It can be daunting for a golfer heading out to the course for the first time with a group of experienced golfers and not knowing all of the proper etiquette at a course. Have no fear we are here to get you completely dialed in with everything from the correct attire to not walking in other golfers lines (we will get to that).
Let’s start with equipment shall we. Make sure you have the obvious things such as clubs. If you do not have clubs that is ok, the majority of golf courses (at least the nice ones) have club rentals. Next you want to make sure you have a glove. If you are right handed and swing right handed you want a glove for your left hand and vice versa for players that are left handed need a right handed glove. You want to make sure you have enough golf balls to get you through a complete round. I have seen it numerous times with first time golfers only bringing 12 balls and that simply is not going to be enough. Pack your bag with 40 balls if you can fit them…they will not go to waste! When you first start playing you’re gonna lose more balls than Lance Armstrong, so make sure you are prepared. Also if you need to buy more balls at the club house you will get bamboozled by the premium rates for balls. I recommend buying refurbished balls online and buying in bulk to make sure you get the best bang for your buck! Price should come down to around $1 a ball on Amazon. Make sure to also grab some small but necessary items, such as golf tees, golf towel for your bag, a divot tool – you can keep a coin of some sort in your pocket to mark your putts with.
Now that you have all your gear, let’s make sure you have the proper attire. The last thing you want is to be looking like a rookie even though that’s exactly what you are. Some say its better to look good than play good. Most courses REQUIRE a polo collar shirt to be worn to golf. If you do not have a collared shirt they may ask you to buy an ugly one they sell at the pro shop for an astronomical amount of money. Next, always wear a belt in case they ask you to tuck in your shirt. It’s embarrassing to be that guy tucked in with no belt, trust me I know from experience! Wear some golf shorts or pants but NO DENIM! Aside from the golf course, why would you be wearing denim anyways? You have bigger problems. I recommend wearing a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. I also recommend some spray on sunscreen in your bag to make sure you don’t look like a lobster by the end of your round. Those tan lines are no joke after 4 hours straight in the sun. Lastly you are going to need some golf shoes. Don’t be fooled, golf shoes are important and provide the grip you need so don’t think regular shoes will work just fine. I love Nike personally due to their style and comfort. Nike makes numerous types of golf shoes so try some on and see what fits best for you.
You now look the part so now time to act the part. You want to arrive at the course a bare minimum of 20-30 minutes before your round. You can get checked in with the pro shop, grab a cart, stretch, grab some snacks or beverages for the round, use the bathroom, hit the range or practice putts. Giving yourself plenty of time saves you from being the guy that is holding your group up ready to start the round. You think the pros just show up right at their tee time? Just like any other sport, a warm up goes a long way to help determine how you play.
I hope this helps with any questions or concerns you may be having.
Cheers!
2 OFF THE TEE 