|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Getting Started In Golf
There are many reasons why a person wants to start playing golf. However, the primary reason
should be to have fun and make it an enjoyable experience. The game of golf can be both difficult
and humbling. It just takes that one swing per round like a long straight drive, long putt for a
birdie or breaking a personal milestone to keep a person coming back Even though you may be
playing other golfers, you are actually playing against yourself challenging both your physical
and emotional skills. Seeing individual improvement also keeps us wanting to play more. It is a
game of a lifetime whether you are young, old or somewhere in-between. Once you establish a
handicap, you can play against anyone, even a professional, and have a fair competition (the only
sport of its kind).
Instruction
Before heading off to the course for the very first time, you may want to invest in quality time
with lessons and practice. Every golfer had to start somewhere. Even the most skilled golfers in
the world had to hone their skill by practicing hours upon hours to get to that level. Check with
your local golf courses or driving range facility to find a local PGA teaching professional who
you will feel comfortable with. Speak with friends or relatives in your local area that have
taken lessons for a referral. Most lessons are given individually. However, the local teaching
pro or civic groups like the YMCA or an educational institution may offer group lessons. This is
especially true for women and children to be less intimidating while learning the game. Golfers
who are self-taught or learn from a friend or relative will generally take longer to proper
techniques.
Practice
Most golfers, even individuals who are naturally athletic, need to spend time developing their
swing. There are special places devotes to practicing your swing called driving ranges. These may
be stand alone or may be part of the golf course. The golfer pays a nominal fee to hit a basket
or bucket of balls in a wide open surrounding. The name driving range would indicate it is for
the Driver, but it is a place to learn to hit every other club in your bag (except possibly the
putter). Spend time knowing what direction and just how far each club goes. This will be
extremely helpful when you are ready to go to the course. Golf courses also have a practice
green to help you learn the speed and contours of the putting surfaces you may play. Spend some
time practicing here as putting will account for approximately 40% of your shots, especially
before you head onto the course. If you mow grass at home, then you can spend time practicing
chipping and pitching around the lawn. Hitting full shots in your neighborhood are strongly
discouraged for obvious reasons, but learning to hit short shots with your highest lofted clubs
(wedges) can be useful. Trying to hit into a basket or bucket from 10 to 30 feet away will pay
dividends around the greens on the course.
Play
The first time playing on an actual golf course can be intimidating and exhilarating as well.
Before going to the best know golf course or country club in your area, you are best off probably
playing a less formidable challenge. Speak with friends or local family members who often play
golf to suggest the easiest course in the area. This may be a Par 3 course (where the longest
hole may be 150 yards or less) or an executive course (much shorter than a traditional course).
Gradually build your game up. Otherwise, playing a very difficult course and playing poorly will
do little for your self-confidence and may discourage you from ever playing golf again.
When you do go to play your first time, play with a peer or someone you are comfortable with.
Playing with your boss, a complete stranger or a wife playing with her husband can be unnerving
at best. But if you are put into this situation, don’t become discouraged, have fun and show
proper etiquette. Remember, those playing with you also remember the first time they played.
Equipment
First, you came to the right place. Condor Golf has a huge assortment of clubs and training aids for any golfer. If you are beginning to play golf or becoming interested, obviously you will need equipment. Chances are you want good quality clubs to make the game enjoyable and that is also affordable. - Beginners should not spend more than $500 for their first set. They should look for a large (460cc) driver, either 1 or 2 fairway metals (choose between #3, #5, #7), hybrid long irons (#4, #5), wide sole cavity back irons (6-Iron through Pitching Wedge). ***Important*** The driver should have good loft (pitch), 12 deg. or more (see chart below). Driver should have a graphite shaft and the length should not be more than 44 1/2". Fairway metals can have either graphite or steel shafts (as long as they are flexible). Hybrids can have either graphite or steel shafts (as long as they are flexible). Irons can have steel shafts (as long as they are flexible). Grips should be sized to fit the size of the hand (standard or larger midsize). Beginning golfers should not be too concerned with the shaft specifications. If the beginning golfer is more of casual player, a "box set" should be considered. This type of set would include clubs and bag and would be custom fit for length and grip size ONLY!
- Intermediate golfers (depending how often they play) should not spend more than $1,000 on their second set. At this point, the golfer needs to be more particular about the technical specifications. Swing speed and ability will determine the type of head and shaft that will help to make advances in their game. Slow swing speeds generally require more loft and more flexible shafts. The proper shaft can also help directional control of shots. Certain shafts can help control slices or hooks AND also control high or low flight. Hybrids and irons with large cavity back designs are still good for this player. Loft angles can be slightly stronger (less lofted) than the beginner set, however if the player is more comfortable with higher flight shots, the larger cavity head is still fine. Grip sizing is also an important consideration. The intermediate player may also want to experiment with a different feel of grip (softer or harder).
- Advanced golfers could spend as much as $1,500 on their third set. This is where a complete customization should take place. All aspects of shaft fitting, length, loft angles, lie angles, face angles and club weighting would be considered. Set make-up would also be a major consideration including the use of more than 1 wedge (Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, Lob Wedge). More advanced high tech metalwoods or combination carbon-graphite and titanium material should be considered. Again, as with the intermediate set, the use of hybrids could be used instead of conventional long irons.
Below is a chart showing the effect of swing speed, club head loft and launch angle on distance. The higher the loft, the more DISTANCE will be received. This is especially true on slower swing speeds (60-80 mph)
| Swing
Speed (mph) |
Driver
Loft (Degrees) |
Launch
Angle
(Degrees) |
Carry Distance
(Yards) |
| 60 |
11
15
19 |
12.1°
15.2°
18.1° |
106
117
122 |
| 70 |
11
15
19 |
12.1°
15.2°
18.1° |
145
154
156 |
| 80 |
9
11
13 |
10.5°
12.1°
13.7° |
174
181
185 |
| 90 |
9
11
13 |
10.5°
12.1°
13.7° |
206
211
213 |
| 100 |
8
9
10 |
9.6°
10.5°
12.1° |
231
234
236 |
| 110 |
7
8
9 |
8.8°
9.6°
10.5° |
254
256
257 |
(Source: The
Search for the Perfect Club, Tom Wishon, 2005)
Additional Resources
To learn more about this great game of golf, there are several other resources you may find
helpful. The most popular golf periodicals are Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf World. Many of
these will offer tip on how to improve your game as well. Another important resource is The Rules
of Golf, a small handbook of the rules we all abide by on the golf course. You can obtain this
book at either your local golf course or by going to www.usga.org. There are also a number of
internet forums and chat groups to “hang out” and learn about and contribute your own experiences
on all facets of this game. Watching television coverage, will also get you a feel of the
tradition of the game. But most of all, you will learn from your own experience during all the
practice alone and playing with fellow golfers, friends and colleagues for a lifetime to come.
Golf Etiquette
Golf etiquette is the practices and rules governing the socially acceptable behavior on the golf course. These rules are there for different reasons and can be broken down into the following categories: safety to others and yourself, maintaining the course conditions and enjoyment for yourself and others on the course. Etiquette will be something that new golfers will learn as they play with other experienced golfers. But here are some basic rules you should know before going to the course for the first time.
Safety
Both the golf club and golf ball can cause harm to you and others if you do not pay close attention to where other golfers are on the golf course and the surroundings. The saying that the game of golf is a “thinking man’s game” not only applies to playing golf, but also to etiquette as well.
If you take a practice swing, make sure that no other golfers are in the immediate vicinity as not to get hit with your club. Also, make sure you are not standing too close to an object, like a tree branch, ball washer or another object that you could accidentally make contact with your club.
Before you get ready to hit the ball, watch out for others who are in the direction as to where you are aiming. The golf ball can travel at speeds over 150 mph and can cause severe damage to someone if they were to get hit. Know your limitation as how far you can hit the ball. Make sure the group is far enough in front of you before hitting the ball. If your ball does happen to come close to someone in front of you or in an adjacent fairway, yell “FORE!” This will warn another golfer of an incoming golf ball.
You will make your fair share of bad shots. Even the very best golfers in the world make occasionally bad shots. Don’t get upset, this is normal. However, do not compound the problem by throwing your club as this could cause harm to yourself other others in your area. Besides, it is considered rude and childish behavior by fellow golfers.
Maintaining the Course
One very important rule is that you should leave the course as you have found it. This allows the course to be enjoyed by other who follows you. If you take a divot while striking the ball on the tee or in the fairway, immediately replace the sod. The will allow the grass to grow back for the next person who hits from that spot. Placing the grass back and gently tapping it down with your feet takes little time and maintains the course’s beauty.
On the green, repair any ball mark you might have caused by your ball landing on the green. Even if you didn’t cause it and you see one in the area your ball landed, please repair the mark to allow the green to heel and allow the ball to roll smoothly over the mark. For beginners, have an experienced golfer show you the proper technique on repair a ball mark.
There will be sand on many golf courses. These act as hazards or areas to avoid hitting your ball into it, but occasionally your ball will land in one and you will have to hit your ball from that position. Make sure to rake the trap to remove your footprints and damage made from the ball and your club. Again, newcomers have an experienced golfer show you the proper technique.
If you drive a cart, make sure to observe any cart rules by the golf course. You may see signs stating that the carts should be on the “Cart Path Only” or to follow the “90-degree rule” when crossing the fairway. Never drive the cart on or near greens and hazards. There is usually a white line marked by the golf course superintendent to denote area not cross with the golf cart. Please follow these rules. Newcomers should allow the more experienced golfer to drive the cart. Pay close attention to how that golfer maneuvers the cart around the course.
It goes without saying to put trash in designated trash cans. These are found on the tee boxes or at the club house when you are finished with your round.
Enjoyment for Others
One of the reasons to get involved in the game of golf should be to have fun. However, the fun should not only be for you, but the others on the golf course as well. Having a conversation with a fellow golfer on the course is commonplace, but try and keep that volume to a minimum. That means no yelling to one another on the course (except to warn someone of immediate danger) and not to talk while someone is getting ready to hit the ball. Extend the same courtesy as you would when you are trying to concentrate on hitting the ball. Cell phone usage is also discouraged on the course.
The pace of play is important for not only you and your playing companions, but all others who follow you on the course. Tee times are usually set so many minutes apart to allow a certain pace of play. Generally, golf course wants you to play each hole in approximately 15 minutes. This means that for each 9 holes, 2 hours and 15 minutes should be sufficient time to complete each side. A ranger might be present on the course to tell you to pick up your pace.
Here are some additional tips:
* The person furthest from the hole is the first to hit
* Be ready when it is your turn to hit
* Don’t spend too much time looking for a lost ball, help look for your playing partner’s lost ball to save time
* Know where to drop your ball if it lands in a hazard, is lost or goes out of bounds
* If you have to keep your cart on the path, then take more than one club when you go to your ball when it will be a distance from the cart
* On the green, do not stand where you can cast a shadow or walk in the line of another golfer’s putt
* Wait until the last person has putted out before going to your cart or going to the next green
Wear appropriate attire at the golf course you will be playing. This usually means a collared shirt, shorts that come close to the knees and golf shoes (or at worst) tennis shoes with socks. If you do not know, ask ahead when you make reservations or the host you will be playing with. This may seem like a lot to know, but many of these rules of etiquette should be common sense, while others will take a little time to learn the more you play this wonderful game. Playing with more experienced golfers will help educate you along the way so you are able to share those same values when it is your turn to play with someone new to the game.
|
|
|
|
