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Beginners Guide to Golf

Look the PartBefore even arriving at the golf course, and as part of the game’s etiquette, a proper dress code is required at nearly all golf courses. This dress code is to be followed whether you are planning on playing and or practicing. The easiest way to find out what the required dress code of a particular course is to simply call and inquire within the pro shop. Even if a golf course does not have a dress code, as the title says “Look the Part”.

For women the below picture is a great guideline at any course you play. There is additional attire that is acceptable for women to wear such as sleeveless tops (should still have a collar) and low cut shorts. The LPGA is very lax on their policy of what can and can’t be worn on the course. Be forewarned that at certain private facilities sleeveless golf shirts and shorts cut higher than the knee are considered unacceptable. Again please call ahead to the pro shop to inquire about the dress code.

For men Golf shirts/polo/visible mock, golf shoes with rubber spikes (sneakers are acceptable if you don’t have golf shoes), shorts/pants without additional side pockets, and please don’t forget your belt!

For Juniors I always use the moto “Dress for Success”. However, in the golf business we understand that kids grow fast and golf shoes and attire does not always come so cheap. Still some of the general guidelines mentioned above should be followed for both girls and boys. My pro tips… Sneakers are acceptable, denim is frowned upon, and collared shirts whenever possible.

The Spirit of the Game

Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.

SafetyPlayers should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club or ball when they make a stroke or practice swing.

Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.

If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he should immediately shout a warning. The traditional word of warning is "fore.”

Types of Golf coursesBy AccessPublic: Daily Fee & Municipal (owned by city/township) are open to any member of the general public that plays golfResort: Part of a resort property or vacation area that is part of a luxury hotel or property of a corporate name. Most resort courses are typically open to the public but may require that you stay at the resort in order to play.Semi-Private: Sells both memberships and are allow non-members to play. Those that are members have access to onsite amenities, discounted play and various other perks.Private: Only accessible to those who are willing to pay a membership fee to join the club. Outside play is prohibited unless accompanied by a member of the club or you are invited to play at a golf outing or tournament that is hosted by the club.

By Size18 Hole Course: This is the standard size of golf courses, broken into a front nine and a back nine.9 Hole Course: Is exactly that a course that only offers 9 holes of play. Primarily made of par 4s and maybe two par 3s and one par 5.Executive Course: Can be either an 18 hole or 9 hole course but much shorter in length. There are typically more par threes and one or no par 5s. The goal is for players to finish quicker than a standard 18 holes.Par 3 Course: A course made up of entirely par 3s. This is traditionally a beginner’s course to learn the game and often a walking course as well.

Golf DefinitionsWord Example sentence Meaning

albatross Many people play golf all their lives and never hit an albatross. score of three strokes under par

birdie (n) After his birdie on the 17th hole, Jack went on to win the match. score of one stroke under par

bogey (n) If Annika gets a bogey on the 18th hole, she'll lose the match. score of one stroke over par

breakProfessionals read the greens and then allow for the breaks when putting.

the amount a putt curves because of the slope and grain of the green

bunkerHe hit a beautiful shot out of the bunker and it rolled into the hole.

hollow obstruction or hazard, often containing sand

caddie A good caddie always studies a golf course before working on it.

person who carries a player's golf bag and gives advice

chip (n)John spends an hour every day practicing chip shots onto the green.

short, low shot to the green

divotPlayers should replace their divots to help keep the course in good condition.

piece of earth and grass that a golf shot cuts from the ground

dog leg On many dog legs you can't see the green when you tee off. fairway that turns left or right

double bogey I got a double bogey when I took 5 shots on a par-3 hole. a score of two over par on a hole

driveTiger hit a beautiful drive nearly 300 yards down the middle of the fairway.

shot played using the number one wood, often the first shot on a long hole

driver One of the hardest clubs to use well is the driver.

number one wood and the longest hitting club

eagleI'm one shot behind, so I'll need an eagle on the last hole to win the match outright.

two strokes under par

fadeHe hit a long fade and it followed the curve of the fairway to the right.

a right-handed player's shot that moves slightly from left to right

fairwayPeter's drives aren't long, but he nearly always gets them on the fairway.

longest part of a hole, from the tee to the green

flag stickA caddie took the flag stick out of the hole before the players putted.

stick with a flag on it that stands in the cup on a green

greenOn each day of the tournament, the cups are put in different positions on the greens.

area of very short grass at the end of each hole, on which balls are putted into a cup

gripThe most common grip is with the right hand positioned just below the left hand.

the positioning of the hands on the shaft of a club

hazard

A well-designed course has enough hazards to make it challenging, but not so many that it becomes unfair.

places on a golf course such as lakes, creeks, and bunkers that are difficult or impossible to play from

holeThe first nine holes are called the 'front nine' and the second nine are called the 'back nine'.

one of many playing areas on a golf course, including a tee, a fairway and a green

hook (n)

I tried to hit a long drive, but I hit a hook and the ball went into a water hazard on the left of the fairway.

a right-handed player's shot that moves from right to left in the air

ironsA one iron is for long, low shots, and a nine iron is for shorter, higher shots.

metal golf clubs with blade-shaped clubheads

lieHer shot missed the fairway and went into the rough, but luckily she got a good lie.

the position of the ball when it has come to rest

linksMany links courses are built on land which has been reclaimed from the sea.

golf course beside the sea

parMost par-72 courses have four par-three holes, ten par-fours and four par-fives.

number of strokes a good player should take on a hole or a round

pitch-and-run

Marian played a pitch-and-run shot over the bunker, and it landed on the green and rolled into the hole.

a shot from near the green in which the ball carries in the air before landing and rolling towards the hole

putt (n)After hitting an excellent approach shot, she was left with an easy three-foot putt.

a shot played along the ground on the green

putter

Putters come in many shapes and sizes, with shafts of various lengths and heads of various shapes.

club used to putt the ball on the green

roughOn some courses the rough is very thick and nearly impossible to play from.

area on a golf course where the grass is longer and thicker than on the fairway

roundIn major tournaments, four eighteen-hole rounds are played over four days.

the completion of nine or eighteen holes on a golf course

shoot The winner shot a 4-under par 68 on the last round. to make a score

shotShe hit a perfect shot out of the bunker and it went straight into the cup.

a stroke

slice (n)She tried to hit an iron shot onto the green, but she hit a slice and it went right of the green.

a right-handed player's shot that moves sharply from left to right in the air

stroke or shotShe had seventy strokes on her first round, which was two shots under par.

strike on a golf ball with a golf club

swingGolfers can improve a lot by having a golf instructor help them to work on their swing.

rhythmic movement which enables a golfer to hit the ball

tee (1)Players can only put the ball on a tee when they're hitting their first shot on a hole.

small peg (wooden or plastic) on which the ball is placed for the first shot of each hole

tee (2) or tee box

Many courses have tees for women which are closer to the green than the men's tees.

small area from which golfers play their first shot on each hole

tee off The last group of players will tee off at 2.30 in the afternoon.

play the first shot to start a round of golf

tee shotTiger took out his driver and hit a perfect tee shot, right down the middle of the fairway.

shot hit from a tee box

woodsWoods used to be made of wood, but most are made of metal these days.

clubs with bulbous clubheads that are used to hit the longest shots

Types of ClubsThere are many different types of golf clubs that a player can choose from. These clubs are designed to hit the ball varying distances and come with assorted degrees of loft to get the ball into the air. The typical set of golf clubs is composed of a combination of different clubs so that the player has one for every shot she may be faced with. Clubs come with numbers on them; those with lower numbers are designed so the player can hit the ball a longer distance than the higher-numbered ones.WoodsWoods are the clubs that propel a golf ball the farthest. At one time, the head of this type of club was made of wood, such as persimmon or hickory, which gave the club its name. Nowadays, however, woods are actually metals, such as steel and titanium, along with other alloys. The head of a wood is large and rounded, with a flat bottom to glide over the ground during the course of a shot. The clubface is big, and the typical wood has a degree of loft, measured at a right angle to the ground, lower than other clubs. The driver, or 1-wood, is the least lofted and is employed to hit the ball the farthest. Woods with higher numbers are more lofted and can be used to hit the ball in the fairway or when on a tee.Irons/HybridsIrons and Hybrids have club heads made of metal and are typically used by the golfer when his ball is closer to the green. Numbered 1 through 9, the irons possess a higher degree of loft than the woods, with the 9-iron having the most. Hybrids are the same length as a regular iron, however the head is a mix or “Hybrid” design between an iron and wood. This design makes it easier to hit than a regular iron.WedgesThe wedges are used to strike the ball and make it fly high into the air before landing on the putting surface. These clubs are lofted much higher than the others; for example, a pitching wedge has a loft between 46 to 51 degrees, and a lob wedge's loft can be as high as 64 degrees. The lob wedge is chosen when the ball needs to rise quickly to clear a hazard but not have to carry a great distance. Golf sets generally come with a pitching wedge; other wedges must be purchased separately.PuttersThe putter is the club that gets the most use. It is utilized to roll the ball along the green toward the hole. Putters come in different sizes, with the standard putter about 34 to 35 inches tall. The belly putter and broomstick putter are much taller clubs and are used to give the golfer a better putting stroke when the player has problems using a standard putter. The heads of putters can be in the form of a flat blade or a mallet with a flat surface.

ScoringEverything counts.  Every time you purposefully attempt to strike a golf ball it constitutes a shot, or stroke.  99.9% of the time a golfer will make contact with the ball.  But if he/she tries to hit the ball and whiffs, it still counts as a shot.  Get a scorecard.  Generally a round of golf is played over 18 holes.  After each hole, record your score on a scorecard.  Even experienced golfers can miss a shot here or there without a scorecard.  Keep track of your score and the scores of the other players in your group. 

Know your penalties. 

o If you hit a ball in the water, drop a new ball in the designated location and take a 1-stroke penalty. 

o If you hit the ball out of bounds (as indicated by white stakes), re-hit from the original location and take a 2-stroke penalty. 

o If you lose a ball, re-hit from the original location and take a 2-stroke penalty. Add them up.  When you're finished, add up your scores from each hole for a cumulative total.  Double check it.  If you're playing in a tournament, one of your competitors will be keeping your official score.  You must check it and then sign your scorecard to make it official. 

Golf score terminology in accordance to the par of the hole…Albatross (-3 strokes under), Eagle (-2 under), Birdie (-1 under)Par (0 or Even)Bogey (+1 over), Double Bogey (+2 over), and so on...

Care of the CourseBunkersBefore leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose.

Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks and Damage by ShoesPlayers should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself).

Courtesy of the USGA & GCSAA

Additional Rules

Players may carry up to 14 clubs in their bag, including the putter.

Out of Bounds: "Out of bounds" is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee. When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports). When both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds, the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out of bounds. When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. The out of bounds line extends vertically upwards and downwards. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.Stakes may be used throughout a golf course to indicate the status of certain areas, such as ground under repair or out of bounds areas. Some stakes are white, but stakes -- or lines drawn on the ground – that mark the boundaries of water hazards must be either red or yellow, according to the United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf.

Water Hazard Areas of the golf course containing water, or areas that normally contain water, are typically designated as water hazards. Common water hazards include ponds or small lakes, but a drainage ditch will also be considered a water hazard if it normally contains water, even if the ditch is dry on a particular day.

Lateral Water Hazard A water hazard may be designated as a lateral water hazard when the hazard's shape or position on the course makes it difficult or impossible to drop the ball in accordance with the rules while maintaining a fair playing position. For example, if a water hazard runs parallel to the line of play and the ground on the far side of the hazard has many trees or bushes and very few playable lies it may be designated as a lateral hazard.

Relief from Water Hazards Under Rule 26-1, a player hitting into a water hazard has several relief options, all of which carry a one-stroke penalty. He may play a new ball from the spot at which he hit into the hazard. He also may drop a ball behind the hazard, provided that the spot at which his ball last crossed the hazard remains directly between the dropping point and the hole. With respect to a lateral water hazard, the player may also drop within two club lengths of the spot where his shot last crossed the hazard's margin -- provided it's not nearer to the hole -- or within two club lengths of a point on the opposite side of the hazard that's no closer to the hole. Additionally, a tournament committee may make a local rule that establishes a specific drop zone for a water hazard.

Golf Etiquette 101 courtesy of http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/instruction-feature/fundamentals/golf-etiquette

What people can expect during a round of golf, from beginning to end:

Arrive: If caddies are available:o Remember caddie programs are an excellent way for young people to earn some

money and be exposed to a sport that they can enjoy and might help shape their character.

o A good caddie can make the round more enjoyable by giving you hints that might lower your score.

o A good caddie can provide information on yardage, club selection, reading the greens and the layout of the course.

Warm Up:o Try to arrive soon enough to give yourself time to warm up properly.o Work your way through the bag, beginning with the short irons, moving onto the

mid-and long irons and then the woods.o It's often a good idea to finish warming up by hitting a few soft wedge shots

before heading for the practice green and hitting a few putts.o Don't hit hundreds of balls and leave your game on the practice tee.

First Tee:o Check the scorecard to learn any local rules.o Local rules apply only to the specific course you are playing.o If your playing companions suggest a match, it's a good idea to make sure

everyone is comfortable with the stakes.o Make sure to place an identifying mark on your ball and inform the other players

the type and number ball you are playing.Avoid Slow play:

When your group is not keeping up with the pace of play of the group in front of you:o Walk at a reasonable speed between shots.o Begin planning your next shot as you approach the ball by studying the strength

and direction of the wind. When you reach your ball, check the lie, select your club, visualize your swing and shot,

and then play your shot. From the time you select your club until you actually hit your shot, you should take no

more than 30 to 45 seconds. If you aren't ready to play when it is your turn, encourage one of your fellow players to

play.Maintaining the course:

Replace your divots. Turf tends to explode on impact, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replace the

divot. In this case, you have two options:o You can use the toe of your shoe to kick in the turf around the edges of the divot.o Many courses often put containers of a soil/seed mixture on their carts and tees.

If this is the case, simply fill in the divot with the mixture. Bring a rake into the bunker with you -- remembering that you should always enter the

bunker from the low side at a point nearest to the ball.o Whenever possible, avoid walking on the steep face of a bunker.o After hitting your shot, rake the area you played from, as well as all your

footprints and any others within reach.o Rakes should be left either in or nearby the bunker.

Important to repair any pitch marks or indentations caused by the ball hitting the green. Using a tee, knife, key or repair tool, repair the mark by working the edges towards the

center, without lifting the center of the mark. Don't tear the grass. Finish by smoothing the area with a club or your foot. Try to get the area smooth enough to putt over.

Just remember that while the Rules of Golf allow you to repair pitch marks on your putting line.

On the green, remember: Don't step on your fellow players putting lines -- the imaginary line that connects the ball

to the hole. If your ball is on a player's line, volunteer to mark the ball. If you're ball is not furthest from the cup:

o Mark your ball, either with a plastic marker or a small, thin, dark coin such as an old penny.

o After you have marked your ball, place your putter down at a 90-degree angle with the heel touching your marker.

o Move the marker from the heel to the toe of your putter. Reverse the procedure to return the ball to its original position.

Do not stand where you might distract a fellow player and don't move. Don't make any noise when your fellow player is preparing to putt. If you don't have a caddie and are asked to tend the flagstick, make sure you aren't

standing on anyone's line. Hold the flagstick at arm's length so the flag doesn't flutter in the breeze, and make sure

your shadow doesn't fall across the hole or line. Loosen the bottom of the flagstick so it doesn't stick when you try and remove it by pulling it straight up after the other player has putted. The flagstick should be removed right after the player has hit the ball.

If you lay down the flagstick, lay it off the green to prevent doing any damage to the green.

Generally, the player closest to the hole will tend the flagstick. After everyone has putted out, immediately walk to the next tee.

Miscellaneous: If you hit a tee shot into the woods and suspect that it might be either lost or out-of-

bounds, the Rules of Golf allow you to play a second or provisional ball.o You then have five minutes from the time you reach the spot where you suspect

the ball landed to find the ball. If it is not found within that five-minute period, you must declare it lost and play your provisional ball with a one-stroke penalty

o If, however, you play the provisional ball and subsequently find your original ball in-bounds, you must pick up your provisional and continue to play the original ball, in-bounds.

o Out of bounds balls are assessed the penalty of "stroke and distance."o For a complete discussion of the Rules of Golf, visit the USGA's web site.

For safety's sake, never hit when there's a chance you might be able to reach the group ahead of you, and anytime you hit a shot that you think even has remote chance of hitting any other players, yell "fore" immediately, and make a point of apologizing to any players your ball lands near.

Displays of frustration are one thing, but outbursts of temper are quite another. Yelling, screaming, throwing clubs or otherwise making a fool of yourself are unacceptable and, in some cases, dangerous to yourself and others.

As a player, you also have a responsibility to learn and understand the Rules of Golf. Five of the most common Rules are those deal with Out of Bounds, Lost balls,

Unplayable lies, cart paths and water hazards. Moving on, if your group stops for refreshments, either at the turn (the end of nine holes)

or following the round, volunteer to pay for them, as well as offer to buy drinks for the caddies.

Whoever pays at the turn, however, should not be expected to pay for refreshments at the end of the round.

Finally, at the end of the round, shake hands with your fellow players, congratulate the winners, console the losers, and thank them for their company. At the end of the day, the great pleasure of the game is the time you get to spend with your friends whether old friends or new friends you just made through the game.

Booking Tee TimesSimply showing up to a course does not guarantee you will be able to play. Golf courses allow the advance booking of tee times so that they stay organized and can be effective maximizing player participation. Tee times can be booked days, weeks and even months in advance. In order to book at time, call the pro shop and ask to book a tee time on whichever day you would like. From there they will walk you through their availability and you will settle on a time.

Best of luck to all the new players out there!

Lachlan NairnMyAuthenticGolf.com(610)207-3081