When I decided to take up golf, I was told, "you'll either love it or you'll hate it". I was somewhat familiar with the game but I had never actually played. My husband, who is an avid golfer, had tried for years to get me to play. He knew if I just tried it, I would love it. I finally gave in and, needless to say, he was right. I love this game!

One very important thought to keep in mind when you're first learning the game is that everyone started where you're starting - even the pros. Some start earlier than others, some may have more natural ability, some have no fear...we're all different but we all started where you're starting.

To get you on your way, I've outlined below some essential steps toward making your journey into the game a little more enjoyable.

#1 - Schedule a lesson

Contact a golf course or driving range and sign up for a lesson or clinic. The golf pro will teach you how to address the ball along with proper stance, grip and swing techniques. These skills are essential for the beginner. We've all heard the phrase, "Practice makes perfect" but in this case, as my husband would say, if you practice with the wrong techniques, your practices will make your swing perfectly wrong.

#2 - Familiarize yourself with the game.

I had the luxury of being married to my "coach" so I had instant answers to most of my questions however, I also read books and magazine articles, watched a video or two and even started watching golf on television, something I never thought I'd do. Learn the various parts of the golf course, score-keeping, proper attire, etc. One very important aspect of the game that could use some extra attention is golf etiquette. These are the "do's and don'ts" which can help make or break your day on the course, not to mention everyone else's day.

#3 - Practice, practice, practice!

One can never get enough practice. In the beginning, your swing will be uncomfortable and awkward feeling. You'll work muscles you didn't realize you had! Practice your swing as taught in your lessons. If you're having trouble, it may be helpful to video your lesson - It may be more clear to you if you see yourself in action. Your instructor may even suggest one or more training aids available to help you master the swing. Eventually, your swing will begin to feel more natural and comfortable to you, so much so that you'll be able to tell immediately when you've made a bad swing.

#4 - Equipment

If you really want to get the most from your game, you'll want to arm yourself with the best equipment for you. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean you need to run out and buy the most expensive set of clubs you can find. I started out with just a few clubs. My husband had a driver, a 5 iron and a putter for me to use. They weren't exactly the perfect fit but close enough for the moment. I'll admit, I didn't want to invest any more than necessary because I really didn't know if I would want to play or not. On our first trip to the course, we played the front nine. We didn't keep score because the main focus was making contact with the ball. I discovered during this trip that I could hit the ball. My husband was so excited that he bought me a new driver and 5 wood that day. Later, a new putter. Then new irons. Borrowed or 'hand-me-down' clubs are fine when you're starting out. Replace them as your game warrants or when you feel like you're ready. Either way, I would suggest seeking the advice of a golf professional prior to making a purchase as there is a wide variety of clubs from which to choose.

#5 - Setting Goals/Keeping Score

Eventually you'll become more comfortable and you'll hit the ball more consistently. Now you'll want to set some goals and keep your score. I'm one of those people who wants to see the results on paper or, in this case, the score card. My score started out well in the 100's for 18 holes. Each time I played I set a goal to score better than my previous round, even if only by 1 stroke. I only average about 12 rounds during the summer so I thought it would take forever to break into the 90's but at the end of my second summer, I made that goal. If you're scoring in the low 120's, set your goal for 115 - 120. Once consistently there, set it for 110 - 115. This type of goal is motivating to me. You'll need to set reasonable goals that will motivate you. Play when you can and, before you know it, your improvements will be evident on your score card.

I used to ask "how can anyone enjoy chasing a golf ball around all day?" Now I know...the challenge, the scenery, the friendships. It's more than just a game!

By: PJ Greene
PJ Greene is a golf entusiast and co-owner of a driving range and pro-shop.
For more articles and tips visit http://www.golfblog.blogspot.com

Learning to swing is the single hardest thing in my career. We never have the perfect golf swing. It is just not possible. Luckily enough, you do not need the perfect golf swing. Your swing does not even need to be exceptionally brilliant and amazing. You just need to be able to swing naturally and smoothly. This is what makes up the basis of every shot.

So, to learn the swing first off you need to relax and be natural. The good news is that if you even have the faintest idea of a golf swing you are nearly half way there. If not watch so pro golf on the television, or go and see some pro golf, or even just go any where to observe someone playing golf. This will teach you as much as you need to know from them. Once you have seen this, all you need to is tinker with it and relax.

Before you think about swing you need to learn how to grip the club. There are many different grips, but the basic one is shown below. This is the one you should start off with. If it feels ok, use this for a while. If you feel you need the club to be more stable, interlock your pinky fingers. This is shown below.

Now you need to think about your stance. This is how you stand up to the ball when you are about to hit it. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This should make you feel as if you have a solid platform upon which to swing on. Stand with the ball in line with the middle of your feet. Now bend over from your waist and place the club just behind the ball. The most important thing here is to make sure your weight is evenly distributed over both feet and that you are relaxed.

Now we have a solid stance and grip we are ready to start the back swing. Remember this is a golf swing, not a golf lift. Swing the club, using you waist and shoulders. Make sure your arms are straight. Do not bend you arms and pick the club up. You should only bend you arms when you are well into your back swing. I will show you when. Start by twisting your shoulders in the direction of your backswing. Keep looking at the ball. then your mid torso should follow and eventually your waist. Keep looking at the ball. once the club is perpendicular to the ground, you should bend your arms just a touch. At the top of your back swing, the club will be roughly perpendicular to the ground, at which point you should feel a natural transition pint at which point you should start to swing the club back towards the ground. This time twist your waist back towards your starting position, followed by your mid torso and shoulders. You should still be looking at the ground.

On the follow through, do the exact same but as a mirror image of your back swing. The only difference should be, once the club is parallel to the ground you should twist, your foot into up onto your toes. The best advice for your follow through is to be as natural as possible with it. When you swivel your foot, that is you transferring your weight through the ball and this is what gives the ball its speed. The most common problems are lifting the club and not looking at the ground at all times. This causes you to top the ball, which is where the club makes contact with only the top part of the ball, which makes it skip forward.

But really the best advice I can give you is to get a few lessons from your local pro or a friend who is good at golf, and then to play a few holes. Like I have said before, it is learning through trial and error.

By: Stuart Dykes
Our site features Golf Tips for Beginners. Our new section is now online. Why not visit our Greenside Bunker Shots section.

The short game can be the most tedious part of golf. It requires the greatest amount of accuracy and precision. The drive can be a good hit as long as it lands a decent distance anywhere on the fairway. On the other hand, a chip is only good if it lands within a five foot radius of the pin. A putt is usually only good if it goes in the hole, or on a far putt, stops within a one foot radius of the pin. Gain more precision on your short game by avoiding these common mistakes made by beginner golfers:

1.) The bunker: hitting the ball; not the sand

The shot out of the bunker is different than any other shot on the golf course. With every other shot, the club should strike the ball. Many beginners attempt to hit the ball out of the sand the way that the ball would be hit from the fairway. This is wrong. To hit the ball out of the sand, the club head should hit the sand behind the ball, and continue to pass through the sand, under the ball. In this shot, the club displaces the sand, which forces the ball to fly out.

2.) Chipping: wrists behind club face at contact

Many beginner golfers have the tendency to make contact with the ball with their wrists behind the clubface, in an attempt to "scoop" the ball, and help it into the air. In a correct chip, the wrists should be cocked on the downswing. They should travel ahead of the clubface. At contact, the hands should be ahead of the clubface. The club should strike down on the ball, hitting the ball first, and then the ground.

3.) Chipping: not accelerating the club on the downswing

A lot of times golfers will hesitate on the downswing of their chip shots, trying not to send the ball flying past the green. Usually, a deceleration of the clubface on the downswing will cause the ball to be chunked. The ball will fall very short of the green. In order to correctly chip the ball, have confidence in your swing. Remember to accelerate the clubface all the way through impact, and into the follow through.

4.) Putting: breaking the wrists

There are so many variations of putting that it is impossible to say that only one way is right. One common error though, is when golfers "break their wrists" while putting. In this case, instead of the putter making square contact with the ball, the putter strikes the ball at an angle. The ball will not travel where it was aimed. It is therefore crucial to keep your wrists locked while putting.

By: Savannah Durbin
Savannah Durbin is an avid golfer and aspiring computer engineer. To read more golf tips and articles visit http://www.golfenthusiastic.com.

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George Snedrow
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Whether you want to be the next Tiger Woods, play with some friends on Saturday afternoon or simply go for a leisurely walk while striking a ball, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you start playing Golf. Below is a list of ten things you need to consider.

1. Why do I want to play Golf?

There are countless reasons why somebody would want to play Golf. In fact, if you ask any business executive to name the places where a lot of their deals and contacts are made, their Golf club will surely be included in this list. Or if you ask the 80 year old grandfather to explain his reasons for getting up at 6:00 a.m. for a Sunday morning ramble through the fairways he would probably tell you that it helps keep him fit. So why do you want to play Golf? Do you have a reason or is it just a spur of the moment fling? You should think a little while before jumping in the deep end and really be sure that Golf is the right game for you. A good idea is take a pen and a piece of paper and make a list of reasons why you would like to play Golf. Because your neighbor plays every weekend and he says it's a great game may not be the right reason to partake.

2. How much time am I willing to invest?

Golf is different from a lot of other sports due to the fact that there is quite a lot to learn before you can really begin to enjoy the game. Unlike other games, it is not really possible to teach yourself 100% from a book or DVD. The basic techniques require a lot of feel and take a while to develop. If you learn bad technique then it can be very hard to change it. Therefore, it is a good idea to join a club and get lessons from a Golf Pro. Having said that, lessons alone are not enough, a great deal of patience is necessary in order to get a feel for the techniques and to put them into effective practice. You need to spend a lot of time at the driving range and putting green before you ever go near the Golf course. Of course, Golf is not unique in this respect. How many guitars now lie in closets, scuba gear in basements and skis hang on garage walls? The bottom line that Golf initially requires more time than other sports but once you have the basics mastered you can invest whatever amount of time you wish.

3. How much equipment do I really need?

How far down the rabbit hole do you really want to go? Do you want to have a few beers and puck a ball in the general direction of the pin with the boys or play in serious competitions where the extra 10 yards can win or lose a tournament? Do you want a second hand Volvo or a new Ferrari? How much of a budget do you have? I am one of the firm believers that Golf should be a game for everyone regardless of social class, color or creed. So whether you buy your gold plated rocket science equipment from the Pro store or second hand clubs through E-bay, I would still enjoy a round of Golf with you. However, Golf is a game played outdoors and requires a lot of extra accessories to make life a little more comfortable. I'm not going to list everything here but for example if it rains you may need waterproof clothing or an umbrella or if it's very sunny then you may need a cap for protection or sunglasses against the glare so you don't lose sight of your ball in midair. But the basic equipment is no greater an investment than for most other sports or hobbies.

In general, one should ask themselves these questions before venturing into any sport or hobby, but as those who play Golf know, it is addictive and the more you play the more addictive it becomes and the initial learning phase becomes but a fading memory. So if having considered the above questions you still want to play then I look forward to seeing you on the tee.

By: Nigel Nix
Nigel Nix has been playing Golf on and off since he was 5 years old. He is now 42 and runs a humorous Golf blog. Golf Mad Blog.

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