Welcome to Golf! The game is yours for a lifetime of enjoyment. Let’s begin! The physical demands of the sport are probably about what you think they are—less taxing than most sports. However, you can actually control the degree of physical demands from the game by how you play it. At one extreme you can choose to play courses at which you can ride between shots in a power cart while puffing on a tobacco product and drinking whatever you choose. On the other extreme, you can walk golf courses carrying your bag of clubs and accessories on your back. The physical demands of the sport are all up to you to choose. However, today’s professional golfers are very fit athletes, and the accomplishments of those who have not kept up with strength and endurance training usually lag behind those who do. The etiquette expected of golfers is unequalled in other sports. Golfers encourage and congratulate each other, even their opponents. They keep their own scores and call penalties on themselves, even if no one else observes an infraction. Golf is much harder than it looks on television. While it is true that the courses on which professional tournaments are held are more demanding than other courses, you must realize that you are watching the very best golfers in the whole world--golfers who have advanced to the tournament by succeeding under a rigid, demanding, merit system of selection. Moreover, the only players you are likely to see on TV are the ones, either playing the best that day or who have solid reputations for extraordinary professional play. Moreover, nearly all the professional players started playing the game at very young ages. For example, Tiger woods was two years old, Phil Michelson was 1 ½! If you started learning to golf as an adult, you should not realistically aspire to greatness. Your goal should be to play well enough to enjoy the game and for others to enjoy playing with you. Golf students learn at different rates, but everyone can learn. Some catch on right away and do well for a long time, then suddenly slump. Some others struggle right up to the end of the series and suddenly excel. Therefore, if learning the golf skills seems easy enough, you’d better keep practicing between lessons to avoid regressing; and if you find learning the strokes really hard to do, just keep on keeping on until the “light comes on."
You should also be familiar with the objective of the game, the history of the sport, and some terminology, including physical features of the golf course, and the equipment for use. The object of the game is to get the ball into all the holes on the golf course in the fewest swings at the ball as possible. Historians tell us the game was invented by shepherds in Scotland. Clubs in use today still resemble the equipment used to herd the sheep. Golfers “tee off” at the “teeing ground” by placing the ball (usually on a “tee”) between the markers and within two club lengths behind the imaginary line between markers. Better players start at teeing grounds farther away. The area between the teeing ground that is closely mown is called the “fairway.” The area of higher grass on the sides of the fairway is called the “rough.” Sand traps, water, swampy areas, etc., are called “hazards.” The closest mown area is around the hole, and that is called the “green.” “Par” is a standard for playing professionals. We aspire to that standard, and we gauge our scores relative to par, but, unless we are professional players, we do not expect to shoot par for the course. We base the “handicap” we use to measure our performance, or to compete with others, relative to par. If we happen to use one less stroke than par for a hole, we say we’ve made a “birdie.” If it takes us on stroke more than par to get the ball in the hole, we say we’ve made a “bogie.” Expect to make a lot more bogies or even double or triple bogies than birdies. Still, it’s the challenge and occasional successes that bring us back to the course. There are four types of golf clubs which player use: 1. "Woods (or "metals") are long clubs, suited for hitting the ball a long way in the air, then rolling even farther. Such a club with a number "1" on it is called a "driver." Others are called "fairway woods" or "fairway metals." 2. "Irons" are shorter clubs, suited for hitting the ball farther and rolling less. They are, therefore, more accurate. 3. "Hybrids" are combination clubs--half irons and half-woods. They combine the advantages and disadvantages of the other types of clubs. 4. "Putters" are for striking the ball when you are on or very near the putting surface. The idea is to roll the ball into the hole. The equipment you need will be furnished for your use during golf lessons. However, if you have your own clubs, you may certainly use them. You may also borrow clubs at the Oak Marr club house, as you can at most golf practice facilities. If you do not have your own clubs, generally, you should wait until you have finished a series of lessons before you buy clubs. That’s because you, too, can afford the advantage professional players have—custom fitted clubs. Golf clubs can be fitted at any time for your height and grip size, but if you wait until you have a repeatable golf swing, clubs can also be fitted for your swing. A professional club fitter can then provide clubs for you that are suited for your swing speed and the angle (left and right, and up and down) at which the club face should impact the ground for your own swing. Those extra fittings will give you the best chance for a straight, long golf shot. Depending on where you buy them, custom fitted clubs may cost no more than clubs "off the rack." Finally, this is a truly great sport, and I am privileged to help you learn to play it well! © 2005 Joe La Marca, Golf Lessons for Every Body
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