Having warmed up on the driving range, tried your hand at a round on your local course and put in an hour or so on the putting green, you are probably now hooked. So, what do you do next?

Well, still resisting the temptation to rush out and spend hundreds on clothing and your own set of golf clubs, you should head over to your local pro shop and book yourself a few basic lessons. Learning to play the game correctly from the word go will be of immense value in the long-term and will save to countless hours of trying to "un-learn" bad habits later on.

The right instructor will get you started on the correct grip, stance and posture (the essentials!) and will take you through the mechanics of the golf swing and help you with a number of exercises you can practice on by yourself. He will also be able to guide you towards selecting the right equipment.

The, with the help of your instructor, you can start with some putting practice and a few hours on the driving range, before moving up to a few nine hole rounds and, finally, on to a full 18 holes of golf.

At this stage if it also advisable to learn the rules and etiquette of the game. So, what are some of the basics?

CLUBS

There are three basic categories of club – woods, irons and putters. Woods are used to hit long distances, irons intermediate distances, and putters short distances. In theory at least, the lower the club number used, the farther the ball travels. On average, a No1 wood used correctly will project a ball about 170 yards or more while a No5 iron will send it about 100 yards and a No9 iron about 60 yards. Putters are used to push the ball a matter of feet across the generally smoother grass surface of the green. Pitching and sand wedges are special, sharply angled clubs designed for chipping up steep hills or out of sand traps.

STARTING GRIP

Grip is vital. There are a dozen different grips that can be used, but the most common is one in which the index finger of the left hand hooks the little finger of the right hand (for right handed players). Proper alignment is also extremely important. Here you need to "check the V's". The V's are the angle between your thumb and forefinger on each hand. These should point between your chin and back shoulder. Make sure that when you are looking down, you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand and a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward your right shoulder. With the right hand, have the "V" pointing toward your chin or slightly towards the right shoulder.

SWING

Start at address with a No9 iron. The "address" is a term used for standing near, and ready to hit, the ball. With your heels about shoulder width apart, take a few practice swings. Your aim is to hit the ball squarely in the middle of the face of the club slightly above the bottom of the ball. Take a firm grip and ensure that you have a balanced stance. Then take your swing trying to keep the club moving in a single vertical plane. Imagine if you like a large circular topped table standing vertically on its side right in front of you and swing the club so that it follows the edge of the table.

ETIQUETTE

For the novice a simple guide to the etiquette of golf means observing such things as not endangering another player by standing too close to them when you, or they, are swinging; not making excessive noise out on the course (especially when somebody is hitting the ball); not holding up players behind you and, if necessary, letting following groups play through; replacing and divots created and repairing any damage done.

In short, etiquette is simply a matter of being courteous to the other players and golf is one of the few sports in the world where this is considered to be of the utmost importance and where civilized behavior is actually enforced.

Golf is one of the few sports that, despite its complexity, can be enjoyed by the newcomer right from the start. For the beginner there is an almost endless supply of information on all aspects of the game and the secret of success is to take the time to educate yourself and to practice.

No matter how good your game it can always be improved and even the world's finest golfers will tell you that they learn something new almost every time they play. The secret however is not to let the complexity of the game overwhelm you and to always keep in mind the fact the primary purpose of any game of golf is to enjoy yourself.

The game of golf, or "gowf", is generally agreed to have started in Scotland during the fifteenth century and to have been formally established in 1744 when the Company of Gentlemen Golfers met in Edinburgh and set down the first formal rules of the game.

Today golf is the most popular sport in the world and is played not only in its home of Scotland but in the United States, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Thailand and China, to mention just a handful of countries. Indeed, there are even golf colleges today that offer a major in golf!

For the novice, taking up golf means entering a world with a rich and varied history and one which can also often mean a major investment in both money and time. It is also a world with a steep learning curve, both physically and mentally, but a world that can be enormous fun. So where do you start?

Well, perhaps the easiest way to answer that question is by turning it on its head and looking at where not to start.

First, don't rush out and spend a huge sum of money on equipment, clothing, lessons, course fees, and a host of other bits and pieces. At this stage you don't know which courses are worth the money and what equipment you will need or will suits you best. Lessons are certainly a good idea for the novice, but even they can wait a while.

Part of the excitement of golf comes from finding a game that you can play with your partner, family, colleagues and friends. But, despite its often seemingly relaxed and family atmosphere, golf is a difficult game to play well and can be both frustrating and expensive if you don't invest a little time in finding out what you need to know.

Start small and don't take everything too seriously at first. Spend a little time on the driving range and get the feel of swinging a golf club, but don't spend so long on the range that you develop bad habits which are hard to break later. The driving range is a cheap and effective way to get your muscles moving and to discover whether or not you have an aptitude for, or a real interest in, the game. It can also give you an idea of the types of clubs and balls to use.

Next, find an inexpensive course and wear comfortable, loose clothing that allows you freedom of movement around your arms and shoulders. Don't go out and spend $1,000 on pants, shoes, and shirts just yet. Don't invest in a set of golf clubs either just yet. Start with a simple three club set borrowed from a friend or rented from the clubhouse. A nine iron, a wedge, and a number 5 wood will be plenty. You may also want to borrow or rent a putter at this stage, but putting can also wait a little while.

Now, get out on the golf course and have a go. Relax, observe others who appear to know what they're doing and imitate their grip, stance, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. Now you'll probably miss a few, maybe even more than a few, but so what! Enjoy yourself and get a feel for swinging at the ball and see what happens when you try hitting the ball at different angles and varying speeds.

After your initial round head over to the putting green, but don't start by trying to imitate Tiger Woods and hole your first putt from 30 yards. Get close to the hole – a couple of feet will do – and start putting. Consistency is the key here and you'll want to practice at this distance until you can sink 20 or 25 putts in a row. Then move back to say 5 or 6 feet and repeat the process. They're going in – great! Now try 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet. Okay, enough for now. Don't get too ambitious and remember, even Tiger Woods misses the odd 2 foot putt!

Throughout your initial day relax and don't try too hard. In particular, don't worry about the results you're achieving and whether it's taking 2 or 22 hits to get to the green or a dozen putts to hole out.

Golf is all about balance, concentration, and some simple physics and it takes time and a lot of practice to master the skills of the course. At this stage what's really important is to decide whether or not you feel comfortable and are enjoying the experience.

Finally, go and have a cool drink or two in the clubhouse and enjoy the rest of the day. You did well for your first time out.

By: Donald Saunders
To learn more about golf colleges or if you are perhaps considering taking some time out to discover the joys of golf through something like one of the many relaxing Phoenix golf vacations then please visit Golf-Unlimited.info today

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