Golf — Getting Started: Learn, But Enjoy —
Part I
In 15th century Scotland the game of "gowf" was born. Around
1744, the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, established in
Edinburgh, then codified the first rules of play. And the world
has never been the same since. Golf is one of the most popular
sports in the world; played in countries as far flung as Mexico
and Ireland, South Africa and China. And, of course, Scotland.
There are even universities that offer a major in Golf.
So, for the novice getting started, the game entails
entering a world with rich and varied history, a potentially
major investment of time and money, a steep physical and mental
learning curve — and enormous fun! The best way a beginner can
begin is by learning what NOT to do.
First, don't rush out and spend a large amount of money on
course fees, equipment, lessons, clothing, and so forth. You
don't yet know which courses are worth it, what equipment is
quality and which suits you, and lessons can wait a short
while.
Part of the excitement is the newness and the joy of finding
a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or
even with the whole family. But golf is a difficult game to
play well and can be frustrating and expensive if you don't
invest a little time finding out what you need to know.
Start small and don't take everything too seriously too
soon. Many pros will advise against spending many weeks on a
driving range when first beginning, because they want you to
avoid developing bad habits which are hard to break. But, some
time on a range can be a cheap way to get your muscles moving,
find out if you have an aptitude or interest, and give you an
idea of the types of clubs and balls to use.
Find an inexpensive course and wear comfortable, loose
clothing that doesn't bind your arms and shoulders. Save that
$1,000 you'd spend on pants, shoes, and shirts for later. Start
with a simple three club set borrowed from a friend or rented
from the clubhouse. A Nine iron, a wedge, and a Number 5 wood
is plenty. Actually you'll use the wedge less on a driving
range, but you can add a putter and move to the putting
practice area later. Some have miniature sand traps to practice
escaping.
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