I often bring students out to the course for their first ever game and there is some important information to know to make the experience easier. Aspects include etiquette, rules and course strategy. One of the biggest tips is going out with an experienced golfer or with your coach so they can 'show you the ropes'. Once you learn the basic elements of navigating yourself around the course, the experience will be less daunting and more rewarding.
The first element is simply the check-in process. Try and arrive at the course around 30 mins to an hour before and sign-in at the local Pro-Shop. They will then point you down to where the first tee is located and advise of any important rules of the day for eg. if carts need to remain on paths after a downpour of rain. The next step once it's your turn to tee off, is locating what tees to hit from. For the ladies it will typically be the red tees and for the Mens it will be the white or blue. The colour can vary depending on the course. Now when you tee off just ensure that you are just behind the markers.
Now one of the most important parts when being on the course is speed of play. Basically you just want to make sure that you keep up with the group in front. This means if you start seeing the group in front extending their distance from you by more than a hole, you may need to call-up the group behind to pass you or you could simply pick up your ball and go to the next hole. Also when driving a cart, just make sure that you don't drive up within ten metres of the green. Often times you will see a cart sign before the green directing where you can drive to ensure you don't drive too close.
Now sometimes it can be tricky to know what the layout of the hole is. You could either download a golf app with that certain course showing you the layout or most holes will have a sign on the tee box showing you which direction the hole is located. The last option is that sometimes it will show you on the scorecard. Now in terms of what clubs to use when playing. Just try and use clubs that you are most comfortable with for eg. instead of using a Driver when teeing off, you could use a 7 iron. Also you could use a tee when hitting balls from the fairway. The goal should be when first playing to make the experience as stress free and enjoyable as possible.
If you'd like any further help in navigating your first ever round, please contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.
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