Lesson 1 – About the Game

The game of golf can bring you years of enjoyment, exercise and many rewarding social experiences. People have been playing golf for centuries and now it's time for you to start.

Our mission here is to provide you with all the basic tools and information you need to get started. Your first lesson in our program will be about the basics of golf.

Before you head out on the course, it might help to know a little bit about the game, the terminology of golf and why golf might be a great sport for you.

We want you to know that in addition to being fun, learning to golf can be relatively inexpensive and an excellent form of exercise.

Object of the Game
Let's begin by taking a quick look at the objective of the game of golf. As you may already know, the objective of golf is to get the golf ball in the hole in the fewest number of strokes. "Strokes" are defined as an attempt to strike and advance the golf ball. The fewer number of strokes it takes a player to get the ball in the hole, the lower the golf score. The objective is to complete the 9 or 18 individual holes in the lowest number of strokes possible, while still being able to enjoy the game.
A "golf course" is where the game is played, and is made up of either 9 or 18 individual and unique holes that all have a cup, which the ball eventually ends up in. The holes vary in distance, difficulty and terrain. The golf course consists of Par 3's, Par 4's and Par 5's. The par numbers assigned to each hole refer to how many strokes it should take a player to get the ball in the hole.
 
Par 3's:
These are holes that are relatively short. A player should get the ball on the green from the tee box (designated area for starting a hole) in one shot. Once the ball is on the green it should take two putts to get the ball in the hole. Most Par 3's are between 100 and 200 yards long and a player would typically use an iron on their tee shot.

Par 4's:
These holes are longer than the Par 3's, and require a long tee shot and an "approach" or "second" shot" to get to the green. Most Par 4's are between 275 and 425 yards long. A player would typically use their driver on their tee shot and an iron for their approach. Much like the Par 3's, it should take two putts to get the ball in the hole when the ball is on the green.
 
Par 5's:
These are the longest holes on the golf course and typically require 3 shots to get to the green. Most Par 5s are around 500 yards long. A player would typically use their driver on their tee shot, a fairway wood (3 or 5 wood) for their second shot and an iron for their approach. Again, it should take two putts to get the ball in the hole when the ball is on the green.
Beginners may want to start by playing local executive golf courses, also knows as Par-3 Courses, or some of the easier public courses in the area. Beginners should start with 9 holes and when your game is ready play 18 holes. Public Golf courses can be found in almost every city in the nation and usually provide rental equipment and supplies for all your needs.

The Health Benefits of Golf
In addition to being just downright fun, golf has many health benefits. Walking the course and carrying your own clubs will help with physical endurance and cardiovascular fitness. As people become more sedentary, they are at risk for many disease processes (obesity, blood clots, or heart disease) that may be prevented by healthy habits like regular exercise. An average 9 hole round of golf includes approximately 2 miles of walking while an 18 hole round of golf includes approximately 4 miles of walking.
Regular exercise may improve your sleep, since many people sleep better after a day of activity. The golf swing requires flexibility, coordination and agility. Regular physical activity can help maintain your muscles and ligaments, and help prevent joint strains.
Did you know that just being outside could have health benefits? Your body actually makes vitamin D when you are out in the sun. In addition, your brain's chemicals act differently when you are outdoors, which can affect the way you feel. One of the most undervalued health benefits to golf is the psychological well-being that people get from being outdoors and playing a game they really enjoy. So the next time you hit greens, pass up the golf cart, and be sure to enjoy your surroundings while playing the game you love.
 
What is the Short Game?
The short game is generally defined as any shot within or around 100 yards from the green. There are many aspects to the short game, and many different types of shots played from inside this distance. A good short game is the key to cutting strokes off your score and playing better golf. Below is a brief description of the 5 types of shots that make up the

• Pitching: The Pitch shot involves hitting the ball fairly high into the air and letting it roll along the green to the hole. Typically a Pitching Wedge or Sand Wedge will be used for this shot.
  
• Chipping: The Chip shot typically involves hitting the ball a short distance in the air and letting it roll along the green all the way to the hole. Depending on the lie a club with less loft like an 8-iron can be played.
  
• Lobbing: The Lob shot is a tricky one that requires much practice. It involves hitting the ball high in the air in an attempt to land it close to the target, and stopping it quickly. Typically a Sand Wedge or Lob Wedge is used for this shot, and again, will require hours of practice to master.
  
• Bunker Shots: Bunker shots refer to shots played from either a Sand or Grass Trap. For a sand shot, a player will use the Sand Wedge and allow the loft of the club to carry the ball out of the trap. Grass Traps are rare, but you will find them on occasion. A lofted club like the Lob Wedge or the Sand Wedge should get you out of this type of trap. Keep in mind that both of these are hazards, so a player is not allowed to ground the club prior to the shot.
  
• Putting: Putting the golf ball effectively is one part of the game that requires practice, practice, and more practice. Getting a feel and building confidence in your putting stroke takes time, but the time you invest will repay you on the course. Simply put, putting the ball involves moving the putter head back and then through in a pendulum swing motion that advances the ball towards the hole.

Physical Conditioning and Preparation
Before you take that first swing with a golf club, there are some things you need to know. Although swinging a golf club may look simple enough, the mechanics that make a golf swing work involve several major muscle groups working together. Some critical areas and muscles involved in the swing include the back, the shoulders, the hips and legs. Stretching and strengthening these groups is very important prior to playing golf. The golf swing is an unnatural movement, and proper stretching and preparation will help to avoid injury.

Each of these muscle groups is important, but most important of these is the back. Since most golf injuries occur to the lower back region, we'll focus there for now. A golf swing requires twisting of the torso, and can apply pressure and stress to the upper and lower back. As a player addresses the ball, proper flex in the knees can alleviate some of this stress, but not all. At address, the lower back muscles support the upper torso weight as it is angled forward to the ball. As the club is taken away to top position, the back twists, and is still responsible for holding the head and shoulders steady and upright.
As the swing proceeds downward, and then into the follow-thru, the arms transition around the torso, causing the back to twist in the opposite direction. This unusual motion can cause strain to an unprepared lower back. The golf swing can generate club head speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. It's this speed, power, and momentum that a player must understand and be prepared for. The key is to stretch, strengthen, and condition these muscle groups to avoid injury. So before you dig into that large bucket of range balls, take your time and sufficiently stretch out those muscles, especially the back! Consult your local Golf Pro or physiotherapist for exercises you can do to prepare your body for the game of golf.
 
The Sand Trap
For some, this is the scariest place on the golf course. Between the term "trap", and what can actually happen to your ball there, it can be a little frightening. Sand traps have the ability to intimidate even the most skilled players every now and then.
They vary in size, depth, sand consistency, and difficulty. Typically found near greens to gobble up errant approach shots or in the fairways where a perfect drive would land. Playing confident shots from the sand will take time and practice.
Here are some keys to playing shots from the sand trap:

• Follow through on all sand shots! Our tendency here is to stab at the ball. If there is no follow through, the club can stop very abruptly, especially if the sand is wet. No follow thru will increase your chances of staying in the trap by about 90%.
  
• Take a wide stance, and open the club face. Angling the club open is done by rotating the club head a little to increase the loft. This will help the club slide beneath the ball and sand, as well as lofting the ball up and landing it softly.
  
• The thing that occurs most often is taking too little, or too much sand. Translated this means hitting it heavy, or thin. Hitting it heavy means you have taken too much sand and probably only advanced the ball a few inches. Hitting it thin means you've hit the ball first, and the sand shortly afterwards. Thin shots usually end up on the other side of the green, or worse, OB.
  
• Ideally, a player wants to hit the sand first directly behind the ball, and allow the club and sand to carry the ball out of the trap. You don't actually contact the ball on most shots from the greenside bunkers. A good method is to practice hitting about 1-2 inches behind the ball with a full swing, and a good follow through.

There are many ways to describe a Sand Trap and what happens to your golf ball when it lands there. Here are some you'll hear from time to time. The beach, the bunker, the trap, jail, buried, fried egg, and our personal favorite…plugged. Each describes a nasty condition that makes escape a little difficult. But with practice, patience, and a good follow through, it should help.

Lesson 2 – Rules and Etiquette

We have put together lesson two, Rules and Etiquette, to make sure you know what you're doing once you're on the course.

Whether you're playing golf with your boss in a corporate golf outing, your father in-law or your spouse, we will have you well informed and ready to play golf. Before you ever step foot on the course, there are some basic rules of golf that you need to learn. More importantly, there are some basic rules of golf etiquette that you'll need to know.

Etiquette 101
Golf etiquette can be one of the more worrisome topics for a beginning golfer. Whether it is playing golf with your boss, a client, or just hanging out with your friends, there is certain etiquette in golf which is understood among more experienced players. Though it is completely voluntary, golf etiquette is one of the more important aspects of the game and a thorough understanding can help prevent further humiliation on the golf course.
 
Tee Times:
Always phone ahead to the golf course to book a tee time for your group. Golfers should always arrive and check in at the golf course 15 minutes to one half hour prior to their tee time. Golf is played in a maximum of four to a group in order to maintain a common pace of play on the course. Golf courses usually try to pair golfers up as groups of four wherever possible, both to maintain a common pace of play on the course and to allow the maximum amount of golfers to get out on the course. Beginners should be aware that when booking a tee time at a golf course if you are booking for a group of less than four people that the golf course may book other golfers with you, particularly at peak times.

Safety First:
Before you hit the ball, make sure there is no one in the way. This means, no one is around you and there is no one in the path where your ball is going. This sounds pretty simple, but it's a known fact that a perfect drive at the driving range from the day before, can suddenly turn into a bad slice once there are two or more people watching. If you think your ball is about to hit someone, it is common courtesy to yell “fore” to let that person know its coming.

Quiet Please:
Shhhhh! It is common courtesy to be quiet and still when another player is hitting. It's amazing how many of your friends will forget this rule, and think of creative nicknames to call you while you are in mid-swing. This can happen frequently when a small wager is involved with the game.
 
In the Sand:
It happens to everyone sooner or later. What appears to be a perfect drive heads straight for the sand trap. Now what? Well, you've got to jump in and take your shot. After you've hit your ball from the sand trap (or bunker), it is common etiquette to pick up one of those little rakes around the side and smooth out the sand. Also, it is courteous to leave the rake on the side of the sand trap so the next hapless golfer will be able to get to it.

Repairing Divots:
It is important to replace your divots every time you take a chunk out of the course.  This also applies to ball-marks on the putting green. When your ball lands on the green, take some time to repair the ball mark where the ball landed. Ask a golfer or staff at the golf course how to do this.  It is considered poor etiquette to take out large chunks of grass while taking practice swings on the tee, and even poorer etiquette to take out large chunks of grass out from the putting green.
 
On the Green:
The putting green is somewhat sacrosanct territory for a golfer. If you have your bag of clubs with you, leave them off to the side of the fringe, but never lay them directly on the green. Also, when you're on the putting green, be careful not to walk across another player's lines. A player's "line" is the line between their ball and the hole. If your ball is in the way of another player's putt, it is common courtesy to mark you ball with a coin or ball marker so as not to interfere with the other player's putt. While on the green, be careful not to damage the green with your club, the flagstick or your golf spikes. Well, so far, we've covered some of the basics of golf etiquette. You're ready to go hit the links.

The Heart of Golf Etiquette
Golf etiquette involves the way a golfer treats other golfers as well as the golf course. Arnold Palmer stated: "Golf resembles life in so many ways. Golf, more than any game on earth, depends on simple, timeless principles of courtesy and respect." That's true, but few among the huge influx of new golfers have any idea how to act on the course. Their intent is not to be discourteous; they simply don't know what is expected of them. Here are a few important golf etiquette guidelines for the putting green.

• Keep your cart on the cart path near the green. If you carry your bag, lay it down several steps from the green's fringe. This will avoid any damage to the green.
  
• Take care with flagsticks when removing and replacing them in the hole and when placing them on the green, so as to not mark the green.
  
• If your ball is in someone's way, mark its spot with a small coin or similar object.
  
• Take care not to walk on the line of other player's putts.
  
• While waiting your turn to putt, study the break so you are ready to play when it is your turn.
  
• After you hole out, remove your ball from the hole with your hand, not the head of your putter, which can damage the cup.
  
• Repair your ball mark and others you see on the putting green. A repaired ball mark will heal in 24 hours; an ignored ball mark will take three weeks to heal.

Pace of Play
A round of golf by a foursome at an average golf course should take a maximum of 15 minutes a hole or 2 hours and 15 minutes for 9 holes and 4 hours and 1/2 hours for 18 holes. Golfers should always strive to keep pace with the groups ahead of them by staying within a hole of the group in front of them. If you are a hole or more behind the group in front of yours, you have lost pace and should pick up the pace to get back in position. Slow play by one group can ruin the golf day for everyone else on the golf course. If each player in a foursome saves five seconds per shot, each 9 hole round of golf would be shortened by approximately 15 minutes and 18 hole rounds of golf by approximately 30 minutes! Here are some time saver hints for beginners to help get around the golf course in a timely manner:

*On the Tee

• Always have extra tees and a spare ball in  your pocket.
• The first player ready to hit should do so.
• Let shorter hitting players hit first.
• Always watch where your ball goes to avoid wasting time locating it.
• After hitting return to your clubs and be ready to proceed.

*Always be Ready to Hit

• Proceed directly to your ball.
• Plan your shot and select your club while approaching your ball.
• Take only one practice swing and get ready while others are hitting.

*Don’t Waste Time

• Never record your scores on or near the green as it delays the group behind you.
• Don’t leave your cart or bag in front of the green. Leave it off to the side towards the next tee.
• Don’t waste more than a minute or two looking for a lost ball.

*On the Green

• While waiting to your turn to putt study the break so you are ready when it is your turn.
• Putt continuously until your ball is in the hole, unless restricted by another player’s line.

*Picking Up

• Beginners are sometimes too diligent on playing by the rules, after hitting the ball 6 times on any fairway do yourself a favor and pick up and go to the green to play from there. This will alleviate the frustration level for beginners and help the pace of play on the course.
  *Similarly on the putting green after putting 3 times pick up and go to the next tee.

Some Basic Rules of Golf
We include the following basic rules for information and a guideline for beginners. We encourage beginners to not keep score in the first few games and to hit the ball a maximum 6 times a hole and then pick it up and move up to the green. After beginners have played several games of golf and feel more comfortable on the golf course they may opt to keep score and become more aware of the rules. Rule books may be purchased at most golf facilities.

Tee Markers:
When teeing off on a hole, the ball must be behind the Tee markers. (Draw an imaginary line between the two markers and tee your ball behind that line).

Beginners should always use the most forward tees to shorten the course.
 
As It Lies:
Play the ball as it lies. This means you may not improve the way the ball is at rest. If you are on the green, you may mark, and pick up your ball to clean it, but while in the fairway, you must play the ball as it lies. See the RCGA rule book for special circumstances like winter rules, obstructions, standing water, etc.
 
Beginners are encouraged to take a preferred lie anywhere on the course and even use a tee in the fairway until they are more experienced. The idea, remember, is to have fun!

Away:
The ball farthest from the hole is the one that is played first. The term is "away". Example: "Miles, you are away, so go ahead and play first". The person with the lowest score for the hole has "the honors", and plays first on the next hole. In casual games of golf “ready golf” is encouraged where the person that is ready to play hits first. This improves the pace of play on the course.

Sand Traps:
If your ball lands in the Sand Trap, remember to rake it after you have played your shot. The groups behind you will appreciate this. Since this is a hazard, you cannot ground your club prior to the swing. Practice swings are OK, as long as you do not contact the sand.
 
Beginners are encouraged to either pick the ball out of the sand and play from the fairway, or attempt one shot out of the sand and if unsuccessful pick the ball out and play it from the fairway.

Out of Bounds:
If you hit your ball OB, there is a one-stroke penalty, and you must hit another ball. If you are not sure if the ball is OB, hit a "Provisional Ball" just in case. If you determine the first ball is OB, you continue on, and play with the Provisional Ball.
 
Beginners are encouraged to simply go up to where the ball went out of bounds and drop another ball and have fun!

Water Hazards:
If you hit your ball into a Water Hazard, you may play it (could be messy), or with a one-stroke penalty play another ball from where you just hit. Option two is to drop another ball where the original ball entered the Hazard, incur a one-stroke penalty and play on.
 
Beginners are encouraged to simply drop another ball on the other side of the water and play on.

Have Fun:
Golf is a great game. So have fun at it and whenever possible - Leave the golf course in the same shape that you found it.

Lesson 3 – Get Equipped

Finding the right equipment - at the right cost - can make the difference between a great, inexpensive first year of golf and a bad, extremely expensive first year of golf.
We will help you learn about the equipment you need to play golf, including some recommendations about the cost you should expect while learning this new game. PGA Professionals can help you purchase the correct equipment.

The Golf Club: Tools of the Trade

Basic Tools of the Trade:
To play the game of golf a player will need a set of golf clubs, golf balls, and a lot of patience. There are many varieties of golf clubs to choose from, and beginning players should make themselves aware of the choices available. Price ranges and quality are two important factors when purchasing golf clubs. As a beginner, it’s not a good idea to run out and spend a fortune on new clubs and equipment only to find out that you can’t stand the game. Borrow a friend’s set to begin with, and as your game improves, you can consider a set that’s right for you. If you’ve already tried golf and decided that it’s a sport you would like to continue, start with an intermediate set of clubs that suits your level of play. Golf shoes will help you with traction on the grass or mats at the driving range, but are not mandatory to learn the game. Golf shoes will also keep your feet dry in wet grass. Described below are the basic components that make up a set of golf clubs.
 
The Driver
This club is primarily used for Teeing off on holes of long distances, Par 4’s and Par 5’s. It is a steeply faced club with not much loft designed to drive the golf ball long distances, at a comparatively low trajectory. It is also referred to as the 1-Wood. The "wood" description is a bit of a misnomer since most of today’s club manufacturers build their clubs out of such materials as Graphite, Kevlar, Steel, or Titanium. This club is affectionately known as the "Big Dog" and is the largest and longest club in the bag.
 
Fairway Woods
These clubs are primarily used for hitting from the fairway, typically on Par 4’s or Par 5’s where there is a significant distance to the green after the drive. The numbers for these clubs are usually 3, 4 & 5. Each increasing in degree of loft as the number goes up. The 3-Wood is often used off the Tee when accuracy is a must, and distance is not important. Like the irons, a higher number club will have higher trajectory; a lower number club will hit the ball longer in distance.
 
Irons
There are three categories that we’ll use to describe the Irons. First, there are the "long irons": numbers 1, 2, 3 & 4. These clubs are used for long distances anywhere from 180-250 yards. Next, there are the "middle irons," which include numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. These clubs will be used for middle distances of 130-180 yards. Finally, we have the short irons which include the pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge. These clubs will be used for short distances of 130 yards or less. These "utility" clubs as they are sometimes called are lofted clubs that cause the ball to have a high trajectory and thus allow the ball to land softly without much roll. These clubs are also used around the green for pitching, getting out of sand traps, and for golf shots that require creativity.
 
The Putter
The putter is a flat-faced club primarily used on the putting green for putting the ball into the cup. It can also be used when the ball rests just off the green, and the path to the hole is not obstructed.
 
The Costs of Golf
While golf can be a really, really expensive sport, most people don’t realize that golf can be a really affordable sport. Let’s take a look at some of the common costs of golf and see how we can keep the costs down and the enjoyment up. Let’s start by break up the cost of golfing into three separate categories: greens fees, equipment and training.

Green Fees:
Green fees are the price charged by golf courses to play golf. Typically courses charge for 9 holes or 18 holes.
As a beginner, you should look to play average courses. Average courses are usually more “user” friendly and therefore not as difficult as some of the higher end courses. Walking, instead of getting a power cart, will help to keep the costs down and result in you getting a much better workout. Beginners have enough to think about without maneuvering a power cart around a golf course. Until beginners are more comfortable on the golf course a power cart will probably be more of a hindrance than a help.

Equipment:
So many golfers make the mistake of spending thousands of dollars on golf equipment. Don’t be one of those people. We think that beginner golfers should start simple, with a starter set, and learn the game before spending thousands of dollars on equipment. What’s a starter set? A starter set is a full set of clubs, with a bag, that is both affordable and functional.
Typical Equipment Costs
Starter Set: $200-$400
Intermediate Set: $400-$800
Premium Set: $800-$2,000

Training:
This is where most golfers come up way short. Golf lessons are relatively inexpensive, compared to the costs of premium clubs, and will make all the difference in the world. In our opinion golf lessons are the only sure fire way to advance and improve your golf game.
Many golf courses have teaching professionals available to help you with your game. Simply stop by the pro shop and ask about their lessons. If they don’t offer lessons there, they’ll be able to suggest a good local pro or teaching facility.

Lesson 4 – Get Lessons

Now that you've had a chance to introduce yourself to the game of golf, it's time to get some professional help. The PGA has sanctioned professionals in every city that are ready, willing and more than capable of helping you to learn the game.

To really learn to play the game of golf, you'll need to get some expert help. Many modern golf schools have video capture programs to help analyze your swing and more effectively help you to get the kinks worked out.
Golf lessons are, by far, the best way to learn to golf. While it’s possible to teach yourself with numerous trips to the driving range and the local golf courses, it’s quite likely that you’ll end up teaching yourself some bad habits and will struggle to improve.
Many struggling golfers blame their equipment for their poor play. Some of them go out and buy thousands of dollars worth of premium golf clubs in hopes of correcting their swing. Does that make sense to you? If the golf swing is flawed, more expensive clubs won’t help to fix that. Lessons will.
Premium golf clubs can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. We recommend purchasing a decent starter set and spending your money on golf lessons – not premium clubs.
A golf professional will teach you to use a proper grip, swing with the correct posture and a good stance, keep your head and shoulders lined up correctly, use your body and arms to achieve full swing power and get you to learn how to practice productively.
Premium golf clubs will drain your bank account and make you “the guy with the nice clubs that still can’t hit a decent shot.” Don’t be that guy. In the end, the guy (or gal) that scores better is the one that gets to brag.

Lesson 5 – Practice First

Before you ever step foot on the course, you should take a trip to the driving range or your local golf practice facility. Why not just rush out and work things out on the course? Well ... that just doesn't work too well and will cause you more grief than you'd think.
We encourage you to read the following tips and practice your swing, your grip, your stance and your aim before you hit the links.
 
Golf Gimmicks: Practice First
There are at least a thousand "improve your game" gimmicks out there lurking on golf store shelves everywhere, and let’s face it, we've all bought one at some time or another. These are the gadgets and gizmos that promise to have you playing like a pro in no time. But do you really need these things to improve your game?

We recommend that nothing can improve your game more than practice. Unfortunately, geographic location sometimes determines how much golf one can play in a year, but don't let that foot of snow out there stop you from practicing your swing, your putting stroke, your visualization.

More and more the average golfer is seeing endorsements of all sorts of products to improve the golf swing. Don't allow yourself to be swallowed up by the hype and the promise that these products will take ten strokes off your score. Realistically, the only way to shave that many strokes off your score is by practicing (Mostly around the green!). If your swing and game are both in need of help, consult your local teaching professional and arrange some lessons. But if you're contemplating that fix-all plastic thing that promises to have you on the PGA tour by next week, think again! 
Have fun and keep practicing!
 
Putting Tips: Go For the Circle
This is where it all happens, the putting green. The old adage of "You drive for show and putt for dough" is so very true. We all fall victim to the three-putt sometimes, and heaven forbid the four-putt every once in awhile. There is nothing that will add to your score faster, and turn that 87 into a 90, than the three putt. It happens, even touring pros do it every now and then, but here's a way to prevent it.

There are many factors involved when putting the ball, speed, line, estimating the break, putter head acceleration, deceleration, and even the direction in which the grass is growing. Since three putting occurs mostly on putts of distance greater than 30', we'll start with three common things that can lead to a three putt; Misjudging the speed, the distance, and the line of a putt. These are just three things that can open the door for a three-putt opportunity. Inevitably, we either run the ball right on by the hole, leave it way short, or just plain misread the putt. Most putts are not perfectly flat, and are either uphill, downhill, or at side angle.

One thing that most teaching pros agree on is that while practicing these long putts, it's a great idea to visualize a 3-foot circle around the cup and try only to stay within that perimeter. The idea here is that keeping the ball within this 3-foot circle of the cup will give the player an easier second putt, and greatly reduce the chances of three-putting the hole. Spend time putting the ball to this imaginary circle from 30', 40', even 60 foot distances to familiarize yourself with the stroke and distance control needed to get the ball close.

Practicing this visualization method is easy. Most Golf courses and driving ranges have practice greens set aside exclusively for putting and chipping, so utilize them when you can. Once you are proficient at the art of putting the ball within three feet each time, you'll find that your scores will drop significantly, and three-putts are much less frequent.
 
Finding Your Balance
To create a golf swing that produces consistency and power you must maintain balance throughout the entire swing. They key to achieving balance is to set up with your weight centered over the balls of your feet. By doing this you have set your legs up to feel lively and ready for action.

Many golfers make the mistake of setting up with their weight on their heels, thereby locking their lower bodies into a stationary position not ready to make an athletic move.

Here is how to find your proper balance point: standing tall with your feet spread about shoulder width, bend forward at the hip joint and allow your rear to move slightly back. At this point your knees may be slightly locked. Now flex the knees slightly and this will allow your hands to hang under your chin and put your weight naturally onto the balls of your feet.
Where you bend is crucial to finding your balance. It is not a feeling of sitting down on a barstool. This would cause the weight to move back onto your heels. Practice finding your balance just a couple of minutes a day and it will start feeling very natural.
 
How to Fix Your Slice
This article will cover the nature of a slice and point to several cures. First things first, it is essential to understand what a slice is and how it occurs.

A slice is a shot that spins off to the right (for righties) or off to the left (for lefties). A slice occurs when the golf club approaches the ball from an outside-to-inside path. This path is usually coupled with an open face. "What the heck is a path," you say? The path of the club is the angle that the clubhead approaches and passes through the ball at impact. A neutral path would be one where the clubhead swings directly parallel to your feet (and thus directly toward your target). An outside-to-inside path is one where the club approaches the ball from the right (for righties) and then cuts in and moves well to the left after the ball. It therefore cuts "out" to "in". With a neutral clubface, but especially with an open clubface, this causes the ball to spin to the right.

So how do you fix it? There are two main engines to driving the golf club on a neutral or even an inside-to-outside path (which would result in a hook). First, you must ensure that your shoulders rotate 90 degrees on the backswing. The shoulder rotation allows your arms to be set behind you (over your right shoulder) and thus in position to approach the ball from an inside path. With your shoulders now turned 90 degrees (so that your back is facing your target), you're in position for the key move.
The first move in the downswing, the move that separates the good from not-so-good golfers and great golfers from the rest, is the hip turn. With the club positioned over your right shoulder, rotate your right hip so that it turns in front of your left hip. If your hip turns and your arms stay relaxed, your arms and thus your club will simply "drop" in next to your right hip. Once the arms have dropped, your club is now free to follow the hip turn through impact. Notice how the hips turn. They rotate from inside (close to the feet) to outside (out toward the ball). As the club follows the hips, it swings on an inside-to-outside path.
On an outside-to-inside path, there is no connection between the arms and the hips. You can see there is no separation between the hands and the hips at or shortly after impact, and how the arms pull across the body. So next time you hit a slice think about how your path felt, and ask yourself two questions: "Did I turn my shoulders?" "Did I turn my hips?" Chances are the answer lies within one of those questions.  

Lesson 6 – Find a Course

The time has come. You’re ready to hit the links and play some golf! With so many courses to choose from, where do you start?

We have put together some recommendations to help you determine how to find the right course for you – the beginner.
To find a golf course near you check the yellow pages and call to book a tee time. Make sure to tell the course you are a beginner and ask for a non peak time to play.

The Right Course for You
“With so many golf courses to choose from, where should I start?” Picking the right course can make all the difference in the world for the beginner golfer. Beginners must remember to phone the course to book a tee time and ask about the dress code. There is nothing more embarrassing than showing up to play golf and finding out that you are not allowed on the course because you are wearing jeans or a t-shirt. Public golf courses tend to have the most relaxed dress codes. Most public courses simply don’t allow muscle shirts, bare feet or metal spikes on shoes.  We’ve put together some simple guidelines to help you find a course that’s right for you:
 
Location is Key:
Try to find a course that is near your home. The more convenient it is for you to get to the course, the more likely it is that you’ll go the first time and keep going back.
 
Cheap is Good:
As a beginner, you don’t want to play courses like Pebble Beach. You want to play the easiest courses that you can find. It just so happens that, much to your favor, these tend to be the least expensive courses too.
 
Take the Easy Route:
A great course for beginners has wide open fairways, few water hazards, flat greens and other beginner golfers. Playing a really difficult course can take the fun out of your round in a hurry. It can also increase the cost of your round (after losing a dozen golf balls).
 
Keep It Short:
While many people will tell you that a full round of golf is 18 holes, we would encourage you to limit your first couple trips out to 9 hole adventures. Playing 18 holes can take as many as 6 hours to play. We think that you’ll have a better time if you start out slow and work your way up to 18 holes.
 
Time is Money:
Try to play in off-peak hours. This will give you more freedom on the course and will save you money too. Prime golf times are weekend mornings and afternoons and weekday late afternoons and early evenings. Most golf courses offer twilight rates towards the end of their day. These rates are often much more affordable than typical rates. We recommend playing early on weekday mornings, weekday afternoons or weekend evenings. (Sunday nights are our favorite.) Check with your local courses to see when their twilight rates are in effect and when they recommend playing.