wait at the next tee for that faster player to catch up and let him or her go ahead of you.
You can also tee off together and let the single player go ahead on the next hole. A 3rd option if you are already in the fairway or on the green is to step off to the side and wave them on, letting them hit.
Make sure to watch the golfer hit the ball and keep track of its flight so that it doesn’t hit you. You will then let him or her pass.
Yelling Fore!
Yes, people really do yell “Fore”! on the golf course. If you hit an errant shot that looks like it may come close to hitting another golfer, you must shout “Fore” to alert them of the potential danger. Loud enough for them to hear you. This will give them time to react and take cover.
If you are on the course and you hear someone yell Fore! Do not turn to look for the ball. If a tree is handy, duck behind it or, at the very least, turn your back to the direction of the yell and cover your head.
I have been golfing for about 37 years and no golf ball has ever hit me.. That’s about it for the basics. I hope I have given you an idea of what to expect on your first outing.
Remember, If you are just starting out, don’t take this game too seriously. Go out there, have some fun, and enjoy the day!
