| Finding a good and relatively inexpensive | | | | City of Golf, sometimes discount their rates |
| public golf course can be a difficult task | | | | by as much as 50 percent during the hot |
| for any newcomer to the world of golf and so | | | | summer months. |
| this article aims to give you a few tips on | | | | |
| points to look for when choosing a suitable | | | | Next, some extras can be really helpful to |
| public golf course. | | | | your game! Most beginners spend far too much |
| | | | time on the practice putting green and not |
| Chances are, if you're just starting out, you | | | | nearly enough time on the driving range. |
| haven't decided to apply to a fancy country | | | | Make sure the course you pick has an adequate |
| club yet so you can play their outstanding | | | | driving range. It doesn't matter if you can |
| course, right? That's a very good idea, | | | | putt like a pro if it takes you six strokes |
| because there are probably several public | | | | to get onto the green at a par 3 hole. Along |
| golf courses close to you that are just as | | | | with the driving range and practice green, |
| terrific and much cheaper too! Do you think | | | | you might find a public golf course that has |
| Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson started out on | | | | a chipping green or a practice bunker. These |
| private courses? I doubt it! Even though we | | | | can all be great features to help you improve |
| can't all have the status of a Woods or | | | | particular problem areas in your game. And |
| Mickelson, we can make sure that we don't | | | | that's what it's all about. |
| have an argument with our wallet every time | | | | |
| we want to hit the course for some practice | | | | Finally, check out the clubhouse. No, I |
| time on the driving range or to get in a | | | | don't mean discover whether the bartender is |
| leisurely round. | | | | handsome or the waitress is cute. Learn |
| | | | whether the course has a pro shop, and |
| Of course, the first thing you want to check | | | | whether a golf pro runs it. Ask about his or |
| at a public golf course is the course itself. | | | | her qualifications - most of us think of the |
| Find out how many holes it has - some | | | | words "golf pro" and immediately think PGA, |
| courses only have 9 and, to play a full 18 | | | | but not all golf pros are registered with the |
| holes of golf, you just go around twice. | | | | PGA. For that matter, not all golf pros are |
| Walk a few holes and take a look at the | | | | particularly well qualified for teaching. |
| course. Check to see whether it appears well | | | | Ask if lessons are offered or if a golf |
| maintained. Are the greens plush and even? | | | | school is associated with the course. This |
| Is the rough bearable? Does it look like | | | | can be a big selling point if you're trying |
| they regularly mend divot holes? There's | | | | to improve your golf swing and just can't |
| nothing more discouraging for a novice golfer | | | | figure out what's wrong. And of course, find |
| than playing a course that ends up being too | | | | out the cost of the lessons. |
| tough just because of poor maintenance. | | | | |
| While poorly maintained courses can provide | | | | The secret to finding a good public golf |
| lots of entertainment value - you know you | | | | course is to shop around. Check out several |
| look funny when you're swinging away in a | | | | courses in your area and don't worry about |
| bunker - they don't provide as much "good" | | | | whether they are listed in some Who's Who of |
| experience for a novice golfer as a well | | | | public courses. Just do your homework and |
| cared for course will. | | | | pick the one that best suits your own needs. |
| | | | It will make for a much more enjoyable |
| That brings up another thing to check, the | | | | experience and might even lower your score! |
| cost of a round. You'll find some big | | | | |
| differences in cost from course to course, | | | | And remember - a bad choice can get you the |
| and many public golf courses offer reduced | | | | same results as Hank Aaron, the |
| rates at certain times of the day and during | | | | world-renowned baseball player who once said, |
| the off-season. For example, public golf | | | | "It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits, but I |
| courses in Phoenix, Arizona, known as the | | | | did it in one afternoon on the golf course! |