Many would protest to the idea that golf is a game that should be enjoyed for its own sake and that a measure such as hiring a pro to teach you the game defeats the purpose of the game as leisure and recreation.

But while (in the States alone) over 26 million people play golf, most of them hardly or ever get to break a score of 100. Many complain not only over a game less than exemplary but also of body aches and pains after playing.

Mastering the game by playing on one’s own may work for some people, but perhaps not as efficiently as getting someone more knowledgeable (like a coach) to help you. Besides, getting to be good at golf AND enjoying it at the same time can only double the enjoyment the game already brings you.

The decision to get a golf coach is about as important as choosing your golf equipment. You’d need to know what your goals are, to what extent you’re willing to pursue those and how much money you can put into the activity. Here are some things you may want to know about getting a pro to teach you.

- A big advantage in hiring a coach is that your specific weaknesses are addressed. Having identified these, your coach will be able to prescribe exercises to correct these and see to it that you’re doing it right.

- A golf coach should also help you take away some nasty playing habits that result to painful injuries such as the golfer elbow. He/she should also be able to lead you through a warm-up routine. This is by far the biggest advantage as the help you get goes beyond mere play and helps relieve pains you might not have to live with at all.

- Talk to the prospective coach on their take in playing and teaching golf. A pro worth his salt should readily tell you that they would build on the basics of golf and not go with the latest fads and quick-fix methods. A reply such as the latter may get you faster results. But more often than not, as soon as you stop working with them, your performance dwindles back to what you were before. The tried and tested fundamentals may take a while to learn but the results are more long-lasting.

- The average rate for a one-on-one lesson with a golf pro is about $75 for an hour’s lesson. Of course, the price can vary with the pro you’ll be working with and with the golf club or school you’ll be taking your lessons at.

- If the rates for an exclusive one-on-one lesson are too expensive for you, you may opt to go with a group of other golfers to share the expenses. However, try to go with a class that is no bigger than 4 students to a coach. That way, you get as much attention as a one-on-one session without spending too much. A one-hour group lesson for 4 people would cost about $120.

- An important thing you should also remember when working with a pro is going for quality rather than quantity. After all, this is the reason you hired them in the first place. With a limited number of lessons, go for the goal of being excellent at a few good techniques than knowing so many but being unable to execute them properly.

- A good coach will teach you things you can eventually do on your own even without his/her supervision. The idea, after all, is so that you can play a better game on your own. That includes not only the playing proper but also your warm-up and stretching routine as well.

- Finally, even after your lessons and (hopefully) seen improvements in your game, it is still a good thing to come back to your coach at least once a year for him/her to check up your game and see if there are things you need to work on again. There’s always room for improvement, so as long as you can play you might as well play better.

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Label which ball is yours is more practical to do.

Make sure that you get to count your clubs before actual play. You should have a maximum of fourteen clubs.

When starting actual play, it is best that you tee off in front of the tee markers.
When you tee off a little bit off or outside this specified area and you are playing a match play, your opponent may have to ask you to repeat the stroke you just did. The good thing when one does this in a match play, you get to incur no penalty.

However, if in a stroke play, you then are given a penalty of two-stroke. You are therefore required to play in the appropriate area.

If while you are playing and your ball happens to lie in a bunker or a water hazard, you should not in any way touch the ground of the bunker or the water before you do your downswing.

The ball must as much as possible be struck fairly and should neither be spooned or pushed.

It is okay for you to mark the ball that you are using. You could lift your ball, clean it and place it on the exact place where it was.

When dropping a ball, it is best that you erectly stand and then hold the ball at the length of your shoulder, and then you may drop it. If by dropping the ball it happens to strike your partner, you or your caddie, the ball must then be dropped again with no penalty.

It is also okay for you to lift your ball if by doing so you are able to assist another player. Or you also may lift any other ball as long as that ball interferes with your playing or interferes another player.

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The objective of the game of golf is that one should be able to complete a hole by means of hitting a ball from a teeing ground and place it inside the hole of the putting green in as little strokes as possible. What is commonly referred to as a round of golf usually consists of 18 holes to be played in.

In golf, there are basically two kinds of play to choose from. The winner in one kind of play is determined by the holes that are lost and won, this is referred to as a match play.
The other kind of play is determined by the number of strokes one has taken to complete a round. This is called a stroke play.

When playing golf, there are basically two relevant rules to remember: as you find the course, go play it. As the ball lies, it should also be played as such.

If you find it hard to follow the above rule, at least try your best to do what is fair. How do you know what is fair? Below are the summarized rules to give you a good idea of how to play a good and just game of golf.

The Intro: Basic golf courtesy

Avoid moving, talking or standing too close to a golfer who is about to make a stroke.

Play with a minimum amount of delay. As soon as the players in the group that you are in have left, it is just as best that you do the same.

Try your best not to play until the group is already out of the way.

As much as possible, try to replace the divots. Also, do not forget to smooth any footprints found in the bunkers.

It is highly inadvisable to drop your clubs on the putting green, so don’t!

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Why are you playing golf?

Look deep inside you and find out.

Is it because you want to play at least twice a year with your business partners and you do not want to feel left out among their circle? Or is it because you are sincerely and devotedly interested enough to learn and play it for as long as you get the chance? Of all games that are available out there, why in the world did you decide to choose golf?
Only you know the answer to that.

It is impractical to buy a new set of golf clubs and to spend too much time and money selecting the best kind if you only will get to use it once or twice a year. Buying what suits you makes your shopping easier, plus you get to save money buying what applies most to your unique preferences. Be realistic about your wants and your needs. By being able to identify your goals before you actually go out there to shop, you make it easier for yourself to select the kind of equipment you should buy.

How dedicated are you to playing golf?

Just how much effort are you going to put in playing golf? Okay, so you are willing to spend for your golf equipment. The next question is how much do you plan to practice? For how long? Are you planning to take golf lessons?

Basically, the bottom line is: how dedicated are you? If your answer is an ambiguous “not much”, it is probably best that you buy the kind of clubs that are less costly. But if your answer is a resounding “yes”, and that you are so willing to spend the necessary time and effort to better your golf playing, it would not be a bad idea if you settle for the type of golf equipment that costs a bit higher than the regular ones.

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Be familiar with your options on golf shafts

To any one who is just beginning to pay golf, it is important that he or she pay attention to golf shafts. The composition of the golf shaft - either it is steel or graphite - and the flex of the shaft - how much the shaft bends when swung.

Compared to steel, graphite is a lot lighter and could help create a quicker swing speed. Meanwhile, steel is a lot more durable and a lot cheaper compared to graphite.

Since graphite is easier on the swing and is a lot softer to flex, people who prefer to use these are women and senior citizens. However, men who are younger and a lot stronger tend to lean towards the regular and stiff shafts.

Choose your club

A good golf swing is priceless. Golfers who are just beginning to learn the tricks of the trade need to select golf clubs that lean towards those catered to higher-handicappers. It is best that you choose irons that weighed in perimeter and backed by cavity.

Try looking at those sets of hybrid. This is where the irons are long (usually 4- or 3- or 5- ) and are usually substituted by utility clubs.

More discussion on equipment follows in next week’s post.

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Do not forget to shop and ask

The best way to start is from your own home or set of friends, business partners or even your next door neighbor. They may be into golf as much as you are. Why don’t you try asking their opinion and recommendations on the kinds of golf equipment you can buy?

Or you could casually walk into a sports shop and ask advice from there. You could also ask your neighbor who may be into golf also. They may have ideas to give to a new golfer like you. It is a very efficient and practical way to gather ideas.

Know your goals in playing golf

Be realistic about your wants and your needs. By being able to identify your goals before you actually go out there to shop, you make it easier for yourself to select the kind of equipment you should buy. It is impractical to buy a new set of golf clubs and to spend too much time and money selecting the best kind if you only will get to use it once or twice a year. Buying what suits you makes your shopping easier, plus you get to save money buying what applies most to your unique preferences.

Of all games that are available out there, why in the world did you decide to choose golf? Is it because you want to play at least twice a year with your business partners and you do not want to feel left out among their circle? Or is it because you are sincerely and devotedly interested enough to learn and play it for as long as you get the chance?

Be aware how interested and dedicated you are to playing golf

Basically put, how dedicated are you? Okay, so you are willing to spend for your golf equipment. Now, just how much effort are you going to put in playing golf? How much do you plan to practice? For how long? Are you planning to take golf lessons? If your answer is an ambiguous “not much”, it is probably best that you buy the kind of clubs that are less costly. But if your answer is a resounding “yes”, and that you are so willing to spend the necessary time and effort to better your golf playing, it would not be a bad idea if you settle for the type of golf equipment that costs a bit higher than the regular ones.

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Driving is one of the most important aspects of golf. A good drive will eliminate the need for chipping and for taking long putts. What you want is to lengthen your drive or give it more accuracy. Here are a few tips to start you off with driving.

Proper grip is important in driving. If you grip your club too tightly, you might get too uncomfortable to make an accurate shot. If you grip it too loosely, then you might see your club fly along with your golf ball. What you want is to grip it properly. For everyone, your less dominant hand (the one you don’t use for writing) is essentially a strong factor. You don’t want the club to be positioned too high in your palm and you don’t want it too low either. A diagonal position is a preferred grip of the club with respect to your less dominant hand.

Your dominant hand should be less dominant. Don’t let that hand grip the club too tightly or too loosely. This will not help you with your drive. You want it to be loose and relaxed. You might want to put a gap between your first and second fingers. This will give you more power and proper angle to your shots making your drive longer and more accurate.

You should make sure your hands are linked together. Try sticking out the thumb of your less dominant hand and covering it with the palm of your more dominant hand. This will ensure that your grip is tightly secured by your two hands. It would also help your shot as your more dominant hand supports your less dominant hand and vice versa.

Proper alignment is needed. You should align your club’s face to the direction you want your ball to go to. After that, align your feet with your club and as you prepare your drive just stay parallel with your club’s face pointing your shoulder and hands in the same direction.

You should also have the proper stance with regards to your ball position. Try doing this if you don’t know how. After aligning your shots, first put your feet together keeping them pointed to the ball. Then try to move your left feet outward a little. After that do the same thing with your right foot. Keep on doing this until you feel you are comfortable with your stance. Just remember that your feet should also not be more than shoulder-width apart.

The next part is the swing. This is one where you need to practice doing it correctly. You want your shoulders and hands and feet to be loose and relaxed. Try swinging the golf club back and forth just to get into the proper rhythm and create a flow to your golf swing. Remember not to sacrifice your accuracy just to bring in more power to your shot. A balance between the two is better.

To achieve more distance to your swing you want to go through these checkpoints. You must check if your upper body is coiling properly. Your base or your feet should be rock solid and stay intact with your lower body. Your left knee (or right if you are left-handed) must turn past the golf ball as you coil your upper body and your arms must be extended to their full length to achieve maximum swing.

Another trick to achieving distance is to tee your ball higher. This will help you achieve two things. The first one is a better angle on your launch as your club face will hit your ball at a lower place. The other thing is it will help you reduce friction from too much backspin from the ball.

Remember that driving is not easy to master. Even professional golfers have a problem with accuracy of their shots. The thing to remember is to check your stance, your grip and your swing. Don’t be scared to ask for advice if you know you need it. You will also need to practice. Try practicing your swing before you play. Remember the checkpoints and ask for feedback from your trainer if you feel you are doing something wrong.

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First thing to do would be to take practice strokes next to the golf ball. This would help you feel the needed rhythm in putting the ball. You will need to do this as you don’t want your shot to be too awkward or too strong.

Try to have some marker to help you focus and help you with proper alignment of your putt. A marker is where you will aim the ball as you putt. The position of this marker is dependent on the terrain of the golf course.

When getting ready to putt, be sure that your eyes are focused on the golf ball itself. It will help in lining up the putter with the golf ball. You must remember not to focus on the marker but more on how you will make your shot.

Proper putting stance is needed when putting. You don’t want your balance disturbed by a sudden gust of wind. First thing to remember is that you should be comfortable with your stance. One way to do this is to separate your legs with about the same width as your shoulders. This is a standard stance and it should give you a comfortable and balanced posture for your putt.

You could try a wider stance as it will be more balanced but you would be less comfortable. Remember that the wider your legs are apart, the more balanced it is and the less comfortable you are. Just try to find your balance as you make your shot. If you feel you have to sacrifice your comfort zone to have more balance then do it.

You should also remember that your shoulders should be parallel to the direction of the putt. Your arms should just be dropped down straight from your shoulders. Your feet can be open or closed, depending on where you are most comfortable. Remember that the more comfortable you are, the more natural your shot will be.

Remember that all putts are straight. It is your aim that will change. When aiming at a flat green just aim straight to the hole. You should practice so that all your putts just follow an imaginary line. When aiming in an elevated green, you should just putt the same. The difference is that you will aim directly at a point above the hole. What you want to happen is for the ball to stop at one point and to let gravity take your ball directly to the putt.

Long putts are more complicated but if mastered will help tremendously with your game. You should remember that a great long putt will eliminate the need for you to do short putts. The first thing to do is to sit down behind your ball and facing the hole. From that point of view you’ll get to see the low and high points of the green. If it’s a fairly straight green, you can just shoot a straight putt like the way you’re shooting for small putts. If it’s not, then try to evaluate whether to divide your long putt to smaller putts and putt accordingly.

Dividing a long putt depends on the terrain of the golf course. If you see a combination of straight and elevated terrain, dividing it would be better than trying to make your putt in one try. Try to eliminate the elevated terrain so you will just have to create a straight shot putt for your last shot.

Remember that nerves will always come into play when shooting your putts. Just stay relaxed and focused on your shots and you’ll do fine. Don’t blame anyone when you miss your putt, stay focused and just prepare your next shot as if it’s your first putt. Take a deep breath and don’t let your anger get the best of you.

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Golf courses want you to ride a golf cart to play the course, as they want to get as many rounds played in as short an amount of time as possible. They also get more revenue from renting the cart to you. This is business, but their business does not help your health. Walking the golf course gets your heart pumping and circulates blood throughout your whole body. This is great low level cardiovascular exercise.

Walking is also a great way to enjoy the pleasure of walking in the outdoors away from it all. This will relax you and probably improve your golf game. The more relaxed you are, the better you play.

Walking is a great form of exercise. This fact has been published in many articles and medical and health journals. There are studies that show that walking the golf course during an 18 hole game of golf is equivalent to between 40% to 70% of an intense aerobics class. Playing 18 holes of golf and walking the course has also been shown to equate to a 45 minute workout. It is also been shown to be the same as walking 3 to 4 miles. There are also studies that show walking the golf course is beneficial for lowering your bad cholesterol as opposed to riding in a cart. Riding in a cart did not provide the same health benefit.

As you are walking the golf course, take in the great scenery that is offered on a golf course. These areas are groomed and kept up on a daily basis. While you are walking, you can think about your next shot. You can also think about your last shot and get in a good mind set to make a good shot on the next stroke.

Most golf courses are not flat. They have hills that must be traversed. Riding a golf cart, you usually do not notice the change in elevation. Walking those hills will really give you a great appreciation for the lay of the land. This should also give you ideas for how best to play your shot.

As with any exercise plan, you should check with your doctor. Your doctor can best determine if you are capable of walking for 18 holes on a golf course. Chances are the doctor will enthusiastically recommend it.

Go out there and enjoy walking the golf course. It could improve your golf game. It will certainly improve your health. If you are having a bad day on the golf course, taking your focus off of your game by enjoying the scenery while walking can be a great stress relief.

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Over the coming weeks, months and years I’m going to share my love for the wonderful game of golf to you through this site.

I aim to update with new content on at least a weekly basis so remember to check back frequently to ensure that you don’t miss any golf hints and tips articles.

See you soon and I hope you enjoy the golf education you’ll be given through this site.

Rick