| If you have never played golf before the | | | | and see if anyone wants to learn with you. You |
| prospect of taking that initial step maybe daunting. | | | | will both feel more confident about learning |
| Where do you go to get the information you | | | | together. Add some competition to your practice |
| need to learn to play golf? What golf equipment | | | | as you learn to putt. Place a dozen balls each |
| do you need? Who should you talk to? It can be | | | | around the putting green and award points for i) |
| very stressful understanding what to do. | | | | getting nearest the hole and ii) sinking the putts. |
| Tip 1. Speak to people | | | | This’ll add enjoyment to your practice. |
| Talk to you friends and any other people you | | | | Tip 4. Learn how to hit the ball |
| come across who play golf about your interest in | | | | Learn how to hit the ball. Do you play any other |
| learning how to play. Be clear about what you | | | | sport - tennis, baseball, pool, soccer? You will |
| want to know. For example, what golf equipment | | | | know that you had to learn either how to hit the |
| you need. How much to pay. What clubs to use. | | | | ball, kick it or catch it. You can’t start playing |
| As a background to this discussion you might | | | | golf by banging sweet 250 yard straight drives |
| want to talk about why you want to play golf | | | | off the tee immediately. Even Roger Federer had |
| and what interests you about the game. Discuss | | | | to learn to hit the ball. You will too. |
| your anxieties and fears about starting. You will | | | | After lots of putting practice, get a 9 iron or sand |
| probably find that you will obtain a lot of | | | | wedge and practice hitting short shots to the flag |
| information and reassurance from talking about | | | | from around the green. Place 12 balls at different |
| playing golf that overcome the problem of taking | | | | points between 5 to 15 feet from the green and |
| the first step. Everyone has had to start | | | | learn to control shots onto the green. |
| sometime and most of them will be willing to | | | | Tip 5. Start up equipment |
| share it with you. | | | | Don’t buy a set of golf clubs – not yet |
| Tip 2. Green to tee | | | | anyway. See if can borrow a putter and 9 iron |
| It is often said the best way to learn to play golf | | | | pitching wedge (or sand wedge) from a friend. If |
| is from ‘green to tee’. You may have | | | | not buy them from a cheap sports goods store. |
| heard this expression. Basically it means that you | | | | You will probably get them for less than $15 each. |
| should start by learning to putt, followed by | | | | You will need 15-20 golf balls too. You can get |
| chipping and pitching and finally by learning how to | | | | these second hand, usually from a golf club, or |
| drive off the tee. | | | | buy some ‘reconditioned’ balls, or beg or |
| This is sound advice. You will not look an obvious | | | | borrow them from your buddies. |
| beginner with a putter in your hand. If you start | | | | This is all the golf equipment you’ll need to |
| swishing a driver around, you will. Get a bag of | | | | start, so get out there, buy your clubs and start |
| balls and take your putter onto a practice green | | | | putting. |
| and learn to putt. Spend an hour 2 days a week | | | | Tip 6. Watch the pros |
| practicing long putts and short ones from all parts | | | | And finally, if you are serious about learning the |
| of the green – uphill and downhill. You’ll | | | | game, watch golf on TV. You will get a feel for |
| thank me for this advice. | | | | playing shots by watching the pros play the game. |
| Tip 3. Learn with a friend | | | | Pay special attention to their putting and short |
| Ask around amongst your friends and colleagues | | | | shots around the green to begin with. |