Golf — Getting Started: Learn, But Enjoy

Part I

In 15th century Scotland the game of "gowf" was born. Around 1744, the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, established in Edinburgh, then codified the first rules of play. And the world has never been the same since. Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world; played in countries as far flung as Mexico and Ireland, South Africa and China. And, of course, Scotland. There are even universities that offer a major in Golf.

So, for the novice getting started, the game entails entering a world with rich and varied history, a potentially major investment of time and money, a steep physical and mental learning curve — and enormous fun! The best way a beginner can begin is by learning what NOT to do.

First, don't rush out and spend a large amount of money on course fees, equipment, lessons, clothing, and so forth. You don't yet know which courses are worth it, what equipment is quality and which suits you, and lessons can wait a short while.

Part of the excitement is the newness and the joy of finding a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or even with the whole family. But golf is a difficult game to play well and can be frustrating and expensive if you don't invest a little time finding out what you need to know.

Start small and don't take everything too seriously too soon. Many pros will advise against spending many weeks on a driving range when first beginning, because they want you to avoid developing bad habits which are hard to break. But, some time on a range can be a cheap way to get your muscles moving, find out if you have an aptitude or interest, and give you an idea of the types of clubs and balls to use.

Find an inexpensive course and wear comfortable, loose clothing that doesn't bind your arms and shoulders. Save that $1,000 you'd spend on pants, shoes, and shirts for later. Start with a simple three club set borrowed from a friend or rented from the clubhouse. A Nine iron, a wedge, and a Number 5 wood is plenty. Actually you'll use the wedge less on a driving range, but you can add a putter and move to the putting practice area later. Some have miniature sand traps to practice escaping.

Relax, observe those who hit well and imitate their grip, stance, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. If you miss a few, so be it. Enjoy. You're teaching your body what the swing feels like, what angle and impact produces what kind of flight.

On the putting green, start very close to the hole — no more than a couple of feet. When you can make 25 putts in a row more or less consistently, move back to six feet, 10 feet, 20 feet — no farther. 'More or less' consistently — even the pros sometimes miss a two-footer!

Whether driving or putting, stand so that a casual push wouldn't knock you over. Golf is about balance, concentration, and some simple physics. Now, go have a cool drink in the clubhouse and enjoy the day. You did well your first time out.

Part II

Since a game of golf can cost anywhere from $5 to $100 dollars, sooner or later you're going to get the urge to do more than whack a ball around a hundred times. Good!

But before you rush out and spend hundreds on your own clubs, invest $50 on a lesson or two. That investment, if made with the right instructor, will get you started on correct grip, stance, posture (the essentials!), swing mechanics and exercises, as well as proper equipment selection. Start with putting practice, and a few weekends on the driving range. Move up to nine holes, then onto 18 after a few weeks. During the week, do some of the basic exercises, while you learn the rules and etiquette.

So what are some of the basics?

CLUBS

There are three basic categories: irons, woods, and putters. Woods are used to hit farthest, irons intermediate distances, and putters for up close. The lower the number club used, the farther (we hope!) the ball travels. On average, a 1 wood used correctly whacks a ball about 170 yards or more, a 5 iron about 100 yards, a 9 iron about 60. Putters are used to push the ball a few feet to a few yards across a much smoother grass area called the green. Pitching and sand wedges are special, sharply angled clubs for chipping up steep hills or out of sand traps. Get clubs with grips that are neither so small the club twists in your hands on impact, nor so large you can't wrap your fingers easily around it.

STARTING GRIP

To get started, remember the grip is vital. There are a dozen different kinds, but the most common is the one in which the index finger of the left hand hooks the pinky of the right. (For right handed individuals.) Then for proper alignment, "check the V's": The V's are the angle between your thumb and forefinger on each hand. These should point between your chin and back shoulder. Make sure that when looking down, you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand and a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward your right shoulder. With the right hand, have the "V" pointing toward your chin or slightly to the right shoulder.

SWING

Start at address with a Nine iron. (A term for standing near, and ready to hit, the ball. Who knows where these words come from!) With your heels about shoulder width apart, take a few practice swings. You want to hit the ball squarely in the middle of the club left to right, but slightly up from the bottom. Take a firm grip and balance stance, but don't crush the club nor dance on your toes. Try to keep the swing in one plane. (A plane is a flat surface; think of swinging alongside the top of a round table tilted on end. Curve with the table edge.) Follow through after making contact with the ball. Keep the ball in the center of your field of vision.

RULES & ETIQUETTE

RULES

Like any game, the official rules are many and complex. But the simple version is this: Tee up, hit the ball toward the flag. Try to get the ball in the hole the flag is in. (When you get close, take the flag out!) The fewest strokes over the course of all holes wins. Hit your own ball and count every stroke.

ETIQUETTE

Don't endanger another player by standing too close them when you or (s)he swings. And don't make excessive noise when someone is hitting. Avoid holding up players behind or with you. If you lose your ball, let them 'play through'. Replace 'divots' (chunks of earth and grass you dug up by using the golf club — accidentally — as a shovel.) Fix other damage made. In short, be courteous to those around you. Golf is one of the few games where civilized behavior is actually enforced!

WRAPPING IT UP

For the novice, golf can be enjoyed from the start. For those interested and motivated, there's an inexhaustible supply of information about the physics and physiology of swing mechanics, grip, stance, and other arcana. Tiger Woods has been practicing and playing from a young age and he still takes lessons. For the beginner, there's a large amount of knowledge to absorb and physical movement to practice right at the outset. But don't get so overwhelmed that you forget the primary purpose: to have fun!

Scotland Golf Course Photo by Mike Anderson