The 5 things you need to do first to learn golf

There is a lot to consider when you make the decision to learn how to play Golf. Probably the most import thing is to “Start”. I remember when the golf bug bit me the first time. You know right away when it happens. You hit a pure shot or make a long putt and it happens exactly how you wanted it to. If you can do it once, you should be able to do it again and again, right?. Good golfers make it look so easy and smooth, don’t they? Once you’re standing there with the club in your hands, you realize golf is more difficult than you thought. For instance, you have to hold the club a certain way. You probably found that a full swing made it very difficult to hit the ball. Well, I’ve been where you are right now when I started 25 years ago. I had a number of really good golfers mentor me while I was learning the game. There is a lot to learn and my goal is to make it fun while I help you learn what you need to know.

The first place to start is with the 5 things below.

Golf Clubs
Golf Balls
Golf Glove
Practice Range
Golf Clinic or Private Lessons

Golf Clubs

It is said, a journey of 1000 miles begins with your first step. You are going to need golf clubs.. If you are on a tight budget I recommend finding a friend who has a spare set they don’t use anymore. Don’t buy new expensive clubs just yet. I recommend checking out Play it Again Sports for the clubs you will need.

You’ll spend less then $200 for your beginner set. You can always sell them back and apply the money to your next set. If money isn’t an issue and you are ready to buy, I recommend the two 12 clubs sets below. You’ll only need a 3 Wood, 5 Wood, 3 Hybrid, 5 Hybrid, 7 Iron, 9 Iron, and a Putter for now.

Callaway Men’s

Callaway Women’s

Golf Balls

You are going to use a lot of golf balls when you first begin to play. Using “New” brand name golf balls like Titleist, Callaway, Taylor Made, Bridgestone, and Srixon can be expensive if you are on a budget. Going online and buying used balls will save you some money for green fees and lessons. A good place to start is Lost Golf Balls. You can get the brand names much cheaper than new ones. As you play more you will use balls that will provide more distance, spin, and control as your skill improves.

Golf Glove

Do you really need to wear a golf glove and why only one? It’s not really an obvious answer since it just seams like the thing golfers do, but does anyone really know why? You can play without a glove, it’s not required. Trust me on this one, you will want to wear one to protect your hand from the abrasions and blisters that will develop on your palm. If you don’t mind building up thick calluses on your hands or already have then you may choose not to wear one. The main reason you want a leather Cabretta glove is to improve your grip.. On warm days your hands may get slippery, and a good grip on the club will help you be consistent. Personally, I only wear a glove from the tee to the green and take it off to putt. I find it helps me feel the putt better.

Driving Range or Practice Facility

Finding a local driving range to practice at is important to gain confidence in your swing and in striking the ball. It also provides the repetition that you need to create a consistent golf swing. Some courses have ranges and practice greens with sand traps and bunkers to practice your short game. We will talk a lot more in future posts about learning the short game. For now, focus on getting the clubs and the balls. Below is a video that will you give an introduction on how to swing the club until you get a teacher.

Golf Clinic or Private Lessons

Learning the golf swing will be a process that will take time. Your flexibility and athletic ability will play a role here. The most important thing at the beginning is to learn the fundamentals. There are SO MANY golf gurus out there that it can be confusing as to what is the most important piece of the swing. Below are the elements of the golf swing that everyone must learn. Having a teacher who knows how to instruct beginners is VERY important. You need someone who can quickly decipher the means by which you learn. In a future blog post, I will address the 8 fundamental key elements of the golf swing.

To summarize, congratulations on making the decision to learn to golf. Now, go get your Clubs and Balls and start!