It may seem like a counterproductive statement, but absolute beginners are best to avoid the course and start on the driving range where they can practice at their own pace.
To make ourselves clear, when we refer to beginners in this post we are referring to absolute beginners – i.e. those with little to no experience of playing golf. At some point, beginners will need to take their game onto a Par 3 course, but not until they have learned how to hit a golf ball.
Heading straight onto a golf course as an absolute beginner is a daunting prospect. Not will beginners play slowly to start with, thus holding up groups after them, but neither will they be familiar with good golf course etiquette.
When you are first learning the basics of the game, a driving range is a safe place without the worry of getting in more experienced golfers’ way or breaching etiquette. It’s just you, your club, and a load of balls.
Practice Hitting the Ball
At the driving range, you are there to hit balls. While on a golf course you are pressured to play to a certain pace so as not to hold up other players, you can take as long as you like with your shots. That means that you can practice your grip and driving techniques without the fear of a course marshall hurrying you up.
Here, you can go ahead and hit balls without any pressure, feeling what works and doesn’t work for you. Additionally, if you are planning to introduce young children to the game of golf, the driving range should be your first port of call for the above reasons, as well as the fact that there is no dress code so you can all feel free to wear whatever you are most comfortable in.
Cost-Effective Introduction to Golf
It is no secret that club memberships aren’t exactly cheap and absolute beginners will understandably be apprehensive about diving right in at the deep end. Also, while players will eventually want and need to invest in their own set of clubs, driving ranges do allow for players to rent a club (usually an iron) for a small fee. Most clubs do also offer rental services for sets of clubs, though this will be more expensive.
To go to a driving range, you will be looking at roughly £5 for a box of 60 balls, so you need not worry about losing your own balls on the range. That means you could buy a couple of boxes and rent a club for comfortably under £20.
Don’t Rush Your Shots
On the golf course, you can easily be waiting for five minutes between shots, so there is no need to worry about hitting your shots as quickly as humanly possible. Take the time to feel your way into shots, practising your pre-shot routine and grip.
Take a few shots to feel your way into your technique before worrying about aiming your shot. Focus purely on your grip, stance, and swing – take a read of these three basics to improve your golf swing that you can work on.
When you have got a feel for the technique of hitting a golf ball, the next step is to direct your shot and that comes with practising your aim. The simple method is to begin by having your club facing in the direction that you intend for the ball to travel. Part of practising your swing is to ensure that the club face strikes the ball in the same direction that it is aimed – many beginners struggle to control their club face due to a poor grip and/or moving hands.
When to Move to the Course
There will eventually come the time to move to the course. After all, that is the game as we know and love it and as fun as hitting ball after ball on the driving range may be, it is no match for playing on a course.
If, as a beginner, you are nervous about hitting the course for the first time then we advise signing up for lessons with a local PGA pro to show you the ropes. Alternatively, if you have any friends or family members that are experienced golfers then ask them to come along with you.
Begin with a simple Par 3 course, otherwise, the jump from the driving range may be too much and could prove to be disheartening. Remember that golf is meant to be fun.
