Is Golf Hard To Learn?
Is Golf hard to learn? A lot of people are hesitant to begin golfing for many reasons. They believe that it is time consuming, hard to learn, and boring. They may also believe that they are starting “too late in the game”, but this is untrue. You can learn to golf at any age, and it is not as difficult as some people may make it seem. With the correct help, clubs, and a lot of patience, you can pick up golfing fairly quickly.
The Only Way to Learn is to Play
They say practice makes perfect. In order to learn how to golf, it is imperative that you go out and actually play. You can’t absorb the information and skills through osmosis, but you can absorb them by getting out on the course or going down to the range and hitting balls.
If you really want to learn how to play golf, go out as often as you can. Obviously, you don’t have to commit your whole life to the game, but if you have free time after work or on the weekends, those are wonderful times to go out and play.
Keep in mind that you can’t learn every aspect of the game overnight, but the more you play, the quicker you can develop the fundamental skills that you need in order to play golf.
What About Professional Instruction?
A way to speed up your learning process is to get professional instruction. While a friend or family member may seem convenient and free, they are likely to give you pointers and instructions that may not be the real proper way to play golf.
With a professional instructor, they are going to teach you all of the fundamentals of the game, and they can also help you by tweaking aspects of your swing, stance, and hand position that may be off.
A professional can help you with all aspects of your game, or they can just focus solely on an area that is giving you a hard time. Just tell them you want help with your driver, irons, chipping, putting, or anything, and they can give you personalised help.
Professional instruction is a wonderful way to really learn the basics, as well as the not-so-basics, of golf if you are looking for that extra push.
You may be asking yourself, “What in the world is a driver, putter, pitching wedge, 7 iron, and 3 wood?”
Golf clubs are broken up into categories like woods, irons, wedges, etc. A driver sometimes also goes by the name of 1 wood, and is used in the tee-box most commonly on par 4’s and par 5’s.
They are rarely used after the tee-box. An iron is used in the rough or the fairway, and is lofted differently for each number. A 7 iron would hit the ball higher and a shorter distance than a 6 iron, so you should keep that in mind when choosing a club.
A fairway wood is used, of course, in the fairway. It hits the ball lower than a iron, and a shorter distance than your driver. It is used to hit the ball if you are far away from the hole, and your lowest iron will not do the trick.
A wedge is used when you are either in the sand, need an easy out, or you need to hit the ball high and a short distance. They are commonly used for chipping onto the green or out of a sand trap.
Your putter is used only on the green. It hits the ball straight across the ground so that it will roll towards the hole.
Do I Need Golfing Gear To Learn?
If you are a new golfer, there is a short list of equipment that is fairly essential to the game.
Of course, you should have your own set of clubs. If you are hesitant about the game and do not want to invest a lot of money, you can always borrow clubs for a short amount of time, but you should make sure that they are the correct size for you.
It can throw off your game if you are using clubs that are too short or too long. Another way to avoid major investments if you are just starting out is by going to a second-hand sports equipment store. A lot of the time, they have singular clubs that you can piece together into your own set.
If you are just starting out, I would recommend that you buy clubs such as a: driver, putter, pitching wedge, a 7 iron, and a 3 wood. Keep in mind that this is not a full set of clubs, but these clubs are what I use most commonly, and they cover pretty much any spot you could be on the course.
If you end up liking the game, you can always go and buy a full set.
You should also get some shoes
Tennis shoes are okay, but they do not provide any grip on the ground. A lot of the time, it is imperative that your feet are in the correct position, and that they move the way that they are supposed to when you are in the middle of your swing.
By getting golf shoes, you can ensure that these things happen. Golf shoes are different from tennis shoes because they have spikes on the bottom. Most commonly, they are just plastic spikes, and they are not really that pointy. They are dull, but they still provide a traction and grip element.
Another piece of equipment that you might need is a glove.
You should purchase a glove that protects your top hand.
Right-handed golfers should wear one on their left hand, and left-handed golfers should wear one on their right hand. While this is the norm, it is all about comfort to you.
If you find that you are getting blisters or calluses on both hands, you can wear gloves on both hands. If you find yourself getting these inflictions on your bottom hand, then wear the glove on your bottom hand.
With a golf glove, it is more about personal preference and comfort than it is about formalities.
What You Should Know About the Course
There are a few things that you should research and look into before you show up at a golf course.
Depending on your golf course, you may need to buy proper golf attire. Every course is different in their clothing rules, so it is important to look at a course’s social media pages or website in order to determine if they have any rules, and what they may be. Some courses will allow you to wear running shorts and a tank top.
Others may require that you wear a golf skirt, golf shorts, or golf pants with a polo or golf tank top. These rules are very important to the course, and if you are found “breaking” them, then you could possibly be asked to leave the course.
If you cannot find this information online, then you should call the course before showing up so that you can avoid any issues.
Another important thing to know is that every course has different rules in general. You should be familiar with these rules before beginning a round. These rules could be on how to play certain balls, how to repair ball marks, where you can drive your cart, where is out of bounds, etc.
If you have any questions on the specifications and rules for the course, make sure to get them asked and answered before you begin playing. It can be a burden and a hassle if you are in the middle of a round and you have to stop to ask.
There is also a difference between Public and Private golf courses. Make sure to look into this before you go as well. Some courses are only open for members, and they will not let you play, even if you pay for a round. At a Public course, anybody is allowed to play on the course as long as they pay the fee and follow the rules.
If you want a cart, you would also have to pay to use a club cart. You would also probably have to sign an agreement that says that you will not wreck the cart or damage the course in any major ways.
Learning how to golf is a fun and exciting process, and should not be a burden. If you use the right equipment and get the right training, it should be fun and easy. Do not let the golf stereotypes keep you away from learning how to play this wonderful game.
Once you learn how to play, you can keep playing for the rest of your life. Think of the learning process as an investment in your future. You can use golf as a way to bond with people you may not have been able to before. You can use it as a way to get potential clients for your business.
You can use it as a way to alleviate some stress from your job. No matter what way you look at it, it is worth learning how to golf, so give it a try!
