Golfing Billboard

photo credit: striaticSome people do not realize that when you are playing on those green hills on a beautiful Saturday morning there are rules to follow. You can’t just show up, hit some balls into some holes and call it a day. There are rules of golf. There are long, descriptive, detailed books about these rules. But you don’t need to read them all … here are the five basic etiquette guidelines to follow when playing golf. Guidelines that veteran players need to brush up on as much as beginners need to know.

Tee Times - Generally you’ll need to reserve a tee time to arrive at the golf course to play. When you and your golf buddies schedule a tee time, actually show up for the tee time. There is nothing ruder than making an appointment and not sticking to it. If your group misses your tee time, you could lose your spot and have to wait around for another opening. In fact, a good rule of thumb will be to arrive earlier than your scheduled time. This way you can warm up by hitting a few balls at the driving range.

Equipment - Make sure you have your equipment with you. Borrowing clubs is not necessarily frowned upon but you do not want to bother your companions by continuously asking to borrow their clubs. When arriving at the golf course, make sure you have all the clubs you need, not to exceed fourteen. Also, have enough tees and balls with you.

Dress - Check on your golf course’s dress code. Most courses do require certain attire. Khaki shorts and a button up shirt will fit the attire at most courses, but you may want to check just to make sure. Golf shoes and golf gloves are usually up to the player but you should check before arriving empty handed. Be sure to have extra loose bills on you for tipping purposes.

Course - These beautiful courses don’t deserve you coming in and being all rough and rude to it. Follow the rules of the golf cart. Do not drive where you aren’t supposed to, and especially keep them away from greens and hazards. Be sure to repair any divots and ball marks on the green. Never take a divot on a practice swing. And, finally, rake all sand traps to erase footprints and damage to area where your ball was.

Pace Appropriately - Having to wait on people is annoying. Making people wait on you is rude. Watch the game. Be ready for your turn. Wave faster groups around you if you are moving slowly. Keep pace with the group ahead of you. Do not waste too much time looking for a lost ball. If you want to keep to the five minutes allowed, wave groups behind you ahead so you will not hold them up.

Golf can be a fun, relaxing way to spend a morning, afternoon or even a full day. You can enjoy that time either alone or with a group of friends or coworkers. Just remember that golf is a game and just as in most games there are rules to follow. Remember the golden rule? Yeah, keep to that.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Basics

photo credit: Larry FerranteIf you are interested in improving your game or you are just contemplating starting to play the game of golf, the question at the back of your mind must be: Are golf lessons really necessary?

Taking golf lessons is a good opportunity for people to learn not just how to play the game but how to be very good at it. They provide you with an opportunity to learn without the frustration of stumbling through the necessary skills you need to be a good golfer. There are different options available for you if you are considering taking golf lessons. You can take private golf lessons, go for group lessons, or you could go to a golf school.

Private golf lessons are really good if you prefer one-on-one coaching, since you will receive lessons tailored for your individual needs. You won’t have to worry over other people seeing your mistakes, as it will be between your golf instructor and you. There will also be time to concentrate on you and your needs. The instructor will go out of his or her way to make sure you perfect your game, because success means you learning and mastering the game. The major downside to taking private lessons is the price; lessons are usually very expensive.

Group lessons help you get it right at an affordable rate. Learning with a group will help you master your game, as there will be some sort of competition in the group. It’s human - people will always try to outdo one another whenever they have something in common. This can be to your advantage as you will strive to be the best. The major problem with taking group golf lessons is that there is not enough time for the instructor to attend to everybody’s individual needs, so success to the instructor is measured based on the percentage on people making progress, not individual progress.

The decision to take golf lessons is up to you. But the truth is they will be of great help in mastering the game as you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with other golfers exchanging tips and advice on how to improve your game.

One thing that should really help you decide whether golf lessons are a necessity for you or not is identifying the reason why you want to play golf in the first case.

• A new hobby? You just want to be playing every now and then in your free time.
• Business reasons? You want to learn to be able to deal with your clients better. We all know that a lot of deals get sealed over golf games these days.
• Professional reasons? You want to be a professional golf player.

If you have very urgent reasons like that of business, taking golf lessons will help you master the basics easily and quickly so that you can begin to play with your clients. If it is just for recreation, you may want to learn it yourself but if it’s professional, you need all the help you can get. Golf lessons should really come in handy, but then it’s up to you!

Deciding whether you need golf lessons or not is a personal decision. It should be based on your reasons for playing the game in the first case and the benefits of taking golf lessons.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf Lessons