There is definitely an extent to which golf is seen as a sport that is hard to know the etiquette around. The exclusive nature of it means that someone who has never played on a golf course before can feel extremely intimidated by the experience. Most of the time, the first time that someone heads out onto a course will be when they are a guest of someone else, but that isn’t always the case. Even when it is, it is still helpful to get a sense of what to expect and how you should behave, desperate as most people are to avoid the very possibility of embarrassment.
Are You Definitely Ready?
The first thing that you’ll want to ask, perhaps of a friend or a pro that you’re working with, is whether or not you’re actually ready to grab a new all-leather golf bag and hit the golf course for the first time. This doesn’t mean that you consider yourself ready to turn pro or are hitting the ball consistently every time, but it is also important not to rush to the course just because you’re enjoying hitting the ball at the driving range. Depending on which course you’re looking to play, you might find that it has a restriction in place around the handicap of the golfer that can play there or the ability required to be able to tee off.
It matters not only because you will want to make sure that you’re good enough, but also because going to the course before you’re actually ready to do so can end up putting you off the sport in the long term. Think about whether you make contact on a regular basis, with no air shots. Can the ball go into the air with every club you want to hit? Consider whether or not you will know what to do when you land in a bunker or how you are supposed to behave on the green. If any of those questions come up with negative answers, you might well not be ready to head onto the course just yet.
Pick the Right Course & Time
Whilst you don’t need to book a tee time at all golf courses, they are encouraged to ensure that there is space when you’re heading out. Weekends tend to be the busiest time of the year, so you would do well to pick a weekday in order for things to be a little bit quieter. Courses have several sets of tees, with the gender having been removed when it comes to choosing the right tee to play off. If you don’t hit the ball very far then you can go off what are normally the red tees. Many websites will give you the option to choose course by handicap, so pick ones with the larger handicaps to be safe.
One of the best things that you can do is to pick a course towards the end of the day. Twilight prices are not only usually cheaper than morning ones, they are also often much quieter and will mean you will feel less pressure as you head up to the first tee. The vast majority of modern-day courses have their tee times online, so you can look to see whether or not it looks busy at any given time before booking. You can even leave it until the last minute in order to choose a course that looks like it will be quiet before booking, heading out when the course looks the most open.
Picking the Right Clothes
When it comes to what to wear on the golf course, dress codes tend to vary from place to place. The sport has moved into modern times, so you can not only look to see what the dress code is on a club’s website but also get away with things that you wouldn’t have been able to get away with in the past. You can now buy golf-specific hoodies, for example, which would have been a no-no even just half a decade ago. If you’re heading out to something like a municipal course or a pitch and putt, you will see people wearing the likes of jeans and trainers, but they wouldn’t be allowed on a proper course.
You will want to ensure that you fit in, so the best thing that you can do is get yourself a sporty polo shirt and some shorts or trousers. The shorts are usually also golf-specific, whilst the trousers will often be something like chinos. Things can be trickier for women, who need to think through the countless different options open to them. Big brands produce female golf attire now, allowing you to look both stylish and appropriately dressed. Regardless of gender, you should also ensure that you have golf shoes to wear, with some clubs insisting on golf shoes for all players on the course.
Check-In then Try to Enjoy It
When you get to the course, you will want to find your way to the pro shop. There, you can let the pro know that you’re checking in for your round, telling them what time you’re teeing off. They will usually give you a scorecard and sometimes a pencil to mark your scores with. You can ask them how the course is playing if you want to get a sense of how long the round is likely to take. Make sure that you’re at the course well in advance of your tee time, rather than turning up just before you’re expecting to go out. If you have booked a cart, the club shop is the place to pick up the key.
Some courses have a starter, who will be there on the first tee to ensure that you’re getting off in time and whose job it is to ensure that players are teeing off on time. Depending on how busy the golf course is, you will almost certainly be paired up with other people during busy periods. Do not be afraid to let them know that you’re a beginner, but don’t go overkill with it. You can also let them know that you’re happy to hear any tips they’ve got for you. If you are taking too long on any given hole, you might just want to pick up to avoid holding anyone up. Mainly, though, try to just enjoy yourself.