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Golf is a game where you hit a ball from a starting point (tee) into a hole in as few strokes as possible. An 18-hole course has 18 different holes, each with its own distance and challenge. The player with the lowest total score wins.
What you need to start
You need clubs, balls, tees, and access to a course or driving range. That's it. Start with these minimum items:
- Clubs: A starter set of 7-10 clubs costs $200-$400. Or borrow a set from a friend. You need a driver, a fairway wood or hybrid, a 7-iron, a 9-iron, a pitching wedge, and a putter at minimum. See our full beginner club guide.
- Balls: Buy used or practice balls. A dozen Kirkland balls costs $15 at Costco. Don't buy expensive balls yet.
- Tees: Wooden tees cost $3 for a bag of 100.
- Shoes: Any flat-soled athletic shoe works. Golf shoes are optional for your first few rounds.
- A golf glove: $10-$15. Wear it on your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers).
How golf is played
Each hole follows the same pattern:
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- Tee shot. You hit the first shot from the teeing area. Use a driver on par-4 and par-5 holes. Use an iron or hybrid on par-3 holes.
- Approach shots. Hit your ball toward the green. You might need 1 shot (par 4) or 2 shots (par 5) to reach it.
- Short game. If you miss the green, chip or pitch the ball onto the putting surface.
- Putting. Roll the ball along the green into the hole. This is where most strokes happen.
- Record your score. Write down how many total strokes you took on that hole.
How to hold the club
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The grip is the most important fundamental. Hold the club in your fingers, not your palms.
- Place the grip diagonally across the fingers of your lead hand (left hand for right-handers). The club should run from the base of your pinky to the middle joint of your index finger.
- Close your lead hand. You should see 2-2.5 knuckles when you look down.
- Place your trail hand below the lead hand. The pinky of your trail hand overlaps or interlocks with the index finger of your lead hand.
- Both thumbs point down the shaft.
Full details in our grip guide.
The basic swing
A golf swing has 4 parts:
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- Setup: feet shoulder-width apart, slight knee bend, arms hanging naturally, ball positioned inside your lead heel (driver) or center of stance (irons).
- Backswing: rotate your shoulders and hips away from the target while keeping your lead arm straight. The club goes back and up to about shoulder height.
- Downswing: start with your lower body. Your hips rotate toward the target first, pulling your arms and club down. Don't swing with your arms alone.
- Follow-through: finish with your belt buckle facing the target and your weight on your front foot.
Full breakdown in our swing guide and how to hit a golf ball.
Understanding par
Par is the expected number of strokes for a skilled golfer on a hole. Par 3 = short hole (you should reach the green in 1 shot). Par 4 = medium (reach in 2 shots). Par 5 = long (reach in 3 shots). Every par includes 2 putts.
A standard course has a total par of 70-72. Most beginners shoot 95-120 for their first few rounds. That's normal. Check our scoring terms guide for birdie, bogey, eagle, and other terms.
Basic rules you need to know
| Situation | Rule | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Ball goes out of bounds (white stakes) | Drop near where it crossed the boundary | 2-stroke penalty (local rule) |
| Ball in water (red/yellow stakes) | Drop behind the hazard | 1-stroke penalty |
| Lost ball | Same as out of bounds | 2-stroke penalty (local rule) |
| Ball in a bunker | Play it as it lies; don't ground your club in the sand before swinging | No penalty |
| Unplayable lie | Drop within 2 club lengths or go back to previous spot | 1-stroke penalty |
Golf etiquette
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- Repair your divots. Replace the chunk of grass you dig out with an iron shot, or fill the hole with seed mix (available on most carts).
- Fix your ball marks on the green. Use a divot tool to repair the dent where your ball landed.
- Rake bunkers. After hitting from sand, smooth the area with the rake provided.
- Don't walk in someone's putting line. The imaginary line between their ball and the hole. Walk around it.
- Be quiet when others are hitting. No talking, phone calls, or movement during someone's swing.
- Keep pace. Be ready when it's your turn. A round should take 4 hours for a foursome.
- Let faster groups play through. If you're slow and there's a gap ahead, wave the group behind you to go first.
Where to play your first round
Driving range first. Spend 2-3 sessions hitting balls before going on a course. Focus on your 7-iron, pitching wedge, and driver.
Par-3 course. All short holes (under 200 yards). Takes 2 hours. Low pressure. Many don't require a tee time.
Executive course. Par-60 to par-65, shorter than a full course. Takes 2.5-3 hours. Good next step before a full 18.
9-hole round. Half the time commitment. Most courses offer twilight 9-hole rates for $15-$30.
How to practice effectively
Most golfers waste time at the range by hitting driver after driver without a target. Practice with purpose:
- Start with short game (20 minutes). Chip and putt first. This warms up your hands and builds feel.
- Work through irons (20 minutes). Start with wedges, move to mid irons, then long irons/hybrids. Hit to specific targets, not just "out there."
- Finish with driver (10 minutes). Pick a target in the range. Aim at it. Grade each shot: fairway, rough, or penalty. Most golfers hit driver first and quit before practicing the clubs they'll use most on the course.
Practice ratio for beginners: 50% short game (putting and chipping), 30% irons, 20% woods. This matches how strokes are distributed during a round.
Taking lessons
A PGA teaching professional charges $50-$150 per 30-minute lesson. Most offer multi-lesson packages at a discount. A 5-lesson beginner package ($200-$500) covers grip, stance, swing basics, short game, and on-course play.
Group lessons (3-6 students) cost $20-$40 per person and cover the same fundamentals. These are the most affordable way to learn.
Online instruction (YouTube, social media) is free but risky for beginners. Without someone watching your specific swing, you might practice the wrong thing for weeks. Get at least 2-3 in-person lessons to establish fundamentals before supplementing with online content.
Your first time on the course
Things to know before your first round:
- Book a tee time. Most courses require a reservation. GolfNow.com and the course's own website are the easiest ways to book. Twilight (late afternoon) tee times are cheapest and have less pressure.
- Arrive 30 minutes early. Check in at the pro shop, get a scorecard, use the putting green.
- Don't worry about your score. Your first round will be high. 120-140 is normal for a first-time golfer on a full course. Enjoy the experience.
- Pick up when you're struggling. If you've hit 8 shots on a hole and aren't on the green yet, pick up the ball and move to the next hole. Nobody will mind, and it keeps the pace moving.
- Play the forward tees. Use the shortest tees available. There's no shame in it. The course is more fun when you can reach greens.
