Golf 101
The game explained without assuming you already know it.
Golf has a reputation for being complicated. Almost all of that reputation comes from the parts nobody needs on day one — the equipment debates, the etiquette everyone assumes you picked up somewhere. The actual game, underneath all of it, fits in one sentence.
The objective
Every hole has a par — the number of shots a good player should need. Most holes are par 3, 4 or 5. Your score is simply how many shots you actually took.
How a round is structured
A full round is eighteen holes, about four hours. Nine holes take roughly two, and it is a much better place to start.
- 01
Book your tee time
Your tee time is simply the time you reserved to start playing. Call the pro shop or book online.
- 02
Check in and warm up
Get there early enough to hit a few balls first if you can — there is no need to walk straight onto the first hole cold.
- 03
Play the holes in order
Keep pace with the group ahead of you. Nobody expects your first round to look polished.
- 04
Finish
Add up your score if you feel like it, and go get something to eat. That really is the whole shape of it.
The words you actually need
A handful of terms covers almost everything you will hear in your first few rounds. The real word first, the plain explanation right after — no need to memorise the rest yet.
- Tee
- The platform, or the little peg, where you set the ball to start each hole.
- Fairway
- The strip of short grass between the tee and the green.
- Green
- The very short grass around the hole, where you putt.
- Rough
- The longer grass either side of the fairway. You will end up there, and that is fine.
- Bunker
- A sand trap. Also survivable.
Everything else can wait until you run into it on the course.
The hardest part of golf is the part before you start. After that, it is just a walk with the occasional swing.
You are allowed to be new at something.
Questions everyone asks
- Do I have to keep score?
- No. Keep score when it starts to feel fun, not before. Plenty of beginners play several rounds before bothering to count.
- What is a handicap?
- Your handicap is a number that sums up your level — the lower it is, the better you play. It is calculated from your recent rounds and exists so players of different levels can compete fairly. You do not need one to play your first round.
- What if I lose a ball?
- You drop another one and keep playing. It happens to everybody, every round, forever.
What comes next
Once the shape of the game makes sense, the next question is always equipment — specifically, how much of it you actually need. Short answer: much less than you think.
Related · RelacionadoMeet the clubsWhat each club is for, and which ones matter when you are starting out.→Your next step
From zero to your first round.
A free beginner series built for Puerto Rico.