If you’ve never played a round of golf before, you might think it’s a difficult hobby to get into. You see these confident golfers in their fancy outfits and expensive clubs and wonder how on Earth you could ever compete with them. There are complicated rules to learn and endless terminology to master, and many people spend thousands of pounds on a set of high-end golf clubs.

For the uninitiated, getting into golf might seem like a daunting prospect, but it’s not as difficult as it seems. The rules of the game are surprisingly simple, and with enough time and practice, you can become just as much of a pro as the veterans propping up the bar in your local golf course. If you are committed to your dream of playing golf, whether with a friend or golfing solo, here are four tips to get you started.

Start small

If you’re a complete beginner, it’s not a good idea to play a full eighteen holes right away. Unless you have a miraculous innate mastery of the game, you will most likely struggle to make contact with the ball and end up holding up everyone else on the golf course. As a rule, you should stay away from the course until you are confident in your ability to get the ball in the air. Fortunately, there are plenty of driving ranges you can use to practice your swing in a safe environment. Mini golf is a similarly effective way to get your putting skills up to scratch before you hit the green.

Get the right gear

You can’t play golf without a set of clubs, but when you’re just starting out, you don’t need to break the bank. Many golf courses and ranges allow you to rent clubs, and you will be able to find a basic set online for a reasonable price. It is only once you become an expert that you will start to become interested in the complicated details.

Master the rules

With all these strange words like birdies and bogies, you’d be forgiven for thinking that golf is a difficult game to master. But once you start to read up on the subject, you’ll see that there is little more to it than trying to get a ball into a hole. There are plenty of books on the subject that will make it clear, or you can browse sites like Golfer’s Thought, which are full of useful tips and tricks. 

Learn from a professional

Even if you have friends or family who are avid golfers, it’s always a good idea to learn from a professional. No matter how good your friend thinks they are, most golfers pick up bad habits over time and there’s a good chance they will pass them onto you. One of the best things you can do to become a golfer is to have a session with a professional golf instructor. They will work with you to master the perfect techniques and give you everything you need to make the most of your first time on the golf course.