What to Expect by David Billings

When first starting out golf it is important that you remember to above all else respect the game and the other people who are playing it. Because only one person can hit their ball on a hole at any given time, it is polite and customary if you are taking too long to finish the hole to pick up your ball or let a smaller/faster group play through. If you do find yourself taking too long or get frustrated do not take it out on the course, pick up your ball and take a break, call it a day, or practice at either the driving range or putting/pitching greens. 

Golf is a simple game to learn but one that takes years to master so do not quit if you find yourself getting a lot of bogies etc.. Also it is customary to dress in nice clothing when golfing, even mandatory at some courses; usually a collared shirt and some khaki pants or shorts will be good enough for any course. 

Once you’re looking the part and out golfing remember to always fix your divots (the hole left in the ground from swinging the club too low). It may seem silly but it’s always a good rule of thumb to always try to leave the hole better than when you found it, if you see a unfilled divot filling it for the next round of golfers is just a good thing to do. The main things to take away from this for any beginner would be to take care of the course, respect the game and its players, behave and dress appropriately, and enjoy the game as you play it.

Knowing What to Do

Like any other game or sport, golf has a set of rules. These rules cover the basics of what to do on the course to what the player can carry. Players are expected to know the rules when playing and if a rule is broken by a player there are penalties that take away from your score. So in order to keep from collecting penalties, here are some basic rules to help get through a round.

1. Don't move the ball. The ball can only be picked up when it is on the putting green and even then the ball must be marked by a small coin or ball marker. The only time the ball can ever be picked up when its not on the green is if there is an obstruction like yardage marker.(Weinman)
2. Always play your own ball. If there is a lying there don't think free ball because it may be someone else's ball.(Weinman)
3. It is okay to play from another hole's fairway. As a beginner you are going to hit crazy shots that may end up on the fairway of another hole. If this happens make sure the ball is not out of bounds and make sure there are not any players playing that hole. If your ball is considered out of bounds then take a one stroke penalty and hit again.(Weinman)
4. Take only a short time to look for a ball. If your ball goes into the deep rough, don't spend more than five minutes to look for it. If the ball is not found, take a one stroke penalty and hit from the original spot.(Weinman) 
5. Play inside the course. Make sure to stay in inside the course. Out of bounds areas are marked by white lines or stakes. If your ball lands out of bounds take a one stroke penalty and hit from the original spot.(Weinman)  

Follow these basic rules and you will survive a round of golf.

Weinman, S. (n.d.). How To Play Golf: A Beginner's Guide From Golf Digest: Golf Digest.Golf Digest. Retrieved from http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/golf-beginners-tips

The Golf Course

Getting the Ball in the Hole

One of the toughest parts of playing golf is the short game. The short game is when the golf ball is within a short range of the whole and is either on the green or just off. When the ball is in this range there are only a couple of clubs that are needed to get the ball in the hole. These clubs include:

• The 9 iron 
• The Pitching Wedge
• The Sand Wedge
• The Putter 

Each club has its specific uses. 

• The 9 iron is used for longer short range shots
• The Pitching Wedge is used for the shortest shots that aren't on the green.
• The Sand Wedge is the best club to get the golf ball out of a sand trap
• The Putter is used mainly on the green but can be used off the green when a wedge isn't a good option

Practicing the short game is vital to becoming a good golfer. The difference between having a decent score and a bad score is being able to get the ball in after one putt instead of two or three. Some of the most memorable moments in golf are putts that win the player the tournament. This part of the game of golf can make or break a round of golf for a player. 

In a video from Golf Monthly Top 25, Coach Gary Alliss explain, the proper way to make a chip shot.This will explain how to perform many types of chip shots with different clubs.

On the TV show The Golf fix, Michael Breed provides useful tips on how to make good consistent putts. The examples he provides will provide a good bases for your putting game.

Breed, M. (Director). (2010, April 19). The Golf Fix: Mental Putting Checklist [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp8K4lcLx7U

Tappin, N. (Director). (2012, May 30). Golf Tips: Chipping fundamentals [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLMrTskZErs