Beginner going from the range to the course

[lhrocker]

So I have been going to the driving range for a couple of weeks now and starting to get the hang of hitting that little ball with the long club.  I would like to see what it is like to get on the golf course.  I have a friend who is an accomplished player that will go with me, but he won't be back in town for a while.  My wife also has a friend coming in from overseas who does play and wants to take him to a public course and i'd like to see what's its like going thru at least 9 holes before booking time.

That being said, are beginners welcome on golf courses or is it frowned upon?  Would I play alone or would I be grouped with another group of players?  I would assume that everyone has to start somewhere, but I'd hate to "hold everyone up" that is behind me.

Thanx for the info.

[TDK24]

I'd find a nice beginners course in your area and try to go on a weekday twilight. There's a good chance you won't have to worry about people complaining around you.

I have nice straight course only a 5 minute drive away where I can play a quick twilight by myself without worrying about waiting on people ahead or rushing through for people behind.

[Dave2512]

I'd get out on a par 3 or executive course first if you have one in your area. If for no other reason to get the hang of getting the ball in the hole. I play a short and straight pitch and putt place during my lunch hour here and there's always a bunch of beginners out there. Most spend the majority of their time trying to get up and down. Even the ones that get close to hitting the green from the tee struggle with the short game stuff.

[RonTheSavage]

Holding everyone up on the course was my biggest fear when I began golfing. I didnt want to be "that" guy. I just went out and played a bunch of 9 hole courses until I was more than comfortable with the idea of going out on a regulation course. Where I live we have 6 within a 10-15 min drive and I just hit them all hard. I think I did this for about 6 months. Once you do venture out on a real course I would try to go during the week or twilight, and dont be embarrased to play the correct tees. Good Luck and most of all have fun.

[Tuflehundon]

Call the course ahead of time, during the week when they will have time to talk. Most courses have times of the day that are slow. I used to play Dubsdread in Orlando a lot when I was learning for 2 reasons. It's a fairly open course with only a few trees, and a little water, so it was an easier course. Second, I would play on Wednesday afternoons, following a senior league. They played pretty slow, and the regulars knew this, so for a couple of hours after the league, they were pretty wide open. This was, If I did take a little longer, it was ok, and no one cared. Hardly ever got paired up with anyone, and I could take my time. Really I even had time to screw around and take 2 or 3 hits if I needed.

Being able to take my time and not have to rush around was nice for me. Once I got the hang of things there, I started branching out to other courses.

[NotPortlyNJ]

Yeah, talk to your local courses when it's not a weekend.  Turns out my local muni has 3 9 hole courses, one of them they told me would be best for a beginner.  The other 2 are usually played together by real golfers for 18 holes.  I now walk the easy course about once a week at twilight, all for only $10 on weekdays or $12 on weekends!  Actually, it's the same rate prior to twilight hours but after 4:00 I can play that course as many times as I can before it gets dark.

[rustyredcab]

If you came to the first tee and were joining my group, I'd welcome you (as long as it is not part of our regular Saturday group which gets friendly-competitive). Especially if you told me you were a beginner, that this was your first time playing on a course, that you wanted to learn proper etiquette, and were looking forward to any suggestions that might help you speed up play and become a good playing companion. "Which tees do you suggest I use?"

[rustyredcab]

To amplify my response above, IMHO, it would be a privilege to play with someone their first time out.

While not exactly the same thing as a golfer's first round, as a regular Sunday church guy who's Church is a "teaching" Church, over the last several years, I have had the privilege of hearing seven first-ever- sermons. I've heard nine throughout my life. Getting to see someone do something difficult, like golf, for the first time, is a privilege.

[NotPortlyNJ]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

To amplify my response above, IMHO, it would be a privilege to play with someone their first time out.

While not exactly the same thing as a golfer's first round, as a regular Sunday church guy who's Church is a "teaching" Church, over the last several years, I have had the privilege of hearing seven first-ever- sermons. I've heard nine throughout my life. Getting to see someone do something difficult, like golf, for the first time, is a privilege.

What a great sentiment!

[harms39]

Another important thing to keep in mind: you WILL play poorly your first few times out. Just make sure you are conscientious of whether or not you are holding the group up. If you shank one into the trees, don't spend 10 minutes looking for it every time. Also, don't feel as if you have to play it as it lies or even from the same location. When you are just learning, it is important to look at every round as a practice round until you can play without holding people up. So feel free to pick up that ball from the next fairway and walk it over to the rest of the group and play from 150 out in the middle of the fairway.

Secondly, and equally as important: Have a good attitude out there. I've played with a lot of beginners who tell me before the round that they are just starting. I'm always completely fine with that and am prepared for them to be a little slow. However, when they start dropping/throwing/kicking their clubs after each and every bad swing, things get tedious.

[AmazingWhacker]

When I first started playing I had nobody to play with and, this being Southern California, there were no uncrowded muni's.  So I would just go to my local course and get paired up.  Except for maybe one guy who told me 'a beginner has no place on such a hard course' (it was not) everybody was super cool about playing with a beginner.  After a few weeks I found some other guys doing the same thing as me and I started to have golf buddies all of a sudden.

A few tips to make sure you are a popular playing partner:

1.  Bring plenty of balls and don't waste a lot of time looking for lost balls.

2.  If your playing partners are a lot better than you, play your shots from where they do.  That is - if they hit thier drives 200+ yards down the fairway and you hit yours 75 yards into the rough - just pickup your ball and play your next shot from the fairway along with them.  All rounds are practice rounds until you can break 100.

3.  Don't get mad, frustrated or upset when you hit bad shots.  Everybody was a beginner once - just laugh it off.

4.  Be extra nice but don't go crazy complimenting every shot everybody makes.

5.  Most importantly, don't forget that golf is fun and you're there to have fun.  If you do get paired with a jerk, don't let it bother you or keep you from trying again.  Chances of getting paired with a jerk is really 1 in 100 or less .. but they do exist.

[shockingslicer]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

To amplify my response above, IMHO, it would be a privilege to play with someone their first time out.

While not exactly the same thing as a golfer's first round, as a regular Sunday church guy who's Church is a "teaching" Church, over the last several years, I have had the privilege of hearing seven first-ever- sermons. I've heard nine throughout my life. Getting to see someone do something difficult, like golf, for the first time, is a privilege.

That such a nice thing to say , how enlightened you are my man , kudos and good  karma

[JCoop]

I played my first ever round on a golf course last year so this is all fresh in my mind.

It really is very helpful to play with an experienced friend the first couple of rounds. They'll be able to help you get through the seemingly intimidating parts of being a beginner. They'll also teach you a lot about golf etiquette. I remember last year when my buddy informed me that I had just committed the sin of walking on his line. I had no idea what that meant! (When on the green, you never walk over the imaginary line between someone's ball and the hole - go around). They can show you when and how to let somebody "play through", etc.

And definitely have fun! I'm still like a kid on Christmas morning every time I walk up to the first tee.

[lhrocker]

Thanx for all of the great advice.  I'm on vacation starting next week so I hope to play a couple of 9 hole courses that are about 10 minutes from my house.  They are supposed to be nice (Minerals and Cascades in Sussex County, NJ).  Lets see how this goes.

[phillyk]

I'd say this is the best time of the year to pick up golf, because you can go out at 6pm all by your lonesome and play as many balls as you like out on the course to practice and enjoy yourself, and still have 3hrs or so of sunlight, which can get you through a full 18 holes.  But, if your interested in playing with others, I'd suggest going out between 11 and 1, because at least in my experience, that is the lull time where more beginners play who are out more to have a good time versus get competitive.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by lhrocker

Thanx for all of the great advice.  I'm on vacation starting next week so I hope to play a couple of 9 hole courses that are about 10 minutes from my house.  They are supposed to be nice (Minerals and Cascades in Sussex County, NJ).  Lets see how this goes.

I've played Minerals a few times with guys in NJ I work with ... it's a nice, open course.     Have fun & bring a pocket full of cheap balls - can't be afraid to lose a few.   Most importantly, before you tee off, look around & see if there are any people on adjacent fairways - if you really hit one poorly, don't hesitate for a second to holler FORE at the top of your lungs - better to be liberal with the fore's than tight lipped.     The worst experience a beginner can have is coming close to hitting someone & not warning them...

[JerryTimes]

First time I went last year, which was the first time I'd played since I was a teenager, I went to a course during the week and I played the back nine.  It was slow and there wasn't anyone coming up and they let me start on the back.