Golf for Beginners: DOs and DON’Ts

Learn a little basic golf etiquette, so you are prepared for your next round.

DO give yourself time to warm up before the game.

Though it might be tempting to just head straight to the tee, you’ll be selling yourself short. If you really want to get the best out of your game, get to the course at least 30 to 45 minutes prior to teeing off so you can squeeze in a good warm up. Plan on hitting 20 or so wedges, a few middle irons and 10 to 15-woods and drivers. If you plan to putt, we suggest spending another 10 minutes practicing.

DON’T warm up with every single club.

There’s no need to warm up with every single club in your bag. Instead, narrow in focus on your wedge, driver and putter. You’ll be using them the most during your game — so they should always be your priority, especially when you’re strapped for time.

DO know when it’s your turn.

When you’re on the tee, the player with the highest score from the previous hole is first in line, followed by the second best player and so on. If two or more players score the same on a previous hole, the privilege of hitting first goes to the one who scored the highest on the hole prior to last, and so on. For the remainder of each hole, the player who is farthest from the hole gets to go first.

DON’T take too much time preparing to hit.

Though you might dream of making the perfect shot, don’t spend too much time dwelling or you’ll slow your entire group down. Narrow in on a few fundamentals prior to the game and keep your focus sharp. In most scenarios, you should limit yourself just two practice swings before each shot.

DO yell “fore!” when your ball is headed toward another player or group.

Many courses have fairways that parallel one another, so its fairly common for shots from one hole to end up on another. If you hit a projectile shot and you notice other golfers in its flight path, don’t forget to shout “fore!” so the person or group can prepare. If you hear another group yell “fore!” it’s probably a good idea to duck and cover.

DON’T let a bad shot (or a good shot) throw off your entire game.

Whether it was absolutely amazing or the worst shot of your life, you should put it out of your mind right away and get back to your normal routine. An exceptionally good shot can put too much pressure on the rest of your game, while a really bad shot can lower your morale if you let it.

Stay tuned for more golf DOs and DON’Ts from Southern Hills Golf Course. Image Credit: Fotopedia