Jan 05, 2023

T-Time Podcast // Ep. 1: Five Things a Beginner Golfer (and Every Golfer) Needs to Know

beginner golfers golf drills golf tips and tricks podcast

Golfing has a lot of dynamics at play–these tips can help you to get the most out of every game.

Heading out for a game of golf is always fun, but it can also come with a few headaches. Whether you are brand-new to golf or have been playing for years, chances are that there are parts of the game that don’t always feel right for you. Maybe you have questions that you are too afraid to ask, or you can’t figure out why your games aren’t consistent. It happens to all of us! In this article, we will be taking a look at a few non-conventional golf tips that can change the way you play.

1. It’s All About the Short Game

When you first start golfing–or you first start getting better–it is tempting to try to focus on winning the long game. Beginner golfers often make this mistake. In practice, this is really not an effective approach. Before you can win the long game, you need to be able to manage the short game.

If you want to improve your game, the best thing you can do is head to the putting green or chipping area. Beginner golf drills can have a huge impact on how well you play. Practice those small-scale strokes, and work on your form. With time, these skills can grow and develop to offer an even bigger impact.

A crisp and consistent shot is one of the most powerful things you can bring to the table. In these easier areas, you can hone the fundamentals and basics, allowing you to get the motions down and really improve with time. Using your resources doesn’t mean you can’t make it out in other areas. It means that you are attentive enough and committed enough to focus on your talents and improve. A person who practices drills for beginner golfers is a person with a strong foundation!

2. Most People Just Aren’t That Good!

A common concern for beginner golfers is the idea of being “bad” compared to everyone else. New golfers–and even golfers with time under their belts–still seem to think that the majority of people who they see golfing have unbelievable talent and skills. In reality, this isn’t true. They are players, just like you.

Golf is a fairly technical sport, so most new players and growing players believe that everyone else knows what they are doing. Worse, they believe that others might be judging their actions when they really aren’t. This can be terrible for your confidence out on the course–don’t let it happen!

Sometimes balls go far. Sometimes they go wrong. The average golfer can’t even break 100, and people still assume that everyone out on the course is a professional. The truth is that everyone is playing, learning, growing, and improving–just like you. Even professionals hit bad shots. It is more important to do your best than to be the best.

3. When in Doubt–Ask

Golfing is a culture unlike any other, and it is no secret that there are a lot of rules to learn. It is completely understandable why so many newcomers feel like golfing is a little overwhelming. There is a lot to take in.

Golfing, for beginners, can seem like joining a new club where you don’t know any of the etiquette. It can even be a point of stress. Problems happen when you try to guess what is correct or allow yourself to feel uncomfortable in silence because you are too embarrassed to ask. Open yourself up to learning instead.

Everything about golfing consists of rules–the game, the courses, the etiquette, the wardrobe. There is a lot to know and, consequently, a lot to learn. People who are still growing and getting acquainted are often thrown off by this and feel bad because they don’t know all the rules. This is a self-made problem.

When you don’t know how something works, all you need to do is ask. It is completely understandable that you might not be all that interested in asking what seems like an obvious question, but you only hurt yourself when you refuse to ask for the answers you need. If you don’t understand something, just ask.

Common Questions to Ask Include:

Can you help clarify this rule situation?
What is the proper etiqutte in this situation?
Where do I get the range balls?
What is the dress code?
How do you feel about playing music or engaging in conversation?

The best thing that you can do to get acquainted with the sport and start learning the environment is to ask as many questions as possible. People will not be annoyed by you asking–they will be glad you did. The best beginner golf lessons come from other players.

4. Keep the Pace

It is common for people to think that those around them have some kind of vested interest in how they are playing. When you are in stepping up to play, it feels like everyone is watching you and everyone is judging you. They aren’t. The only thing that people care about is whether or not you are keeping the pace.

Keeping the pace is the practice of ensuring that you don’t keep people backed up at specific holes during play. It means taking a reasonable amount of time to complete a specific hole regardless of what is going on around you.

It is a common trend for new players to get caught up in the social aspect of the game–and this is a great thing. Golf is a social game, but it should not influence the pace of the game. The best way to gauge how you are doing is to look to the people in front of you, not the people behind you. Of course, some holes bottleneck too. As long as you can see the people in front of you, you are doing fine.

5. Just Pick it Up

Whether you are brand-new to golf or just having a terrible game, it is always best to just pick it up when you are struggling on a particular hole. Beginner golfers, in particular, often struggle with this. People always feel pressured to keep a score and avoid making mistakes, and the game simply doesn’t work that way.

If you are committed to keeping your score and haven’t established a beginner golf handicap, stop once you hit the max. Give yourself par +5 and use that for your score. You might be surprised by how well it evens out over time–and don’t be afraid to make exceptions. Throw it out of the bunker, water, or bush if you have to. Just be sure to pick it up at max shot unless the people in front of you are still at their hole.

The Takeaway

Improving your game is all about knowing the right information and understanding how beginner golf drills–or any drills–can help you to build up your skills. For a more personalized approach to growing your abilities, sign up with us at BFore Golf. We help players to learn new skills, improve their games, and have more fun out on the course. Through beginner’s golf tips and a unique and personal understanding of the women’s golf experience, we mentor you and help you to become a better player!

For more information about our BabesGolf Event at Desert Classic, CLICK HERE!