A typical round of golf that has 18 holes takes a little over four hours. Some courses may play faster and some slower depending on many different factors. It varies from about 3 1/2 – 5 hours.

My home course takes about 4 hours and I am happy when I can finish in the allotted or suggested timeframe. My friends down south in Florida play on a relatively flat course where riding carts are required. A typical round at their course takes 3 1/2 hours at most.

In my many years of playing golf, the fastest 18-hole round I played was 2 hours 40 minutes and that was me walking with a pushcart playing solo golf with no one ahead of me. The longest round I have played was in the 6-hour range and it was a long, slow day with a lot of waiting on the course.

There are many factors for the length of time which includes everything from the type and length of the golf course to how busy the course is for the day.

Factors That Affect How Long It Takes to Play an 18 Hole Round of Golf

Type of Golf Course

The type of golf course will absolutely affect the time it takes to play.

Courses that tend to be shorter in length and less challenging than a traditional 18 hole golf course will usually take a shorter amount of time to play.

These shorter courses include Par 3 and Executive golf courses. Par 3 courses have 9 holes and sometimes even a full 18 holes. Each hole is only a par 3. Executive golf courses have par 3’s, par 4’s, and maybe a par 5. These also only consist of 9 holes and are played twice to get an 18-hole round in.

These tend to be easier than a traditional 18 hole golf course, especially if the 18 hole course is a championship golf course.

If comparing public or municipal golf courses to private golf courses, many of the private courses will be longer in length, but not always.

You can look at the course scorecard to see the total number of yards each set of tees plays to get a good idea of the overall length.

Difficulty or Layout of the Golf Course

Even traditional 18 hole courses can vary in many ways including how challenging it plays. And this will have an effect on the time it takes to play.

Challenging courses will bring higher scores, more trouble, more hazards, and more lost balls which all contribute to more time on the course.

You can try to find out how challenging a course plays by the slope rating on the scorecard, but according to this Golf Digest article, the slope doesn’t really have any bearing on the pace of play.

It has more to do with the “playability” of the course as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

For example, are the holes surrounded by bunkers, are there fescue and trees where balls can get lost with narrow fairways?

If so, these all reduce playability and will likely increase the amount of time it takes to play at this particular course.

A few years ago with the new rules changes, the USGA and R&A decreased the official time to find lost golf balls from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. The reason for this change was to help decrease the amount of time golfers take to search and hunt for their lost golf ball. Hoping to help with the pace of play for all golfers.

Weather

Weather can impact the amount of time spent on a golf course. Hot temperatures might make for a slower round especially if walking or pushing a cart.

Rain and thunderstorms might cause delays or pauses in play as well. Sirens on a golf course will sound if there is lightning in the area bringing all golfers on the course back to the clubhouse until it is safe to play. This can cause a long delay as golfers are not allowed to head back out for at least 20 – 30 minutes after lightning has been observed.

Riding or Walking

Walkers pushing a cart are typically slower than golfers riding in carts.

Now, having said that – I admit there are some very fast golfers who push their cart and walk, especially on my course. But for the most part, riding in a cart will be a quicker round. It is why most charity tournaments or golfing events and tournaments might require riding carts to be used…to keep the pace of play moving and quicken up the time for all groups out on the course.

Hills, Mountains and Elevation

A course that is situated up in the mountains, has a good number of hills, or a good amount of elevation changes or elevated greens will play a lot longer. And especially if golfers are walking.

We just played an 18 hole golf course up in the mountains in Maine and the tee boxes were a good distance from the previous greens. Walking this course would have taken 6+ hours. Luckily, it was set up and designed to be a riding course and even with that, the standard pace for this course was a 4 1/2 hour round.

Ranger

Many golf courses especially public courses, will utilize rangers out on the course. A ranger’s main responsibility is to inform slow groups to pick up the pace. This helps to keep golfers moving along at a decent pace of play.

If a golf course utilizes a ranger to move things along, pace of play may be faster. If not, it could be a long round as one slower than usual group might start a backlog of waiting groups behind them. Especially on a busy weekend day or holiday.

Clocks on Carts

More and more golf courses are utilizing pace clocks on the digital screen of their riding carts. These screens show the time of day, the actual pace of play the group is on, and whether you are ahead of schedule or behind schedule, and by how much.

When golfers are out on a course for a 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 hour round, it can be hard to know whether they are on pace. The only way is by keeping up with the group in front of them and making sure the group behind is not waiting an exceptionally long time.

However, these clocks that track pace are a great way to help golfers be alerted if they are on pace or not.

Planning to Play? Don’t Forget to Factor in Other Time Factors When Playing Golf

Besides the actual time it takes to play a round of golf, it is important to factor in additional time. This is why golf can be a full-day affair.

My most recent round of golf was a 9 hour day from the time we left our house to the time we returned.

This included travel time to and from the course, pre-round preparation, actual playing time, and dinner. We were tired and happy when we got home, but it was a long day.

1. Travel time to and from the golf course.

Don’t forget to account for the time it takes to travel to and from the golf course.

2. Pre-round preparation and practice.

Golfers typically like to arrive 30 minutes to an hour early to do all their pre-round preparation, socializing and warm-up needed before playing their round. This might include getting their bag situated, grabbing all their needed items, checking in at the pro shop, and hitting a few balls at the range, or putting green.

3. 19th hole

Many golfers enjoy kicking back and socializing at the 19th hole after their round for a few beverages and snacks or might even stay longer to grab a meal like lunch or dinner.

With these additional time factors, it would be a good idea to plan for upwards of at least 5 – 6 hours for your day of playing golf.

Other Related Posts:

Which Tee Box Should You Play From?

Golf Etiquette Guide for Beginners

Golf For Beginners – How to Get Started

How to Know What Club to Use on the Golf Course

How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf?

The post How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf? appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

It used to be that many courses had two, maybe three different tee boxes – back, middle, and forward tees. Some golfers still refer to these as men’s or ladies’ tees, or by their different colors, like blue, white, and red tees.

Over the last decade, there has been a push for golf courses to add additional tee boxes and more playing options for all golfers. Why? For the purpose of more golf enjoyment overall.

As courses add these additional tees, it can be confusing to know which tees to actually hit from.

How do you choose which set of tee boxes to play?

Let’s first look at the reason for having and needing different tee boxes.

Golf Courses Adding More Tee Boxes

In 2011, the PGA and USGA came out with Tee it Forward which was a “new national initiative to be conducted at golf facilities nationwide encouraging all golfers to play the course at a length that is aligned with their average driving distance”. (link)

It now seems to be a growing trend among golf courses – to add new tee forward tee boxes. Though some are adding an option to play a hole longer, the majority of courses are adding a whole set of forward tees and thus, shortening the course for more playability.

My home golf course, a traditional New England Donald Ross-designed course is rather challenging with many protected and elevated greens. Throw in the fact that the course used to play especially long from the forward tees at just over 5500 yards.

I was excited when my club added a new set of forward tees, which shortened the course by over 600 yards. This new tee box plays at 4900 yards.

The first few times I played from these new tees, I realized that I could actually reach the green on many holes in two, which made playing the game much more fun.

And it is not just a benefit for women. Today I often see new golfers, women, seniors, kids and families using these tees.

The Importance of Playing From the Right Tee Boxes or Distances

Beth Ann Nichols of Golf Week wrote a very interesting article about women’s professional golfers, their distances, and how setting up golf courses with the appropriate distance from the tee box can impact not only the viewership of women’s golf but the overall enjoyment of playing the game for everyone.

Midway through her article, she mentions a few golf courses and individuals who have done much work on spreading the word and continue to spearhead this initiative.

Golf Course Designer and Landscape Architect, Jan Bel Jan, has been a fierce proponent over the years of designing golf courses with appropriate tee box setups and accessibility that account for all golfers. She speaks nationally on the topic of “Setting Up Golf Courses for Success”. Golf course owners and operators are realizing that they can increase their overall participation and business by offering more teeing and golfing options for all types of recreational and amateur golfers.

Which Set of Tees Should I Be Playing From?

Based on the amount of distance that a golfer hits their drive or other shots, it is best to play from a tee box that will allow you to play the course as it was meant to be played.

This means at par.

Think of how much more fun it would be to play a hole that you can make the green in 2 shots versus a long course where you always have to hit 3 or 4 shots just to reach the green. 

Each golfer has to look at their own golf game to determine the best set of tees to play from. And it pretty much comes down to your distance. Some like to use driving distance, but I recently saw a calculation based on using the 5 iron as well.

Both methods provided me with a very similar overall course distance.

Determining the Best Tees To Play

Here’s the way to calculate your distance.

Method 1

Athletic_Motion_Golf posted an Instagram post with a calculation that got many in the golf world buzzing. The formula uses a golfer’s distance with a 5 iron to calculate the overall course distance that you should be playing from.

Multiply your 5 iron distance by the number 36.

I hit my 5 iron about 135 yards. Using this calculation, 135 x 36 = 4860 yards. I should be playing from a tee box that is about 4900 yards. Interestingly, the new forward tee box that was added at my home course brought the overall course distance from 5500 to 4900. Hmmm, maybe they did their research when designing these new tees!

Method 2

This method uses the PGA and USGA Tee It Forward initiative and information that they provided to golf courses around the country.

The following chart is what was included in this campaign to make courses and golfers more aware of where they were teeing off from.

My average drive is about 180 yards. Using this method and the chart above, it is showing that I should be playing a course that is between 4600 to 5200 yards, which puts me right at 4800, maybe 4900 yards.

Interesting. Pretty much the same result.

The most fun I have is playing from our more forward tees these days. There is a nice mix of long and shorter reachable par 3’s, par 4’s and par 5’s which still makes the course challenging and interesting to play.

Course Distance for the Average Woman Golfer

Using the statistics from a post I wrote on the average golf club distances for women, let’s see what the average course distance should be for a recreational female golfer who drives the golf ball 150 yards.

Using Method 1 above, the best tee box or overall course distance should be between 3500 – 3700 yards. Using Method 2, the average 5 iron distance was calculated at 105 yards. This puts the course distance at about 3780 yards.

Since I am used to playing a longer course, (1700 yards longer than this and now is still 1100 yards longer), this calculated distance seems very short to me. But, because of the 150-yard drive, it is calculating the correct distance.

Interestingly, as I ponder this more, many of the female golfers I play with are all excellent at their short game and approach shots from 75 yards in!

We can look more at this in detail.

Factors to Keep In Mind About Choosing Which Tees to Use

Looking at the Numbers

Golfers that can drive 280 yards are going to play a completely different game than someone who drives their ball 160 yards. Unless they are playing from tee boxes that match their distances. 

Playing a par 4 hole that is 340 yards from the tee box is quite long for the golfer who drives their ball 160 yards.

Using their driver, then a second shot at 130 yards, they will still be 50 yards short of the green and won’t even come close to reaching the green in two as the course was designed. An approach shot will always be needed.

However, if the course offers a forward tee that is 280 yards to the hole, this same par 4 green is now reachable in two shots and this golfer now has the opportunity at making a par.

Fun! 

Combo Tees

Some golf courses are also becoming more creative with their standard tee boxes by combining or creating what are called combo tees.

For example, let’s say a course has blue, white, yellow, and red tee boxes. Red being the most forward and blue being the furthest back. A golf course may have 4 different tee boxes, however, they could offer 7 different options by combining different tee boxes.

Like blue/white, white/yellow, and yellow/red tees. The course scorecard shows where a golfer tees to tee off from on each hole. And each set of combo tees have their own course rating and slope.

Tee Boxes Used in Competition

If you are competing in a tournament, golfers typically don’t have the choice to choose their tee box. The rules will state where to tee off. Sometimes these may differ depending on the level of play as well as the age and gender. Casual tournament play might offer more flexibility.

Playing Partners & Playing From Different Tee Boxes

Don’t worry about your playing partners and where they are teeing off from. When I play with my husband and his friends or my golfing partners, I just let them know which tees I am going to play that day.

I feel like it is better for my game to tee off where I am most comfortable playing.

When my husband and I play from our respective tees, it levels the playing field and we can compete against each other. Sometimes I do outdrive my husband! Since he hits a much longer second shot than I do, it equals out in the long run.

Which Tee Box Should I Use as a New Golfer?

If you are new to golf, it is important to play from the appropriate tees for your game as well. My suggestion is to tee it up as close as you can to the hole. Most new golfers aren’t going to be very consistent in their distances and will appreciate as much advantage as they can get. Your playing partners won’t mind either especially if it makes golf less frustrating and more fun for you.

Some golf courses offer junior and family tees with special tee markers set up in the fairway to help new golfers, juniors, kids and families. This made a huge difference when we were teaching our children the game. Ask the pro shop or starter when you tee off if there are family tees out on the course. If there aren’t any, you can always create your own and tee it up in the fairway. If you want to start keeping an official score for a tournament or handicap purposes, then it makes sense to tee off from the designated tee boxes.

The Benefits of Playing From the Correct Tees

Playing from a tee box that is too long can be frustrating and even exhausting. Teeing it up closer can help keep golfers motivated and feeling good about their game, which is very important to all levels of golfers. Here are a few interesting precentages taken from the survey on the USGA Tee It Forward page.

Changing It Up – Playing From Different Tee Boxes

I do want to mention that it is ok to change it up and play different tee boxes from time to time. If I am out playing alone or practicing for a tournament, I still do like to play from the longer tees because they provide a challenge.

It helps to work on different aspects of the golf game.  If I have two well-hit shots (a drive and fairway wood), I’ll likely still need to hit an approach shot onto the green from 100 yards in or less. Playing from a longer tee box helps me practice not only fairway shots, but also my short game and up and downs.

Play the Tees That Will Provide the Most Enjoyable Experience

Remember that golf is supposed to be both challenging and rewarding. Think about this the next time you are heading out to the first tee and be sure to use the methods above to see if you are playing from the best tees for your game and distance.

Noone wants golf to be frustrating or more exhausting than it already is. It should be fun! Choosing to play from the most appropriate tees for your game is going to give you a lot more enjoyment in your rounds.

Related Posts:

Golf Club Distances for Women

Club Selection – How to Choose the Right Club on the Course

The post Which Tee Box Should You Play? appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

Finding other women at your level can be a challenge once you start learning and become interested in playing the game of golf. 

Statistics from the National Golf Federation state that only 23% of all golfers are female which means that there are fewer of us that actually play golf.  

But the good news is that these days, the industry is providing many more opportunities for women and girls to play than when I started – back 25 years ago or so. 

Helpful Tips for Finding Other Golfers

Here are some of my personal tips from experience on where to find other golfers:

1. Check with your local golf course or club for beginner clinics, ladies nights, or social/golf events. These provide a wonderful way to meet others at the same level and can be fun and less intimidating.
2. Ask the golf instructor if they know of any other beginners that you can connect with. 
3. If you have some experience and want to play on the course, join a ladies league or a co-ed league. You’ll see either 18 hole leagues and 9 hole leagues. From my experience, the 18 hole leagues are typically more competitive than the 9 hole leagues. Ask the pro shop or contact the person in charge and ask questions before joining to get a feel for the group as some may also require handicaps.
4. Try the Meetup App for social golf groups. If there are none in your area, try adding your own group and see if anyone joins.
5. Join the Beginner Golf for Women Facebook Group. We’re now over 3,200 members from all over the world and continue to grow every day. It is wonderful seeing the connections that are being made within the group as well as all the helpful tips, inspiration, and support shared by the members. 
6. Invite a few friends out to learn and play with you. To continue on my own mission to help provide support and opportunities for golfers (especially women), I invited a group of my paddle tennis friends out to the golf course just this past week. Many were somewhat new to the game and play maybe a few times each year, but are interested in playing more. Sometimes all it takes is providing the opportunity to play and people will join you!

Over the years, though it was hard, I made it a priority to keep playing (even if only a few times a year when the kids were young). I am grateful for the fact that I continued my golf journey. I was open to playing with many different people and along the way I have met some amazing men and women who I had the chance to play golf with. 

If this is a challenge for you in your golf game, keep at it and keep trying. You’ll eventually find others. They are out there, don’t give up!

The following is a list of women’s golf organizations.  Check it out as there may be a local chapter near you.

The LIST of Women’s Golf Organizations – Where Women and Girls Can Learn and Play Golf

1. American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)

The AJGA is a golf organization for young women and men aged 12 – 19 years old.  They offer competitive matches and tournaments for juniors and help prepare them for high school and college level golf.  They are “dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf”.

2. Fore The Ladies

This group is new to the industry but has been in the news a lot lately.  They are on a mission to bring women together and try the game of golf in a fun and social environment.  Many of their events include swing clinics, closest to the pin and longest drive competitions, golf yoga, putting tips and instruction as well as lots of giveaways and goodies.  Introducing golf in these fun environments is a great way to get more women exposed to the game. They have hosted a handful of events and clinics around the country and are adding events throughout the year. 

3. LPGA Amateur Golf Association

This is the longest-standing continuous women’s sports membership organization in the world.  It is 45,000 members strong. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association has locations in 110 cities in the US and Internationally and continues to grow.  They offer clinics, instruction, events, and opportunities to compete for women who are passionate about golf. They provide a place for women to “connect, learn, play and belong”.  Though they have local chapters, they also have opportunities to play on a national level.  

4. LPGA * USGA Girls Golf

Girls Golf is a partnership between the LPGA Foundation and the USGA.  It is a national junior golf program that is “aimed at introducing girls to the game of golf and empowering them with confidence, friendships, and life skills”.  Founded 30 years ago, the organization, an impressive 500,000 girls have participated in their programs. Their newest campaign, called #driveon, is to motivate girls to think big and to follow their dreams and passions.  

5. State Golf Associations

In my state, we have the Massachusetts Golf Association or Mass Golf, that offers an array of playing opportunities from a beginner level all the way to a very high competitive level.  If you go to your states’ website, you may find a wide range of tournaments, matches, and social rounds. This can include anything from mixed golf scotch play to best ball pairs events and individual competitive tournaments for golfers of all levels. A really nice benefit I noticed is access to play private courses that are usually not open to the public unless you have a membership or a personal or business connection.

6. TopGolf and Other Indoor Simulators

TopGolf and other indoor simulators have exploded over the last several years.  Not only is it a great way to delve into golf as a first-timer, but it is also a great place to practice.  It takes away the intimidation factor of golf. Playing on a golf course, having to learn the rules and etiquette of the game can be a big challenge in learning the game. TopGolf can be a wonderful way to get your feet wet or dabble in golf before you even have to play on an actual course. It is really popular because anyone can participate, and it is social and fun – bringing all golfers at any level together.  There are currently over 55 locations (mostly in the US, but also in the U.K. and Australia) and they are still expanding. 

7. Twilight Golf Association

The Twilight Golf Association was created to provide a way for anyone to play, no matter what gender or age.  It is a weekly golf league with individual play within a team competition. Kids can join with their mom, dad or grandparent.  Husbands and wives can play together. Or if you are a single player, you will be able to easily find a group or a team that you can be assigned to.  Currently, there are over 100 golf courses that participate in the Twilight Golf Association and are located in 14 different states.  

8. Women on Course

Women on Course is based in the US and has been around for almost 14 years.  They provide opportunities for women to play golf for all levels. Whether you are a beginner and want to learn the rules, etiquette, and golf swing or want to play around socially with other women.  The organization hosts events in 15 different regions around the US and is actively growing.  From experience, the group is more social than competitive as their tag line on their website reads “Golf, Wine, Travel” and much of their focus is on networking and building relationships in a golf setting.   If you have ever thought about going on a ladies’ golf trip, Women on Course provides several fun social trips a year to beautiful golf destinations.  I have a more extensive post here on the organization.

9. The First Tee 

Golf enthusiasts, coaches, and instructors volunteer their time to help with the First Tee organization.  It was established as a way to bring golf to our youth. It is not just a national organization in all 50 states of the US, it is now located in 6 international locations as well.  Started over 22 years ago, they not only teach golf to the younger generation of kids but they use golf as a way to provide other life skills like character education and youth development.  

10. United States Golf Association (USGA)

The first interaction that many individuals have with the USGA is through the rules of golf and earning their first golf index or handicap.  The USGA is the governing body of golf in the US and they run a large number of amateur golf tournaments in addition to all the U.S. Open tournaments.  When heading to their website, it can be a bit overwhelming because of all they are responsible for. But, if you are interested in playing in any of the US Amateur Golf tournaments, this is the organization that you will need to be a member of. 

11. Youth on Course

Girls and boys ages 6 – 19 can play golf for less than $5 a round (9 holes) and on some days as low as $1.  There are 1200 participating golf courses in 34 regions around the US and Canada. And a robust membership of 70,000+ members.  This amazing organization provides high school internships, a caddie program, and funds college scholarships to collegiate golfers and is funded through sponsorships and donations.   

12. Women on Par Program

Women on Par is offered to golf clubs and courses and is part of England Golf.  The program helps golf clubs all across the UK in providing women’s golf clinics and events that are fun and exciting.  

13. Girls Golf Rocks 

Girls Golf Rocks is another program offered by England Golf but is focused on girls golf and the youth.  Over 200 golf clubs around England have applied to participate in this wonderful program providing girls golf instruction and introducing them to the game.  

Find out on England Golf’s website to see which clubs may be offering these golf programs.  

14. Love.Golf

Based in Sweden, but expanding to the UK and more recently, Canada.  Love.Golf is an amazing concept and a wonderful resource for women wanting to learn the game and improve.  It is an entirely new and different perspective on teaching the game. Many times golf can be a very intimidating game to learn.  Veering away from the standard practice of teaching the golf swing on the golf range, it takes a more broad perspective of the game and has more of a hands-on approach to learning and teaching on the actual golf course. 

In my experience of almost 30 years of playing golf, finding the right group and having the oportunity to play has been the key factor in continuing my golf journey.  So, I hope this list of Women’s Golf Organizations can help you as well.  I know there are many more groups out there and this list can be expanded so if you know of any that should be added, please comment below and I can add them as an ongoing list and resource for those looking.  

Related Posts:

Golf For Beginners – 7 Easy Steps How to Get StartedGolf in Business – Building Business Relationships

10 Reasons Why You Should Play Golf

Basic Golf Terms for Beginners

Top Women’s Golf Organizations – Find Other Women to Play Golf With

The post Top Women’s Golf Organizations – Find Out Where to Play! appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

One of the most complex and unique things about the game of golf is “golf etiquette”. And it is one BIG reason why golf is can be a challenge to learn.

So, let’s make this easier on you.

While etiquette is typically learned out on the golf course, why not read through some of it ahead of time? I’ve listed 19 etiquette tips for golf to help you get a head start.

1. Proper Golf Dress Code

There are specific items of clothing that you need to conform to while playing golf. Golf comes from very traditional roots and some of these same traditions are still around today.

However, golf is being played and enjoyed in increasing numbers. Expect to see different levels of strictness at the various golfing venues and courses. With the addition of more entertainment style practice ranges, and facilities, you won’t see the stricter dress codes here. Definitely more casual and low key.

However, if you head out on a golf course, you may see more dress codes being enforced. Typically, looser guidelines might be seen at par 3, executive or public courses. Stricter dress codes are usually observed at private exclusive golf clubs. Be sure to call the course before you arrive to see what the dress code is. The worst thing that can happen is they won’t allow you to play or you might have to purchase an item to two in the Pro Shop. Something that adheres to the dress code.

For women, typical golf attire includes a skirt, skort, shorts or pants, a golf shirt with a collar. For men, it would include a pair of knee-length shorts or golf pants and a collared shirt. In the past, the collared shirt was the most enforced part of the dress code. Today, it is still important but it is becoming more and more relaxed at some courses.

Most golf courses don’t have a requirement for golf shoes except that metal spikes are no longer allowed on golf courses or in clubhouses. The reason is that these metal spikes can cause a lot of damage to the greens, course, and inside flooring. Other optional accessories that are highly recommended as part of the golf attire include a golf glove, hat and sunglasses.

2. Be Punctual for the Scheduled Tee Time

A tee time is the scheduled time for your group to tee off on the first tee. You’ll see times like 12:12 pm or 2:24 pm because tee times are calculated to allow for a specific number of minutes between groups. Usually it’s something like 12 – 15 minutes between each grouping or tee time.

The last thing you want is to be late for your scheduled tee time. Some courses may not even let you go out if you miss it by even 5 minutes as it can back up the rest of the groups that day.

Be sure to arrive earlier than your scheduled tee time. It is best to arrive with enough time to practice at the range, putt, use the restroom, and get your clubs and bag ready.

It is typical to be waiting and ready to tee off at least 5 minutes before your scheduled tee time. This means you are checked in with the Starter, the glove is on, a tee and ball are in hand, and you are waiting at the first tee or waiting for the Starter to give you the signal to go ahead.

3. Keeping Pace of Play

Pace of play in golf is very important.

Let me say this again. Pace of Play is really important.

What this means is that you need to constantly be moving ahead towards the green or the next hole. Keeping up with the group in front of you is a good indicator of keeping pace. A typical round of 18 holes takes about 4 hours. 9 holes takes 2 hours. Some courses may even be less depending on the golf course.

Plan for about 15 minutes per hole except for the par 3’s, which should take less time.

Golf can be a long day and if you are following a group in front of you that is very slow, it can irk the most patient of players.

Sometimes it can be hard to know how fast or slow you are playing, but if you are keeping up with the group in front of you, then you are good.

Alternatively, if you look back and the group behind you is constantly waiting around, and the group in front of you is nowhere to be found or has moved ahead, you’ll want to pick up the pace or let the group behind you “play through”. This allows the group behind to move ahead of you and play through your group on a particular hole while you wait for them to play that hole.

This works well if you want to take your time. Just beware that there may be more groups behind them and if you keep letting groups play through, it can be distracting to your game and a lot of waiting on your end.

Sometimes, it might be better to pick up the pace of play.

4. Quiet, Please

While it can be very social during a round, golf is actually a quiet and respectful game allowing individuals to focus while hitting the ball. You must be as quiet as possible during someone’s golf shot or while they are setting up to hit their ball (includes the practice swings).

Talking in someone’s backswing is not a good thing and a big no-no. This also means no fiddling in your bag or whispering to another golfer during this time. Yelling, screaming, or playing loud music is not something that is done on the golf course. The only time you hear someone yelling loudly might be at a big professional golf tournament (after the ball is hit) or when someone is yelling FORE!

5. FORE!

If you hear “FORE” being yelled, you must duck and cover your head. It means an incoming golf ball has been hit towards someone and that could be you.

A golf ball can be very dangerous as it is very hard and compact. If a golf ball hits you on the head, it has the potential of giving you a concussion and knocking you out. Be very careful and mindful of where people are located.

If you accidentally hit a golf ball towards a group of people, it is your responsibility to yell FORE as loud as you can to warn and protect them from being hit. If you have a group in front of you that you have caught up to, you need to wait to take any shots until they are out of range. It is very dangerous to “hit into them” and disrespectful.

6. Order of Hitting

According to the rules of golf, the person who is furthest away from the pin or the hole hits first.

This is the safest way to play so people aren’t standing in front of other hitting their balls on the course.

The only time this doesn’t apply is on the tee box for each hole. The golfer who had the lowest number of strokes on the previous hole officially has the “honors” to tee the ball first.

To speed up the game, some groups might play what is called “ready golf”. This means simply whoever is ready to hit can tee off. This helps speed up the pace of play.

7. Where To Stand in Golf

Standing too close to a golfer while they are swinging or in someone’s line of sight is not good for several reasons. For safety’s sake, standing too close is dangerous. Make sure you are standing far enough away from someone when they are hitting their ball and while they are taking practice swings.

It is also distracting to stand in someone’s line of sight as they are hitting their golf ball. Line of sight is anywhere they can see you in their backswing, peripheral vision or in front of your line like on the putting green.

8. Walking In Someone’s Line

Walking in someone’s line is typically referred to on the putting green. Even a footprint may have an effect on the roll of the golf ball. The “line” is the invisible line between a golf ball and the hole. It is best to walk around the golf ball or ball marker and the hole. If you must walk through, make sure to gingerly step over the invisible line and avoid walking directly on the line.

9. Marking Your Ball on the Green

When your ball lands on the green, you will need to “mark your ball” with a ball marker. Many courses will have ball markers for sale or available, or you can use a coin or something fun as long as it is flat. Marking a golf ball is proper etiquette on the putting green. Balls left on the green while others are putting can be distracting and may be in someone else’s line.

To mark a golf ball, place the ball marker just behind the ball without moving the ball until it is down. Once the marker has been placed, you can pick up your golf ball and clean it off. When your ball is furthest away from the hole, it is your turn. Place your ball down at the same spot in front of the marker as it laid before you picked it up. Here’s a great video on how to mark your ball.

10. Tending the Pin and Pin Etiquette

The rules of golf by the USGA and R&A made big changes over the last several years. Many of them were enacted to help speed up the game. One of the rules used to be that a golfer would be penalized if they putted from the green with the pin in the hole and it was not being tended. Tended means that someone needs to have their hand on the flagstick ready to pull it out if the ball went in the hole.

According to the new rules, a golfer has the option to leave the pin in the hole when putting from the green and there is no penalty for leaving it in untended. What to keep in mind is that when taking the pin out of the hole, be sure to not damage the grass around the hole. And lay the flagstick down far enough away from rolling putts. And don’t forget to put the flag stick back in the hole before leaving the green!

11. Repairing the Course to the Way You Found It

This one is about respecting the golf course. We learn this as children – to leave something the way we found it. In golf this means if you take a divot or leave marks in the fairway, the green or the tee box, we must remember to fix it as best as possible.

In the fairway or tee box, it is proper etiquette to replace your divots if possible. Find the clump of grass that came off when hitting your shot and replace it back to the divot it came from. Some courses have containers with a seed mixture that you just sprinkle on top of any divots. You can find these seed mixtures on the sides on riding carts and sometimes next to tee box markers.

On the putting green, a ball mark or pitch mark is what is typically seen. These are the little welts or indentations in the putting green surface. It is our responsibility and job as golfers to respect the course and repair these ball marks. If they aren’t fixed right away, these welts and marks tend to turn brown and can also leave greens pretty chewed up in the long run.

The best method is to use a repair tool to properly fix these marks. This video shows the proper way.

12. Bunkers or Sandtraps

This is more of a rule, but important to mention. When your ball lands in a bunker or sand trap, you can not perform a practice shot that touches the sand with your club at address prior to hitting your shot. If you do so, it can lead to a penalty stroke in your score.

Golf etiquette in bunkers means raking the sand trap after you hit your ball out of the bunker. You must rake the divot where your ball was as well as any footprints in the sand that you made. Leaving it as best you can for the next golfer who ends up there. No one wants their ball to land in a footprint or divot from someone else’s shot.

When you are done, you should leave the sand rake somewhere along the outside of the bunker. Do not leave the rake in the bunker.

13. What to Say on the Golf Course – Power of Positivity

What are you supposed to say after someone hits their golf shot. Usually it is something like:

“great shot”, “good ball”, “nice one”.

Anything that is positive is good. Unless you have that relationship with someone and want to give them a hard time. But typically that doesn’t go over all that well with anyone.

So, what do you say if someone has a poor shot? Nothing really. Quiet is good. Every now and then I’ll say something like, “you’re safe” or “not in trouble”, etc. But sometimes whatever you say might trigger something. Most golfers when they have a poor shot already have enough negative stuff in their head and might be sensitive to someone else’s negative comments.

14. Riding Cart Etiquette

Respecting the golf course is a big thing. Superintendents and maintenance crews spend a lot of time trying to keep a golf course in good condition.

When riding in a golf cart see if there are any rules for the day. It might be that carts need to “stay on the cart path”. This means that you can not drive the carts on the fairways or any parts of the grass.

Typically this happens when there has been a lot of rain that day or the day before. Carts might tear up the course and do harm to the fairways.

Also, be sure to follow the “cart” signs.

These signs are usually up closer to the green and have arrows pointing to which direction to go. In most cases, you’ll see a cart path to follow around the green to park. The signs tell golfers to not drive their riding carts beyond this point.

Cart etiquette includes driving respectfully and being careful not to tear up the course. Beware of cars on roads if you need to cross any and other drivers or golfers.

And finally, do not drive up ahead in front of someone who is hitting their shot. This can be dangerous and it is disrespectful. It is best to stay at or just back from the person hitting.

15. Push Cart Etiquette

Pushcarts can be rolled pretty much anywhere on the course except for the green or bunkers. They are a great addition to golf because instead of having to carry your golf clubs on your back or riding in a cart, golfers can walk, push their cart and still get exercise.

There are some tips on course management from a perspective of where to put your pushcart. As you approach the green on any given hole, think about where the next hole is located and park your pushcart on that side of the green if possible. That way when you come off the green, your pushcart is already there and you don’t waste time crossing over the green while the group behind you is waiting.

Also make sure your pushcart isn’t too close to you while you are taking your shot or too close to your playing partners and their line of sight.

16. Golf Ball Etiquette

White golf balls used to be the only ball you could find. Colors in all different varieties are now available which make it a lot easier to identify a golf ball you are playing.

Many golfers mark their golf balls with a permanent marker with some sort of unique pattern or line. This is to help identify their ball when it is out on the course or to help them line up their putts. Both are allowed in the game of golf. Being able to identify your specific golf ball can eliminate confusion and potential penalty strokes (hitting someone else’s ball).

After you hit your shot, be sure to watch the ball actually land and stop so you know where to go for your next shot. This is easy to do if your ball is in the fairway. Harder if you are near the woods or in thick rough. After you see the ball stop, pick a landmark that you can use to help locate the ball when you get up closer.

The worst is if you can’t remember where you hit it. It happens a lot as a beginner.

The time allotted now to finding a lost golf ball is 3 minutes. This helps with the pace of play. If you lose a ball, it is ok to hunt around for it just don’t spend a lot of time or the pace will slow considerably. This is why it is really important to keep an eye on your ball as it lands and stops so you can find it faster when it is your turn.

It is good etiquette to help others find their ball as well as long as you are not up next to hit. If that’s the case, hit first then go help.

Always think about the pace of play.

A quick note: this gets more into the actual “rules” of golf, but if your ball is lost in a penalty area (water) you can take a drop along the path where it went in. If your ball is lost in a non-penalty area, the rule is to hit from the same spot you just hit from previously.

If you think it might be lost just after you hit, save time by hitting a provisional ball from the same spot and just tell everyone “this is a provisional” in case you can’t find your ball. This will save a lot of time than having to go back to this original spot later on.

17. Honor and Honesty in Golf

After you start playing on a golf course, you’ll be responsible for counting your strokes or the number of shots you hit on any given hole.

You then mark this number on your scorecard for that hole. Golf is all about honesty and honor. This means thinking back and making sure you count every stroke (mostly for competition or if you are trying to create a handicap for yourself). There are a number of ways to keep track of your strokes. There are apps on phones as well as bead or stroke counters you can find online.

18. Good Sportsmanship

Golf is all about tradition and respect. It is not a good thing to hear people swearing or going off on their golf game or their club.

Being around people who get worked up and angry because of a poor shot can be somewhat offputting and awkward. Golf teaches us many things, just like in life. Keeping our emotions in check is important and, definitely hard to do.

We all experience these strong emotions while playing golf. Try to shake it off and move on to the next shot or hole when you get frustrated. Be humble when you win and a good sport when you lose. Be positive and supportive with other’s shots.

On the green, when someone putts really close to the hole, you can let your partner “have it” or tell them “it’s good” or “take it away”. This means they don’t have to actually putt the ball into the hole. This is called a “gimme” in golf.

After the round, it is customary to shake your partner’s hand. And thank them for a great round or a great day on the course. Then you head to the 19th hole for some socializing.

19. Golf’s 19th Hole

After a round of golf, it is so fun to head to the 19th hole. The bar or restaurant located at the golf course. It’s now time to socialize, reminisce and relax after playing golf. A reward for a day out on the golf course. This is one of my favorite ways to end a great day of golf with friends.

In Closing

Just remember, there is a lot to know with golf etiquette when playing golf. Noone expects you to know it all in the beginning. We all had to learn it as beginners. You’ll start to remember through playing and repetition and making mistakes too.

Most partners you are playing with will be fairly lenient and helpful in explaining etiquette and rules especially if you are new to golf.

But, if you just read through these important etiquette tips, you will be in great shape for your round.

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Golf Etiquette 101 for Beginner Golfers

The post Golf Etiquette Guide for Beginner Golfers appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

With so many options in golf clubs these days, a very big question has become “should I be using irons or hybrids?” and “what is the difference?”.

It really depends on a number of factors. Namely, how you hit them and the results they provide to you personally.

The reason I mention this first is that every golfer is different and has their own unique swing. Because of this, they are going to get a different result and feel from their various clubs. And with hybrids and irons being so different in their design and purpose, everyone is going to have a different experience with them.

For example, I tend to sweep the grass in my golf swing, rather than hitting down on them. For this reason, I tend to hit my hybrids really well compared to my longer irons. Yet, I have friends who love their irons and will only use a hybrid for distances longer than 150 yards in place of a 3 iron, which is harder to hit.

In this post, I’ll cover other factors to think about when deciding which club to use or to carry in your bag.

How Are Hybrids and Irons Different?

Let’s look first at how hybrids and irons are designed differently and what their purpose originally was and build from there.

History

Irons or what they used to call blades have been around for quite some time in golf history and historically, have been the most versatile and most used club in your bag. It can be hit from anywhere on the golf course. Off the tee, in the fairway, from the rough, and as an approach shot onto the green.

The hybrid only came out around 30-40 years ago as a utility club, giving a golfer another option to help them get out of trouble areas on the golf course. When they first came out, a golfer might have carried one of these utility clubs to save some strokes.

Today, you can find hybrids to replace any one of your irons, as well as full hybrid sets or combination sets comprised of both irons and hybrids. The choices are endless.

Design Differences

The designs of both types of clubs are extremely different in how they look, feel, and how they are hit.

Whereas irons are made of a hard metal material, have a thinner bladelike clubhead to help golfers hit down into the ground and take a divot, hybrids are fuller and look like a smaller half size version of a fairway wood and are meant more for hitting and sweeping the ground.

Iron Design

Irons are designed to provide a clean, accurate high golf shot with a good amount of spin. With the number of irons in a golf bag, a golfer can pick and choose their distance accordingly.

Long irons (low numbered like 1, 2, and 3 irons) have always been much harder to hit as they are designed to produce more distance, but less lift in the air. These are not forgiving clubs meaning it is easy to skull or mishit these clubs.

Hybrid Design

Hybrids were originally designed to be easier and more forgiving to hit, thus being referred to as a “rescue” club. The weighting and center of gravity of the bulb-like clubhead in a hybrid is designed to be heavier farther back in the clubhead, producing a more forgiving and higher launch.

Today, golfers can choose to carry as many hybrids as they want. Hybrids are offered in the same numbered clubs as irons. I would say the majority of golfers carry at least one hybrid and many carry even more because of how easy they are to hit especially for the average recreational or weekend golfer.

Why Should You Use Both Hybrids and Irons in Your Golf Game?

With 14 clubs allowed in your golf bag, it is best to carry at least one hybrid. The reason is that they are meant to help your game. They are truly a utility or rescue club that can help you in certain situations on the golf course.

Professionals on tour prefer to use their irons, but like to have a hybrid or 2 in the bag as an option. Since these players are pin hunting and need to be exact, they may find a situation where they need to fly a ball up over a tall tree and land softly on the green. A hybrid may be the perfect answer for this.

Lower handicap players may still use their irons, but replace their 3 iron with a 2 or 3 hybrid.

Why? Because hybrids are easier to hit and can help the ball get into the air.

But hybrids aren’t just a replacement for long irons. As I mentioned, I carry more hybrids than irons in my bag. I haven’t gone all hybrids though, as I like to still use my 8 and 9 iron for approach shots onto the green. Even if you prefer to hit irons, it is still smart to carry at least 1 or 2 hybrids to give you more choices and options on the course.

When Should You Use a Hybrid or an Iron?

Let’s now look at some different situations of when to use a hybrid versus an iron. There are many factors to consider when thinking about your next shot, what result you want and which club will get you the best results.

Best Scenarios To Use an Iron

• If you have a fast swing speed, then it might suit you better to hit irons as you can get more spin and loft on the ball.

• If you hit down on the ball as you should with an iron, and do this well, then irons are a good option for you.

• If you can create and need backspin on your approach shots on the green, good to use an iron.

• If there is a lot of wind, a lower lofted long iron that doesn’t go as high but can cut through the wind would be good to use.

• When the rough is really thick and high, an iron can help cut through the thickness of the rough.

• If you have a 100 yards in fairway bunker shot with a medium lip, you could use an iron.

• If you have a 40 yard or less chip shot, you could use an iron to chip and run the ball onto the green as long as there aren’t any hazards or penalty areas in the way.

Best Scenarios To Use a Hybrid

• If you have a slow swing speed, hybrids can give you more distance.

• If you tend to sweep the ball in your swing, a hybrid will help provide more loft and give you more forgiveness for mishits.

• If you tend to hit your ball low, hybrids could give you more loft and height on your shot.

• If you have an approach shot onto an elevated green, a hybrid can give you more height to get it up onto the green for a soft landing.

• If you have a shot where you need to get over water, a hybrid can give you more loft so you don’t risk hitting a low skimmer across the water.

• If you are in rough that is not too thick, a hybrid can give you extra weight in the clubhead to help get you through the rough and give you loft to get the ball up into the air.

• If you have a long fairway bunker shot and need some extra distance and loft to get the ball out and far, you could use a mid range hybrid.

• If you are 50 or 60 yards out, you can use a hybrid to chip and run the ball up onto the green. Using a hybrid will give you more distance, so it is best to use it when you have a longer 50 yard or more pitch shot.

Does a Hybrid Provide the Same Distance as an Iron With the Same Number?

Yes, for the most part.

A hybrid will go about the same distance as a corresponding iron. In other words, a 5 iron should go about the same as a 5 hybrid. If there is any difference, a hybrid might provide a little extra yardage. The reason? A hybrid is more forgiving so you might be able to make better contact with the ball in the sweet spot.

The biggest difference between these two types of clubs with the same number will be a higher launch in the air with the hybrid.

What Hybrids Should You Carry?

That’s a very good question and one that is debatable by many golfers. Depending on what type of golfer you are and what you prefer is going to dictate the number and which hybrids you carry.

Currently I carry 4 hybrids. A 4H, 5H, 6H, and 7H. This is because I love how I connect with hybrids and the accuracy I get from them. I only carry 2 irons (8 and 9 irons) plus my wedges. Most golfers carry at least 1 hybrid, with the average around 2 hybrids in their bag. The 4 or 5 hybrid is the most typical club to carry as a rescue club. If you want to replace a 3 wood or a long iron, it is good to think about a lower numbered hybrid like a 3H or 4H.

Test Them Out

This last 20 years of golf has provided great technological advances and greater choices in club designs. All these different options makes for a much more enjoyable golfing experience. Anything that helps a golfer score better or help launch the ball better is good for the golf game.

If you are curious about hybrids or irons, the best way to determine what is best for your game is to test them out on and off the course.

There is no right or wrong in this area as everyone is different. And once you decide, you can always change it up. I am actually thinking of adding a 7 iron back to my bag as I saw some great shots hitting it on the driving range this past year. So, I might as well test it out.

If you are interested in reading more about either one, read my Club Guides in Best Hybrids for Women and Best Irons for Women where I answer FAQ’s and provide more in depth information on each club type and what to look for when making a purchase.

Related Posts:

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Best Irons for Women

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Hybrids vs Irons for Women – Which One Is Better?

The post Hybrids vs Irons for Women – What Should You Be Using? appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

Are you a new to the game of golf? Are you coming back to the game from a long break?

Then congratulations are in order! I am very excited for you as you start your golf journey.

If you haven’t read it yet, I have a post here about 7 Easy Steps to Learning Golf for anyone learning the game. I tried to break it down in a somewhat high-level view to help new golfers in knowing where to start and how to proceed.

But, honestly, it doesn’t have to be in this order – everyone starts differently. It just gives a small roadmap especially if you are starting at square one.

But, now that you are interested, and maybe just received a new set of golf clubs, or have played with your partner, spouse or friend, it is time to learn the basic golf swing fundamentals.

Let’s dive in!

Learning the Golf Swing for Brand New Golfers

One of the first steps to playing golf is to learn how to hit a golf ball with a golf club.

The easiest way to do this is to start with the fundamentals or basics of the golf swing.

If learned properly, these fundamentals will provide you with a strong foundation that you will be able to depend on for years to come.

Golf Swing Setup

The first part of the golf swing is the setup. The setup entails how to hold the golf club, how to align the club (another word for aim), and how to stand while addressing and swinging the club.

Golf Grip

How to hold the golf club is called the grip. To hold the golf club is the most important element for the golf swing. It seems so simple, yet it can help you or hurt you in your swing especially as you improve and become more experienced. It is best to learn it properly now as a beginner so you have a strong foundation.

According to Ben Hogan, in his book, Five Lessons, the Modern Fundamentals of Golf, “Good golf begins with a good grip.” He goes on to talk about how people may see the grip as boring, but that a golfer’s “only contact with the ball is through the clubhead, and his only direct physical contact with the club is through the hands.” If you really want to learn how to hold a club, check out his book.

If you are like me, I like to see how things are done visually, especially in a video format. This great video also shows the most basic grip for holding the golf club. Practice this over and over again until you have it ingrained and it becomes second nature. It will set you up for success in the long run.

Golf Alignment and Aim

How to aim the golf ball and where you line up to the target is called alignment. Learning this and making sure that you are aimed correctly is important. It is much harder than it looks as our eyes can be deceiving depending on how you are looking at the target.

When you setup to the ball, you want to make sure that the side of your body is facing the target (left side for a right-handed player). To see the target, you will be looking over your left shoulder.

The front of the clubface will be pointing to the target.

Many golfers use alignment sticks to help them with their aim. Golf professionals still continue to practice with these to help them with their alignment even as good as they are.

Golf Stance and Posture

How to stand while addressing the golf ball and then while swinging the club is called the golf stance and golf posture.

This video does a great job at explaining the very basics of golf stance and posture.

An Easy Way to Learn How Far to Stand From the Ball

Many beginners have problems with how far to stand away from the golf ball. As a new golfer, this was one of the hardest things I had to figure out.

Kay McMahon, Co-Owner of EduKaytion Golf, and an LPGA Hall of Fame teacher as well as a Top 100 Golf Instructor for Golf Digest teaches one of the most basic and easiest golf swings for golfers. Her Golf 8.5 program teaches the golf swing in 8 1/2 steps. Easy peasy!

The first 4 steps involve the setup which she calls GCAP. This stands for Grip, Clubhead, Alignment, and Posture. In this video, she explains how posture and distance away from the ball becomes natural once you do the first 3 parts.

Breaking Down the Golf Swing

The actual act of swinging a golf club is pretty awkward and unnatural and can be quite technical to learn.

There are four main parts to the swing. Breaking it down step by step can help make it simpler to learn in the beginning. The Golf 8.5 video breaks it down easily step by step so you can almost see the movements.

As an experienced golfer who has taken her course, I have been going back to this foundational teaching method to help with my accuracy and consistency and to ‘relearn” the proper setup and golf swing movements.

The Takeaway

After you are setup to the ball, the first part to actually moving the golf club is the takeaway. This is where you bring the club up to about waist high.

For many years, it was all arms for me. Be sure to turn your body or your torso and not just your arms. If you do this, it will be easier for the rest of the backswing.

The Backswing

The backswing can be difficult to learn and perform. Definitely awkward. The arm that is closest to the target (left arm if you are righty) is supposed to stay straight while your right arm is bent at the top of the backswing.

Honestly, it almost seems like a contortionist movement – LOL. As a beginner, you will need to practice this movement many times before it becomes natural and consistent.

The Downswing

After you get to the top of your backswing and the golf club is as far back as it is going to go, this is when you start the transition to the downswing.

Bring the club down and make contact with the golf ball. An important key is to stay in your golf posture while turning the body and bringing the golf club down through the point of impact. Many beginners tend to “top” the ball or even miss the ball completely because they come out of posture and essential come up (head or body).

The Follow Through

The follow through is important because after you hit the ball, the continued momentum will create power and distance create the proper ball flight.

What you don’t want to do is chop at the ball or stop once you make contact. It is best to continue through the swinging motion to help propel the golf ball forward. The end of the backswing stops at the top where the front of your body is turned facing the target and your arms are up in the air behind you. This maximizes the most power or energy for your golf swing.

Golf Swing Form and Building a Foundation

Everyone has a unique swing, even the pros. But, there are core foundational swing mechanics that every golfer should start with. Just like in anything else you learn, fundamentals are at the core of everything. You need to learn these first before you can build upon them.

It is important to think about the correct form and technique while learning and performing the golf swing. For most beginner golfers just starting out, it is going to take time, patience, lots of playing and practicing before it starts to become natural or consistent.

The biggest piece of advice I would give is to not be hard on yourself, to enjoy the process, keep learning and doing, and it will come eventually.

I wouldn’t even worry too much about hitting the ball well in the beginning. Learn the mechanics and proper swing.

There will be times when you will hit the ball beautifully and you’ll know it because of the amazing feel and ball flight. When you connect with the ball like this, savor that awesome moment and remember the feeling. Take it as motivation because you’ll want to do it again.

As long as you stick with it, there will be more and more shots like this. It might not happen right away or even in the very next shot or the next day, but that is golf!

Golf Swing Drills and Lessons

There are a few places you can check out to find an instructor in your area. Check out PGA or LPGA licensed golf instructors. If you are interested in Kay McMahon’s Golf 8.5 program which is great for beginners and any level, you can read my post here about her program as well as my personal review of her more recent online or virtual 5-week session.

I also have a Beginner Golf for Women Facebook Group that is very engaging and interactive. Feel free to join.

And if you would like to receive my Wednesday emails, I post my newest helpful golf tips and resources for beginner golfers as well as provide discounts and giveaways from some awesome brands. Subscribers also receive my free Golf Guide on How to Play Your Best Round. Be sure to sign up here if you haven’t already.

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Basic Golf Swing Fundamentals for Women

The post Basic Golf Swing Fundamentals for Women appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

In golf, the DRIVER is longest club in the bag and has the largest club head and face. It is definitely a special club and one of the most fun to hit.

Though it is not required, there is a specific place to hit the driver. I have only seen the driver hit off the fairway maybe once or twice and that was on TV by a tour professional.

Hitting the Driver – Tee Shot

The driver is hit from the Tee Box.

This is where you can tee it up at the beginning of every hole. When you are on the tee box, a golfer has the chance to elevate the golf ball on a tee, which makes it easier to hit the ball into the air.

Since the driver is the longest club in the bag, it typically will provide a golfer with the most distance. But because of its length, it sometimes can be a challenge to hit consistently and straight. Especially when we want to hit it far and gain more distance.

Sometimes it can be one of the easiest clubs for a beginner to hit because it is the only time we can use the tee. As a beginner, gaging where to hit when the ball lies on the ground can be hard to learn. If you’ve ever topped the ball or hit into the ground while trying to hit the golf ball, you know what I mean.

There is almost nothing better than the feeling of hitting an amazing tee shot with your driver.

But, as you start hitting and practicing with your driver, there are some important aspects to the setup that is different from other clubs. Be sure to follow these steps to ensure that you are hitting the driver the most efficient way possible to set youself up for success.

I still go back to these basics every time I setup for my drive.

4 Steps to Hitting the Driver For Success

To get the best results from your driver, there are a few important factors to consider and ways to set up to the ball that are different from your other golf shots.

These steps will help provide more consistency, distance, and accuracy. And provide a solid foundation so you have a good chance to hit your tee shot well.

1. Positioning the Driver

Make sure the ball and tee are positioned closer to your front leg or the leg closest to the target.

2. Teeing Up the Ball

You want to tee it up high enough so that the top of the ball sits higher than the top of the driver club face.

3. Wide Balanced Stance

Be sure to have a wide enough stance that you are balanced when taking your swing and hitting the ball. I like to have a stance that is a bit sider than shoulder stance.

The driver is one of the most powerful clubs or swings you will make in golf. You want to make sure you have a solid stance to help keep you balanced and stable through the entire swing.

4. Hitting Up on the Ball

When you connect with the ball, you actually want to be hitting “up” on the ball at impact.

This is quite different than hitting an iron which is where you would hit more down on the ball. This may seem a bit confusing right now, but if you wantch the video below, you’ll see how to do this.

Hitting up on the ball will launch the ball higher, providing more loft and more distance.

Golf Instruction Video for the Driver

Check out this video by Rick Shiels. He has a great way of explaining the setup as well as Do’s and Don’ts when hitting the driver.

Success With the Driver As a Beginner

If you are just starting out and are trying to learn to hit your driver, be sure to start out small.

The golf swing can be a challenge as there are so many parts to the swing and moving parts at that.

When I say small, try starting out with half swings from waist high on the backswing to waist high on the follow-through. This will help with creating a nice rhythm and a good connection.

You will also start to learn how it feels when the ball connects perfectly with the driver.

Then as you become more comfortable, and you have more good shots off the tee, make your swing bigger and bigger.

You will be amazed at how far and straight the ball will go when you make a good connection and the club face is square at impact.

And you can always come back to these setup basics for your driver as they provide a great foundation even as you become a better golfer.

Related Posts:

Best Women’s Drivers & Buying Guide

Golf Club Distances for Women

Golf Club Selection Guide – How to Know What To Use on the Course

Hybrids vs Irons – Which One Should I Use?

How to Build Consistency in Your Golf Game

Golf is Hard. Follow These Tips on How To Handle Frustration

How to Hit A Driver for Beginners

Women’s Golf Driver Tips – Basic Setup Every Golfer Should Know

The post How to Hit A Driver for Beginners appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

Being a beginner in golf as a woman can be hard.    There are many reasons, but the main reason I find is that it can seem very overwhelming and intimidating.

Though the environment is changing, many women did not grow up playing golf and never had early exposure to the game.

So, now you have this opportunity to start playing or your interest has been piqued about this game.

Golf’s Intimidation Factor for Women Learning Golf

Golf can seem intimidating and a bit terrifying for many women, mostly because we feel like we need to act and perform the right way, almost perfectly on the golf course.

Many of us are afraid of embarrassing ourselves as beginners. 

Am I right?

The golf advice I heard when I was starting out was that I should just relax and have fun.

Yes this is true, but with golf’s many rules and etiquette, it is important to also know a little about what is proper behavior on the golf course.

Many times, it is for safety, especially in the beginner.    Yes, you don’t want to be in the way of swinging clubs and hard-hit balls!

Starting Your Golf Journey

First of all, let me congratulate you in that you are starting what I like to call your own personal “golf journey”.  We all are on one if we play.  

Learning the game of golf will be filled with ups and downs, challenges and lots of rewards.

If it didn’t have the rewards, none of us would still be playing.    Golf is really such an amazing game.

So, I think it is wonderful that you are here and am very excited for you!

How To Start Playing Golf

So, now that you want to learn, where do you start?

I thought it would first make sense to provide a few easy big picture steps to follow.

While there are many aspects to the game of golf, it can be done one step at a time as long as you make the decision to commit, practice, and play.

In simple terms, golf sounds easy.  Hit a little compact ball into a hole hundreds of yards away using a golf club.  Doesn’t sound so hard, does it?

The hardest part about golf for beginners is learning how to hit the golf ball and understanding the rules and etiquette of the game. Honestly, once you learn the basics of these and find the right individuals or groups to play with, you can play and it will lead to much enjoyment!

Beginner Golf For Women – Follow These 7 Steps

1.  Borrow Clubs or Buy a Beginner Golf Club Set

As someone new to golf, you can borrow clubs or buy a golf club set.  These golf sets are affordable and come with all the basic clubs you will need.  Read my buying guide on how to purchase a golf club set for beginners.    

All you need for now is a driver, a wood or hybrid, a few irons, a wedge, and a putter. I used my grandmother’s golf clubs when I first started out.

They were old but good quality and worked just fine.  It is ok to borrow clubs in the beginning if you know someone. Often times, a teaching instructor or clinics you attend will have extra clubs that you can use.

As you improve and start playing more, you can purchase a set of your own. Each year, manufacturers come out with the newest technology and equipment with plenty to choose from.   

2.  Learn How to Swing The Golf Club

Learning the fundamentals of the golf swing and how to hit a golf ball is hard but also can be a lot of fun.  I mean what is golf without swinging the club, right? 

Learning a good foundation is also important.  Read my post on Basic Golf Swing Fundamentals for Women.

The best thing they say to do is to take lessons from a golf professional who specializes in teaching the mechanics of the proper golf swing. 

Most people swear by a teaching golf professional who can instruct and give you a good base of skills and techniques to learn from.  Here is a list of LPGA and PGA professionals that can help you learn the golf swing.

However, full disclosure here.  I actually learned how to swing the golf club and learned the game from my Dad as an adult.  He was a really good teacher and I learned a ton from him.  In fact, it was 7 years later when I actually took my first lesson from a professional.   So, everyone is different.  As long as you have someone who can teach you and show you in the beginning, it will be  really helpful.

Another great way to learn is to find a group class or clinic.  You can find these offered at your local golf courses or practice facilities as well as with women’s golf organizations that have local chapters, possibly in your area.  

These are so much fun because they are informal, low key and you can learn with others who are also just starting out.  Best thing is it’s social!

3.  Be Consistent About Your Lessons & Practice in Between.  

Do not just get one lesson or attend one clinic and be on your way. Learning the golf swing is not the most natural movement and is hard to learn in one 30 minute or hour lesson.  There are also different swings for different clubs!

Participating in at least a 6 week time frame is good to start with. After each lesson be sure to practice what was taught so you can help your muscle memory.  Doing this will ensure improvement over time and will maximize your lessons.  

4.  Learn the Very Basics, Terminology, and How the Game is Played.

You don’t need to know a lot when you are first learning how to hit the golf ball.  Very rarely will you be heading out on the golf course for the very first time without ever hitting a club.  However, after you have taken some lessons, hit balls at the driving range you may go out and play a bit on a golf course.

If you do, this is when you will need to know some of the terms and etiquette of golf.  Here is a post on Basic Golf Terms for Beginners that I put together that can help as you are just starting out.  

You can also learn them as you play with your partner if he or she is more experienced and is willing to do so.  

This is how most of us learned how to play golf.  Someone showed us the ropes and helped us learn the game.  

5.  Find a Partner, Friend, Parent, Grandparent, or Social Group to Play With.  

This is probably the most important part and many times it can be a challenge. You must try to find someone to play with. When asked, most golfers are usually up for playing. 

Golf is the kind of sport and activity that anyone can play together no matter their level of skill. 

Essentially you are playing against the golf course and your main objective, in the beginning, is to learn the game and how to hit the golf ball.

As you become a more experienced player, there are many ways to make golf fun or competitive and you can play against an opponent.

I was fortunate that I met my future husband right after I learned the game. He loved to golf and was all about taking me out to play. I believe it was the main reason I am still playing today.

I had a golfing partner from the beginning who was patient and fun to play with!   

If you don’t have someone to play with, check with your local golf courses, practice facilities and women’s groups.  They may have social groups that go out on a regular basis. If you took a clinic, check with the other participants who might want to play as you’ll be at the same level.  

6.  Play on a Golf Course.  

Now that you have committed to learning golf and have some confidence hitting the golf ball, it is time to play on an actual golf course.  

It is also a good idea to read up on some of the most important tips on etiquette, which you can find here.  And if you have questions about what to wear or what is appropriate on the on different types of golf courses, you can read my post on What to Wear. 

If you have the opportunity to select the type of golf course, there are many to choose from.  

Playing 18 holes as a beginner can be extremely overwhelming and I do not recommend it.  

Much more enjoyable would be a 9 hole course, an Executive 9 hole course, or even a Par 3 course.  

You will find that hitting balls at a driving range is a different experience than playing on a course. 

Start from the most forward tees possible or even the family tees if available.  They are closer to the hole and you will enjoy the round more.  

Your purpose for playing is to have fun and not worry about score or number of times you hit the golf ball. 

My objective, in the beginning, was to learn the game and to hit the ball as well as I could each time. It took me a year or more before I focused on scoring.

7.  Enjoy the Golf Journey and the Process. 

When I first started golfing, I was happy to pick up my ball and put it in my pocket when I hit my limit of balls on a given hole. Especially if I felt like I was slowing down the group. It is the surest way to have fun.

When you start out playing, there are so many things going on in your head to remember.  

Do not worry so much, take it one step at a time. 

If you take it too seriously, it can quickly become a very frustrating game.  

Learn the rules and etiquette as much as you can, remember to be courteous and respectful, and don’t stress about it too much. 

Everyone was a beginner at one time or another and the majority of people I have played with are happy to help you along.  

And if you want to stay up to date on the latest posts and articles related to this amazing game, be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter and join our new Facebook Group, Beginner Golf for Women.  I’m hoping this group will provide a community of new golfers that can ask questions and get tips and help they need when first starting out.

Best of luck to you as you start this journey – I’m sure you will love it!

Feel free to ask any questions below.  Or let me know where you are in your golf journey ;).

Related Posts:

Golf Etiquette 101 – For Beginners

Basic Golf Terms

What To Wear – Proper Golf Attire

Best Women’s Beginner Golf Club Sets

Women’s Beginner Golf – Easy Steps to Start Playing

The post Women’s Golf For Beginners – 7 Easy Steps How to Get Started appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

Why is it that golf can make us feel so anxious and nervous? And how can we handle this anxiety on the golf course?

Think about the game of golf. When it is your turn to hit the ball, everyone must be quiet, wait patiently and watch you hit.

Very unnerving!

The feel of someone watching can make us feel very self-conscious. And it is hard to then focus and concentrate on what you are actually doing, let alone hitting a golf ball well.

It sure makes golf interesting! Over the years, I have become a little more accustomed to it especially if I am playing with people I know.

But, if a stranger is watching me on the first tee, or I’m playing in a competition and every shot is on the line, or I am waived on to play through, it can be very nerve wracking.

First Tee Jitters

What is it that makes hitting off the first tee especially nerve wracking?

There might be a starter, and other groups waiting to tee off so you might have people watching you on the first tee. Since it is also the very first shot of the round, there are usually thoughts about whether this is going to be a good round or a not so good round.

If someone is playing in a match, they might be anxious and have nerves or butterflies because of the competition.

For the tour pros, there is much fanfare on the first tee where their name is officially announced before they tee off. In addition to a large number of spectators watching the first shot off the first tee.

Biggest Fears and Anxiety in Golf

I recently posted a question on social media about fears on the golf course.

I received a lot of responses to this that included:

• not wanting to be embarrassed
• shanking on the first tee
• playing with people you don’t know
• having strangers watching
• losing control of mindset
• missing or topping the ball
• first tee jitters
• pressure from groups behind you
• playing alone or solo
• losing consistency
• hitting a poor shot

Performance Anxiety in Golf – Fight or Flight

This fear is real and it really can put pressure on your performance.

Otherwise known as performance anxiety in golf and other sports as well.

The body responds to this anxiety just like any other stressful situation. With flight or fight mode which can bring on shaking, sweating, and a racing heart, just to name a few.

Then, thoughts like “I hope to don’t top this ball” or “I hope I don’t put this ball in the water” or “please don’t let me make a fool of myself” is very common for a majority of golfers.

While I have gotten used to this feeling, and have learned a few ways to handle it, it is still something that each and every one of us must handle out on the golf course.

I remember the first time I experienced my hands shaking in a competition. I was putting a 4 footer and I really had to keep my hands from shaking. Crazy how the body works like that.

Luckily, there are ways to overcome nerves and anxiety in golf. The more you play, the more you experience these situations, and the more aware of these stress signals, the better you will become at handling and conquering them. Trust me, it has gotten better over the years for me.

Below is a list of my top 11 tips on handling this stress. I hope it will help you feel more confident and comfortable while playing golf.

Top 11 Tips to Handle Fear and Performance Anxiety In Golf

1. Breathe.

Don’t forget to breathe. Take a nice big breath and breathe it out, then hit. This can do wonders to help you relax.

2. Take Aim.

Find your target. Then concentrate or focus on this instead of the worrying thoughts in your head.

3. Visualize.

This one is big. Our bodies usually will do what we think of. If you worry about a poor shot while addressing the ball, guess what our body is going to do? Yes, produce a poor shot.

To produce a beautiful shot, we must think and visualize that shot so our body has a better chance of performing it.

4. Preshot Routine.

Professional golfers all use a pre-shot routine. If you watch the tour players, they each will do the same pre-shot routine before they hit the ball. Beginners and recreational golfers can and should implement this tactic as well. It is a great way to calm the nerves.

It can help put the mind at ease because you are doing what you always do. The mind and body are used to performing with the same routine and won’t be as nervous.

5. Swing Thoughts.

It’s ok to think about 1 – 2 swing thoughts. If you have more than that, it will make you crazy and your mind won’t know what to focus on. Keep it simple and positive. When I am nervous, I like to think “Keep your head down and swing easy, through the ball”.

6. Be Committed.

Once you make a decision on what club to use, and where your ball needs to go, you must commit to that shot or your swing might be uneasy and lack confidence.

7. Favorite Club.

If you are nervous, it doesn’t make sense to use a club that you are unsure you will hit well. Use a favorite or go-to club in this case. It’ll make you more confident.

8. Be Ready.

If you are fumbling around your bag or still trying to decide what club to hit when it is your turn, you may feel rushed or nervous as others are waiting and watching you. Be ready and prepared when it is your turn.

9. Prepare and Practice.

If you know you are golfing later in the week, it is worth it to head out to practice beforehand. If you know you may get nervous on the tee, practice your drives. If your putts are your weak points right now, practice those. Practice will help increase your confidence out on the course.

10. Have Fun.

Remember that golf is a game. Try your best to not worry too much about your performance. Everyone who golfs has good and poor shots – it’s part of the what makes the game challenging and unique. Most of the time, other golfers are thinking about their own golf game.

11. Smile.

This is a very effective little tip I personally do when addressing the ball and I am really nervous.

I’ll smile and say to myself, “I LOVE this game!” and then I hit the ball. It works really well for some reason – maybe because a smile seems to relax me and shoots positive vibes through my body, loosening up any tension.

Mindfulness in Golf

I hope these tips have provided a way to conquer nerves on the golf course. Though golf is physical and is an activity, it is very much a mental game as well.

I reached out to my friend, Pamela Ressler, an expert on mindset and meditation and Owner of Stress Resources. She offers a great method for handling anxiety and nervousness not only on the golf course but in life.

What mindset tips can you provide to help golfers with handling anxiety and nervousness on the golf course?

“I love this question — because it doesn’t just apply to golf but to life!

Golf is as much a mental game as a physical game — but do we ever consider that our ability to work with our nervousness or anxiety on the course is as important as our technique with a putter or 9-iron?

Using mindfulness tools on and off the course help to keep excess nervousness at bay — try my easy to remember mindfulness mnemonic before every shot: G.O.L.F. and see the difference in how you feel on the course:

G: Glove — notice the ritual of putting the glove on your hand. Can you feel each of your fingers? Notice the sensation of stretching and closing your hand by focusing on the movement. How does this hand feel different from the ungloved hand?

O: Observe your breath— by releasing the abdominal muscles and allowing your breath to drop into the belly you will roadblock your “fight or flight” reaction, which we notice as stress. Try to expand the belly on the inhale and deflate it on the exhale.

L: Listen — notice sounds and sensations around you. This helps you focus but step away from rumination, expectation, judgement 

F: Focus — what do you notice about the ball in front of you, the grass, the tee? Allow yourself to drop into this moment — not the past or the future. Meet the hole with a sense of curiosity not judgement or dread.”

–Pamela Ressler, Owner of Stress Resources

Letting Go of the Fear and Focus on Why You Golf

With golf being such a mental game as well as performance based, golf can cause stress and fear.

Just remember that golf is a game and you are out there to have fun. For most of us, golf is a pastime, a hobby, and a way to stay active and mentally engaged.

And it is meant to be challenging at times. Many people expect to have perfect shots every time, but that is not the game of golf. Try to let the fear and stress of being perfect go, and remember why you are out there golfing.

Enjoy the time you get to spend outside with friends or new acquaintances. Enjoy the fact that you are learning a great sport, and also learning about yourself as well.

And don’t worry, everyone feels anxious at times on the golf course. I find as I get better at golf, I have gained more confidence on hitting a good shot when needed. So, that too will come in time as you play more.

Do you have anxiety or stress while playing golf? Have you learned how to handle it? I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions in the comments below.

Related Posts:

Golf 8.5 Program – A Simpler Way to Golf

Improve Your Golf Game With These Tips

Golf Fitness – 3 Areas to be Golf Fit

How to Build Consistency in Your Golf Game

Golf is Hard. Follow These Tips on How To Handle Frustration

First Tee Jitters? Nervous When Others Are Watching?

The post First Tee Jitters? Nervous When Others Are Watching? appeared first on Lynn on the Links.

This article will help guide golfers on when to use what golf club out on the course.

When you walk into a golf shop, what usually hits you is a sea of golf clubs from drivers, irons, hybrids, wedges and putters, and so many others. And when you are out on the golf course, it can be confusing to know what to use and when.

I’ll first talk about each type of club and when they are typically used on a golf course. Then I’ll cover average distances for a recreational female golfer so you can have a baseline.

And finally, it will be very important for you to know what distance you actually hit each of the clubs in your bag. This will help steer you in knowing what golf club to use when you are actually playing a round.

Main Types of Golf Clubs

A golfer can carry up to 14 golf clubs in their bag during any given round. Here are the main types of golf clubs.

• Drivers
• Fairway Woods
• Hybrids
• Irons
• Wedges
• Putters

Drivers

Drivers are typically the longest and largest golf club. A driver is hit off of a tee in the tee box. It is designed to provide the longest distance of all the golf clubs.

Drivers can be really hard to hit because a golfer has less control as it is the longest and largest club. However, it can also be easier to hit because a tee perches the ball up in the air.

It is also important to know that you are not required to use a driver just in the tee box. In golf, you can pretty much use any club wherever it is permissible to hit. However, the only golfers I have ever seen using a driver anywhere else on the course was a few Tour players and the announcers were impressed that they could actually get it off the ground.

Fairway Woods

Fairway woods are used (like the name suggests) typically for the fairway. Golfers hit them as a 2nd and/or 3rd shot from the fairway, the rough and sometimes off the tee.

Woods, as they also called, are the next longest clubs from the driver with the exception of a few long irons. Woods tend to come with numbers 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9.

The lower the number, the longer the length of the club and the least amount of loft. Lower numbered golf clubs are designed to travel lower in the air with further distance than a higher numbered golf club.

As a side note, many golfers (beginners and experienced) find hitting their 3 wood somewhat challenging. I have a love/hate relationship with mine and many times it in a time out :).

The other interesting thing about 3 woods is that many golfers, even professionals, will use this club off the tee as it can produce a straighter more controlled shot.

Many club sets do not offer 7 and 9 woods, but they are available to purchase ala carte. Because of their higher numbers, they are often easier to hit than a 5 or 3 wood and are good for getting out of rough.

Hybrids

Hybrid golf clubs, also sometimes referred to as “rescue clubs” are becoming a standard in the golf bag. A hybrid golf club is a cross between a fairway wood and an iron. Originally it was designed to be a “rescue” or “utility” club, to help a golfer hit out of some tough situations on the golf course.

They are known to be more forgiving, and are designed to provide more loft and may be easier to hit than longer clubs with low loft. Because of this, some golfers have replaced their fairway woods and long irons with the new hybrids on the market.

Hybrids typically come in numbers ranging from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Hybrids can be used anywhere on the golf course and are usually seen being used off the tee, in the fairway, in the rough and even in penalty areas.

Some golfers carry 1 or 2 and some carry more in their bag. It all depends on the golfer.

I tend to like to hybrids more than irons these days. So I use 4, 5, 6, 7 hybrids and an 8, 9 irons. The standard hybrid if you were to have just one would probably be a most likely be a 5 hybrid depending on what distance you’d like it to provide.

Irons

Irons are golf clubs that have traditionally used a steel club face, thus the name.

They most commonly range from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, and 9.

Most golfers don’t use the 1 or 2 irons any longer but these “long irons” can still be found in a few golf shops and golfer’s bags. These low numbered irons can make a ball travel a long way if hit well. Unfortunately, they are extremely difficult to hit, which is why many golfers don’t use them any longer. Instead using a hybrid or fairway wood in its place.

Just like the fairway woods and hybrids, irons are numbered the same way. The higher the number on the clubface means the higher the trajectory or loft the ball will travel and less distance than a lower numbered club.

From my experience, the 5 iron is a standard iron and used to be my favorite club when I was younger. Many beginners love their 7 iron as it is a good standard length club when first starting out.

Irons are used all over the golf course. From the tee box, fairway, rough, and even can be used as a bump and run up to the green.

Wedges

Wedges are golf clubs that provide the least amount of distance (except for the putter) and the highest loft. They are used in what is referred to as the “short game” of golf. For the average golfer, this means about 100 yards or less from the green.

Wedges come in all types of lofts and types, but standard wedges that come in a set include the pitching wedge, sand wedge and sometimes an approach or gap wedge.

The pitching wedge offers the most distance, next the approach or gap wedge, and finally the sand wedge with the least distance. The sand wedge is usually what you would use to hit out of the bunkers or sand traps.

Golfers carry between 2 – 4 different wedges.

Professional golfers or low handicappers often carry at least 4 different wedges to help them pinpoint exact distances to the green on their approach shots.

Many beginners will carry a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.

The biggest difference between the different wedges offered is the degrees of loft which produce varying heights in the air and distance.

Putters

Putters are used specifically on the green and offer the least amount of distance and no loft as they meant to “roll” the ball into the hole. A golfer carries one putter in their bag on any given round of golf.

There are many different styles of putters that can be used like a blade, mallet, and a half mallet putter. It all depends on the style or feel of a putter that you like.

Putters can also be used just off the green especially if it can be rolled to like from the fringe or apron of the green.

How to Know What Golf Club to Use and When

Now that you know the various types of golf clubs used, how do you know which golf club to use and when?

Especially out on the golf course. It can be confusing with all the choices!

Here’s the thing, you are allowed to use any of the 14 clubs you carry as long as the golf clubs conform to the USGA or R&A rules of golf.

Basically, all this means is can you use a hockey stick? No.

Can you use a pool cue or lawn tool like in the movie “Happy Gilmore” with Adam Sandler? No.

But, could you use your putter in the fairway? Yes, you could. Should you? Probably not especially if it is more than 100 yards away.

I am listing here what most typical golfers would use in certain areas of the golf course. A guide for those just starting out.

Golf Clubs To Use In Different Areas Of A Golf Course

Tee Box:

• Driver
• Fairway Wood
• Hybrid
• Iron

Fairway

• Fairway Wood
• Hybrid
• Iron
• Wedge

Rough

• Iron
• Hybrid
• Maybe Fairway Wood (higher numbered like a 7 or 9)
• Wedge

Outside/Around the Greens (Within 100 yards)

• High Numbered Irons or hybrids (8 or 9)
• Wedges
• Putter (you can putt from off the green)

Green

• Putter

Why Golf Club Distance Is Important

The purpose in golf is to get the golf ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes as possible. Distance in golf is measured in yardages. The biggest question is “how far away is the hole from where you are hitting?”

There are a number of ways you can estimate or measure this distance. Once you know this distance, then you can select the golf club that will best get you to the hole. For example, if the distance is 120 yards to the hole or to the green, then you want to use your 120 yard club.

I know what you are thinking now. How do you know what your 120 yard club is???

As a beginner, you probably don’t know this yet, at least with all your clubs. You may have an idea from experience with a few of your clubs. And that’s good – you can use this info to help you out on the golf course.

Let’s first look at the average recreational or amateur female golfer and her distances for each of the most commonly used golf clubs.

I pulled this information from my other post on Golf Club Distances and Driving Distances for Women and am providing it in a chart form here.

Average Distances of Each Golf Club for Recreational and Amateur Female Golfers

Foresight Sports provided the numbers below for female amateurs or female recreational golfers. It is a pretty good size range of avergae distances for each golf club, but that is how golf is and every golfer is different.

There are many factors that play into club distance from athleticism, age, gender, clubs, golf skill, swing mechanics, etc. But this hopefully provides a good baseline to start.

Golf Club Selection Chart for Female Golfers

Hybrids are not listed. Typically, they correlate with the same numbered iron give or take. For instance, I hit my 5 hybrid about the same as my 5 iron. I prefer to use my hybrid because I hit it more solidly.

This provides a good starting point. However, the next step in determining what golf clubs to use in your golf game is to know your own specific distances.

How to Track Your Golf Club Distances

So, how do you track or figure out your own distances?

Method 1 – Trial and error out on the golf course. If you play a lot, you will start to realize from experience which clubs to use when. However, this may take a while to get an idea of all of your clubs.

Method 2 – Range finder on the practice range. You could also use one on the golf course, however, you don’t want to be holding anyone up behind you especially if you are hitting multiple balls to get an average.

Method 3 – Portable launch monitor on the practice range This would include a TrackMan, Flightscope, or other kind of tracking device. They aren’t cheap, but some clubs and practice facilities have them. Because of their portability, many golf instructors can provide access to them in a golf lesson.

Method 4 – Indoor simulator. These can be found at indoor practice or entertainment facilities. The information that you can get from each shot is pretty amazing. You can get the total distance, the carry, as well as other information like clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle. All sorts of other information is provided if you want it.

Golf Club Distance Chart Tracker & Printable

Once you have figured out how you will track your shots, be sure to grab my Free “Golf Club Distance Chart Tracker and Printable” below. This will help you determine the average distance for each of your clubs.

Once you have determined all your average distances, bring the sheet or write down your yardages on this Golf Club Distances Bag Tag.

Have it laminated or use contact paper and hang it on your golf bag so you can refer to it on the golf course. It is hard to remember all the distances for your clubs!

Now that you know your distances, playing on the golf course will become a bit easier. You’ll be much more confident in knowing which clubs to use and when.

Other Factors In Club Selection on the Golf Course

Though distance is probably the number one factor in deciding which golf club to hit, other factors include the type of lie or the condition of where you are hitting from.

Is it thick rough or grass?

Typically you’ll want to use a higher lofted iron or hybrid or wedge.

Are you in a greenside bunker?

Then likely your sand wedge or other wedge depending on the distance and how high you have to hit out.

I could go on and on, but this hopefully gives you a good idea of what to think about when you are out on the golf course and need to select the right club to use.

As you play more rounds and gain experience, selecting the right club will become easier.

Closing Thoughts On Golf Club Selection

Knowing the right club to hit and specifically how far you hit each of your golf clubs will have a big impact on your golf game.

I hope this article has helped provide a better understanding of club selection on the golf course, the importance of distance, and how to determine your own golf club distances as you continue along in your golf journey.

Be sure to sign up for the Lynn on the Links newsletter/email which is sent out every 1 – 2 weeks and includes new post alerts, more helpful golf tips, and guides, and discounts and product reviews. All related to golf and women’s golf specifically. When you sign up, you’ll receive the Free Golf Guide to Playing Your Best Round as well.

Also, if you are brand new to golf, feel free to join our Beginner Golf for Women Facebook group. We are a highly engaged and supportive community of women golfers. Hope you’ll join us!

Lynn

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How To Know What Golf Club to Use on the Golf Course

The post How To Know What Golf Club to Use on the Golf Course appeared first on Lynn on the Links.