The New Year is almost here, and there is no better time than now to start playing golf.
The best part is that it can be picked up at any time and played for the rest of one's life. Whether you've dabbled in the sport or are starting from scratch (no pun intended), it's important to understand the fundamentals at the start of your golf journey.
Arrive:
If there are caddies available
Remember that caddie programs are a great way for young people to earn money while also being exposed to a sport that they may enjoy and that may help shape their character.
A good caddie can make the round more enjoyable by providing hints that can help you lower your score.
A good caddie can advise you on yardage, club selection, reading the greens, and course layout.
Warming Up
Arrive early enough to allow yourself enough time to warm up properly.
Work your way through the bag, starting with the short irons and progressing to the mid- and long irons, and finally the woods.
Finish your warm-up by hitting a few soft wedge shots before heading to the practice green and hitting a few putts.
Don't hit hundreds of balls and then abandon your game.
The First Tee
Check the scorecard for any local regulations.
Local rules only apply to the course you are playing on.
If your playing companions suggest a game, make sure everyone is comfortable with the stakes.
Make an identifying mark on your ball and inform the other players of the type and number of ball you're using.
Slow play should be avoided
When your group is falling behind the pace of play of the group ahead of you:
Between shots, walk at a reasonable pace.
As you approach the ball, start planning your next shot by studying the wind's strength and direction.
Check the lie of your ball, select your club, visualize your swing and shot, and then play your shot.
It should take no more than 30 to 45 seconds from the time you choose your club to the time you hit your shot.
If you are not ready to play when your turn comes, encourage one of your teammates to do so.
Keeping the course
Refill your divots.
Turf tends to explode on impact, making replacement difficult, if not impossible. You have two options in this case:
You can kick in the turf around the edges of the divot with the toe of your shoe.
Many courses place containers containing a soil/seed mixture on their carts and tees. Fill in the divot with the mixture if this is the case.
Bring a rake into the bunker, keeping in mind that you should always enter the bunker from the low side, closest to the ball.
Avoid walking on the steep face of a bunker whenever possible.
Rake the area you played from, as well as all your footprints and any others within reach, after you hit your shot.
Rakes should be stored in or near the bunker.
Repair any pitch marks or indentations caused by the ball striking the green.
Repair the mark with a tee, knife, key, or repair tool, working the edges towards the center without lifting the center of the mark. Do not rip the grass. Finish by smoothing the area with your foot or a club. Make the area smooth enough to putt on.
Remember this when you're out on the green
Don't step on your teammates' putting lines, which are the imaginary lines that connect the ball to the hole.
If your ball is on a player's line, offer to mark it.
If your ball is not the furthest away from the cup, mark it with a plastic marker or a small, thin, dark coin like an old penny.
Place your putter at a 90-degree angle with the heel touching your marker after you've marked your ball.
Move the marker from the heel of your putter to the toe. To return the ball to its original position, repeat the procedure.
Do not stand in a way that might distract another player, and do not move.
Make no noise when your opponent is preparing to putt.
If you don't have a caddie and are asked to tend the flagstick, make sure you're not in anyone's way.
Hold the flagstick at arm's length to prevent the flag from fluttering in the breeze, and keep your shadow from falling across the hole or line. Loosen the bottom of the flagstick so it doesn't stick when you try to remove it after the other player has putted. After the player has hit the ball, the flagstick should be removed.
If you place the flagstick, keep it away from the green to avoid damaging it.
The player closest to the hole will usually tend the flagstick.
After everyone has putted out, proceed to the next tee.
Miscellaneous
If you hit a tee shot into the woods and believe it is lost or out-of-bounds, the Rules of Golf allow you to play a second or provisional ball.
You then have three minutes from the time you arrive at the location where you believe the ball landed to find it. If it is not discovered within three minutes, you must declare it lost and play your provisional ball, incurring a one-stroke penalty.
If you play the provisional ball and then find your original ball in-bounds, you must pick up your provisional and continue to play the original ball, which is now in-bounds.
Out-of-bounds balls incur a penalty of ""stroke and distance.""
Visit the USGA's website for a comprehensive discussion of the Rules of Golf.
For your own safety, never hit when there's a chance you'll be able to reach the group ahead of you, and whenever you hit a shot that has even a remote chance of hitting any other players, yell "Fore" immediately and apologize to any players your ball lands near.
Outbursts of rage are one thing, but displays of frustration are quite another. Yelling, screaming, hurling clubs, or otherwise embarrassing yourself is unacceptable and, in some cases, dangerous to yourself and others.
You have a responsibility as a player to learn and understand the Rules of Golf.
Five of the most common Rules concern Out of Bounds, Lost Balls,
Unplayable lies, cart paths, and water hazards are all present
Moving on, if your group stops for refreshments, either at the turn (the end of nine holes) or after the round, offer to pay for them and to buy drinks for the caddies.
Finally, shake hands with your fellow players at the end of the round, congratulate the winners, console the losers, and thank them for their company. At the end of the day, the greatest joy of the game is the time you get to spend with your friends, whether they are old friends or new friends you met through the game.
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