First time golfing - any tips?
 

Hi all,
So, I'm going golfing for the first time on Monday. It's something that I've wanted to do for quite a while, and would have done last summer if not for a broken hand.

Any tips for a first-time golfer? I'm fairly good at picking up sports quickly, but I'm also a bit too competitive at things, so I'm worried I'll just frustrate myself.

Any and all hints are welcome.

Hey!
Are you taking a lesson or just heading out for a round? Either way, have fun! It's a beautiful game.

I'll come back and post more later but off the top of my head, the number one thing I can think of is: have patience. It looks deceptively easy but it can be really difficult, and I tend to be competitive and frustrate myself, too, so I understand what you mean by that. If you can be patient and think of it as a chance to practice and learn, you'll enjoy the game a lot more.

ditto! The game is VERY Frustrating, but a lot of fun. Remember to laugh when you make a stupid shot... because if you don't you'll throw your clubs or break them. :D

No lesson, I'm just playing. I was supposed to get lessons this summer, but the timing never worked out.

1. Don't grip the club too tight. It really doesn't take that much force to hold it.
2. Keep your eye on the ball and follow through with a complete swing.
3. Have some cash on you for the beer cart. It's nice when they bring beverages to you.

I would at least get to a driving range before then and hit a bucket of balls. Have you even done that before?

That's one thing I have done - I've been to the driving range a bunch, so I'm at least comfortable with that aspect. I've also had the tiniest bit of instruction from a friend of mine on each of the clubs, so I'm at least familiar with them.

Thanks everyone thus far, the advice is great.

You're probably fucked, to be perfectly honest - it depends on how many range sessions, etc.

Call me before you go - I'll be around all weekend, I'll give you more specific advice, but here's my common advice for first-timers (I've actually taught quite a few now, which is weird):

-Don't keep score (for yourself). At all. Just concentrate on advancing the ball the best you can. In fact, don't keep score for a little while.

-Do NOT worry about direction, just that you hit it hard. For example, you'll probably slice a few out there and hack a couple directly left or right. Don't worry about that - just get a feel for hitting it hard. Golf requires muscles you really don't have yet - they'll get there, but until then it'll be a little rough.

-For that same reason, don't worry about "keeping up" or hitting as far as long-time golfers. I'm at least 6 inches shorter than you and average about 265 off the tee, with the longest drives reaching 300 depending on conditions - this is purely because of back/leg muscles and timing. Again, you'll get there.

-Practice chipping/putting - about 70% of your shots will come from 100yds and in. Before the round, hit a couple of balls on the range if possible, but spend 2x that amount of time on the putting green. Trust me.

-Most of your shots will have little to no chance of reaching the green. Find two clubs you're comfortable with (say, a 5-wood and a 7-iron, for example) and use those when you don't have another clear shot. For instance, let's say you're 220 yards away. If you're in the fairway, hit the 5-wood, advance it as far as possible, then hit it again. If you're in the rough, hit the 7-iron, even if you'll still have between 50 and 100 yards left - that's fine, you'll feel (and score) better making a "smart" play to hit the ball better.

-Check your posture/grip/alignment often - use your partners for this. That's the easiest thing to drop during a round.

-Have a couple of beers - seriously, sometimes that little bit of relaxation is huge.

That's probably way too much to think about, but seriously, hit me up and I'll give some more specific stuff.

Make sure to tip the beer cart person

Thanks, that's all really good advice. I'll definitely give you a call if I get a chance before Monday. I've been to the range quite a bit (10+ times this summer, and a lot before that), but I figured that it wouldn't help out much, if at all.

You hit on most of the areas where I'm concerned, so at least I know those are rational worries.

I know it will be rough out there, but I'm just hoping it will be a "little rough," instead of "don't want to play again" rough.

DON'T LOOK UP WHEN YOU SWING!

My golf instructor used to yell at me for that...not literally, but you know what I mean lol

Hit at least 1 good ball... you'll be hooked no matter how many times you screw up during the entire 4-5 hr span.

I was going to say, take an ice chest of beer, but others have already advised that. Golf is such a frustrating game, my suggestion would be to go completely easy on yourself, don't criticize your play because it's gonna su**. You can't just pick it up like some sports and if you are athletic and used to playing well, you might lose your mind (or your cool!!).

Go out to enjoy the beautiful course and the gorgeous day! Just don't worry about the golf part;)

Don't throw clubs in the water, toward the cart, or at other players!!

NO LIE - a friend of ours was out playing and got frustrated and threw the club at his bag in the back of the cart. The club ricocheted off the cart, broke, and the sharp broken end came flying back and impaled him in the calf!!! He had to be carried into the club where there was (thankfully) a doctor that could stop the bleeding, it had severed a major vein. He ended up having to have surgery and was in the hospital for a couple of days.

Boy, he'll never live that one down;)!!

1. Don't swing too hard
2. Don't take advice from anyone who isn't really good (70's, under par, etc.)

This is one of my fears - as KSigRC can attest, while I'm by no means a great athlete, I can handle myself fairly well in a number of sports (i.e. I don't usually embarrass myself). I haven't tried a new sport in a long time, so I'll just have to get used to being terrible, at least for the short term (hopefully).

Drink lots, so you can play shitty on the last nine and blame it on the alcohol.