Depending on what level of expectations you set for yourself, beginner golf can bring on a lot of laughs or a lot of frustration. When I started playing regularly a couple years ago, I set the bar high, eager to get better without any perspective about what being a “good golfer” looked like.
Now, looking back, it’s easy to see how I could have saved myself quite a few stressful moments as I was just learning the game. First, understanding that a good round of golf isn’t hitting perfect shots; instead, it’s being able to get back on track from a lot of misses. And it’s those challenges that makes golf so engaging. Here are five points I wish I could pass back to myself before I stepped onto the course:
First, Play For Fun
There is more mental toughness and emotional stability required to play a round of golf well than I ever expected. I was eager to put myself in a competitive situation and it backfired. I jumped in before I knew the importance of course management, so I felt agitated when I would mishit and couldn’t recover, which didn’t bode well for the rest of the round and my confidence. But, I noticed I would play much better when I went out to practice with girlfriends, and was completely at ease playing 9 holes, but not recording my score.
My advice? Before worrying about a handicap, play socially with friends: scramble, practice hitting from tough lies without the pressure of it counting toward a score, take that second shot after you miss the first. Have fun while learning.
Lauren Katims (far right) with golfing friends
(Image credit: Lauren Katims)
Seek Out A Coach You Find Relatable – And Take Lessons!
Understanding the mechanics of the golf swing before you start playing can help good habits form before the bad ones settle in. I didn’t take the time to learn how to properly swing the club and I have a few bad habits that come back more often than I’d like. If I had gotten more technical with my swing up front with a series of lessons it would have saved me a lot of frustration. Find a golf coach who teaches in a way that makes sense to you. Not everyone is going to be a good fit for your style of learning, and finding someone who can give you that “aha moment” more times than not is a win.
It’s Hard To Get Better At Golf, And Progress Is Not A Linear
Just because I was putting in more play time didn’t mean I was getting better – one day I thought I had my backswing down and the next it felt awkward. Now I know that although…
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