How to Play Golf for Beginners

For beginners golf can seem a little intimidating to start off. But as you get the hang of the sport, you can get it, provided you are really interested and have a passion for it. Read on to know more about playing golf.
The par beckons and so does the iron and the putt. Yes, these are the words which golf enthusiasts and golf aspirants dream of and these are things which can wake them up even in the middle of the night. Learning golf, however, is not a cake walk. This is not to scare those who want to learn to play golf, but to put across the reality. But working hard for a thing you are passionate about is worth it, right? Here we go!

Golf for Beginners

The Arsenal
Oh no, do not be scared, I am surely not alluding to missiles or any kind of weaponry! I am making a reference to golf equipment. Mind you, this is an expensive sport and so be prepared that the equipment is going to affect your pockets. But like I said, if you want it, you will get it! Nevertheless, the first thing you do is to get golf clubs. As a beginner, it is best to be thrifty. There are good brands which have reasonably priced golf clubs. Or, a fantastic option would be garage or yard sales. Who knows you might get your hands on a really good golf club used by pros and you can get a real steal of a deal. Invest in a considerably good club, it will help in the long run.

Basics of Golf
While you play golf, there are 3 important things which have to be included in golf tips, for beginners. These 3 aspects have to be mastered if you want to excel in this sport. These are:

Stance
For a correct golf swing, a correct stance is inevitable. To achieve that, you need to be stable as well as flexible. To illustrate, if you have long clubs, your ideal stance should be shoulder width. If it is the opposite, that is, the clubs are short, then hips stance works just perfect. This is crucial for a stable base and a good swing.

Aim
Once you get a correct stance, half of your job is done. You should have a clear focus on your aim or target. A perfect swing leading to a right stroke can go all wrong if the swing does not have a proper alignment. That will prevent the ball from going into the hole as the direction of the ball would be incorrect. Thus, alignment of knees, feet, hips and shoulders is extremely crucial for an impeccable aim.

Position of the Ball
This refers to the position or placement of the ball in connection with the position of your feet. To get a great shot, placing the golf ball accurately in your stance is essential. Hence, when it comes to beginners, they should know where is the ball in relation to their feet and how far is it from their feet. To give an example, when you have a longer club, the ideal ball position would be 2 balls in the direction of the target and the foot in that direction from the center.

In addition to these, you also need to be acquainted with the basic rules of golf.

Where to Play and Practice
You have to of course practice on a driving range and practice with a host of balls. The good part is that these driving ranges also have putting greens meant for practice. Or, practice just the swing in your backyard (I am sure you are not thinking of hitting golf balls in your backyard!). Or if all these do not appeal to you, ask a pro, if you know one as to which is the best place to practice. Par 3 courses are generally good for beginners. Executive courses can also be taken a shot at, as they are shorter than full sized 18-hole courses. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, you can join a golf training and learn from a pro golfer as well.

Ultimately, when it comes to playing golf, you need to know not just the written golf playing rules, but also the etiquette of the sport, on and off the golf course. Like, you should never ever walk through a golfer's putting line. After all golf is a gentleman's game and if you are a beginner who wants to learn how to play golf, these small things matter a lot. Good luck!
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Published: 1/28/2010
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