Golf has been around since the 15th century and it took many forms over the years before it became the sport we know today. Nevertheless, golf is one of the few sports that manage to be enjoyed by all ages.

The game of golf is the perfect hobby while the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. It is outdoors, you can still hang out with minimal contact, it is a good exercise, and you can practice social distancing while you’re at it. If you have a scheduled golf game soon, read on the protocols on and off the court to avoid awkward stares and embarrassing stories

1. Mind your pace

Although golf has a slow pace compared to other intense sports, it shouldn’t take too long before you hit the club. The general rule is one to two practice swings then you should be ready to hit the ball on your turn. Observe a half hole distance between you and the group behind you to know when to strike.

2. One swing at a time

Imagine a course where every golfer swings their club at the same time, crazy right? Ideally, the player who scored a birdie or the best among the golfers wins the hole. That player has the “honor” and tees off first. Whoever is the furthest from the hole hits next after that. Do note that a “ready golf” game means that any player who is ready can hit regardless of their score or position. If all the players say that they can see the cup, the player closest to the hole should remove the flagsticks or pins once the play putts. Some players prefer leaving the pins to locate the cup quickly.

3. Always shout “fore”

Pronounce as the number “four”, this term is used to warn everyone on the course about a ball that has gone astray. When you hear anyone shouting “fore”, immediately move and check if a ball is about to hit you. On the other hand, if the ball’s direction is not where you intended it to be, yell “fore” as loud as you can as a warning to everyone on the course. If you can, it is better to shout “left fore” or “right fore” to be more specific

4. The golf course is your home

And you should treat it as such. Golf course maintenance is hard and doing your part in taking care of it can go a long way. If there isn’t any sign about golf carts, ask if it can be taken on the grass or remain on the cart path. Keep in mind that you cannot drive the golf cart near the putting green to avoid damaging that area. At times, a piece of the turf, called a divot accidentally sticks to the club after hitting too hard. When this happens, replace it by pressing the divot firmly back into the area using your foot or use a seed mix to fill the hole. If your shot leaves a ball mark, do not forget to fix it or ask anyone to assist you before leaving that area.

5. Keep the distance

Playing golf requires concentration, and sometimes people standing in places they shouldn’t takes that away from the person putting It is important that you monitor where you stand. Check if you are away from the ball several yards away and stand well off to the side. Be careful not to step on the lines of other player’s balls when you walk on the green. 

A Final Word on Golf Etiquette

Remember, you can always ask anyone on the course if something confuses you. It saves time and makes everyone safe on course. Now, all you need to do is buy sportswear and go to the nearest course for a good game of golf!

Sources

• Historic UK
• Golf Today

And if you ever thought of trying it out, these are the things that you would need to know to become a golf player.

Learn the proper way.

The best way to start playing golf is to take lessons. There are so many things to learn about golf, and it’s not wise to try learning it on your own. Now is a great time to ask for help.

Right now, you haven’t gained any bad habits yet, so it’s easy for you to learn the proper ways of doing things. Also, you’ll have a lot of questions for sure.

Having someone you could ask regarding what you’re doing right or wrong is very handy. This way, you’ll avoid developing bad techniques you’ll have to unlearn in the future.

Find the right teacher. 

Besides being good at golf, you may want someone who matches your personality to teach you. It allows you to be more at ease while learning, which makes the process more efficient.

If you’re someone who prefers a more relaxed atmosphere, you might want to consider a teacher with a mellow approach. If you’re a bubbly person, find a more outgoing teacher. Remember that you should enjoy your learning experience. You shouldn’t get shy around your teacher so you can feel free to ask questions and commit mistakes.

Don’t get too excited. 

Once you’ve acquired your golf clubs, you may think about hitting the ball with your driver and seeing how far it can go.

Yes, it’s exhilarating, but don’t start there. Instead, work your way up by starting from the short irons, increasing your swings’ length and speed each time. Doing this warms up your muscles and lets you have a better feel or control for your shots. Move on to the middle irons then to the drivers. Hit a few balls then go back to the short ones.

Practice the short shots. 

Golf is a sport that involves accuracy. Hitting hole-in-ones is amazing, of course, but that takes more luck than skill.

What you should focus on is being consistent with your shots. Since about half of your strokes come within 50 meters from the hole, you should invest a lot of time practicing with your short irons and putter.

Whether inside the house or in the yard, try hitting some balls and aiming them into various objects. It may seem simple, but it will improve your handling and accuracy without you noticing it.

Keep the basics in mind. 

Golf can be complicated sometimes. Whenever you feel like you’re drowning in information, take a step back.

Overthinking causes you stress, and it is going to affect your swings. You have to relieve that tension. Clear your mind and take a deep breath, then check your form.

Ensure that the ball is in the right place, you have good posture, and you’re not holding the club too tightly. Remember how you hit the shots in the driving range. 

A Final Word on Learning To Play Golf

As you start playing golf, don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone has a learning curve. What’s important is that you are having a good time. Try your best to enjoy, even while you’re still just beginning!

— Anonymous

Bright sun. Blue skies. Green, rolling fairways. You understand your clubs, have your balls of choice, have a teacher, have taken your lessons, and understand the basics.

Now it’s time to hit the ball — as close to the hole, into the hole, or out of a bunker.

To get started, it’s important to know basic golf shots. They will help guide your decisions on how to play and enable you to focus on your strategy, goal, and game.

#1: To chip or to pitch — that is the question

When there’s a short distance or shot between you and the green (the golf hole where the flagstick and hole are located), you can either choose to chip or pitch.

To chip means to make a shot that stays as close to the ground as possible. To pitch means the ball flies higher and does not roll as much.

Use a chip shot when the ground is almost flat and has no disturbances or obstacles (nothing cheap about that!). Use a pitch shot when there are bumps, humps, and “craters” between you and the hole.

#2: Hello, bunker…I shall overcome!

Longman defines a bunker as “a large hole on a golf course filled with sand,” also called a “sand trap.” You’ve probably watched a golfer take his time before making the greenside bunker shot, and we can’t blame him: it takes strategy, focus, and lots of coordination and control.

You see, in this shot, you don’t hit the ball — instead, you hit the sand behind the ball, and it’s the sand that pushes it out. This requires the right amount of power because the sand slows the club down, and the right amount of precision so you successfully get the ball out of the sand trap.

The stance: Get nice and low. For golf pro Justin Rose, a golfer with a low center of gravity will hit shallower into the sand. Have the club head face the target and keep your feet open — pointed off to the left if you are right-handed, and vice versa.

The swing: Make it short, compact, and aligned with your feet line or waist line. This will help prevent you from hitting the sand.

The contact: Keep arms and hands close to the body, with your speed at only 80%. With a low stance, your club head will scoop into the sand just enough to push the ball out.

#3: Remember, you’re still an athlete

Golf may not seem as physically rigorous as contact sports or other ball sports, but a golf player is still an athlete. How you stay in shape, work your muscles out, and strengthen your grip and your core will affect your form, stance, and follow-through which are all important in every golf shot.

To quote Golf Digest: “At address, stand like a defender in basketball…On the backswing, think of a quarterback ready to make a pass…On the downswing, be like a hockey player hitting a slap shot.” These visuals could not be more precise!

#4: The bigger the head, the bigger your chances

Many golf newbies steer clear of the driver, or the longest club with the gigantic head. It may seem too much to handle, but it actually gives you the most chances to hit the ball.

The trick:

• Tee the ball high
• Swing the club back naturally with a full body turn (with your back facing the ball)
• Swing the club through the ball, letting the head hit the ball naturally
• Let your body naturally go into its follow-through form

If you can hold this form, you have found your speed at using the driver. Yes!

#5: When all seems lost, take another chip shot

As a beginner, the field, the game, all the different shots, goals, and obstacles may get overwhelming at some point. When analysis paralysis rears its ugly head, shoo it away by chipping (see number 1).

The chip, after all, is the shortest, smallest, simplest swing:

• Set up your shot with a narrow stance
• Make sure the ball is in the middle of your stance for short and crisp contact
• Hold your club as such that you can already feel the shot
• Use a short backswing partnered with a short follow-through

The length of your backswing and follow-through will depend on the distance you need to cover to make the shot.

Once you have understood these 5 basic golf shots, go ahead and practice, practice, and practice. Even masters do not stop with improving their game and making sure they do not lose the movement and form they worked hard to “own.”

Now it’s your turn.