Golf Trip Tips: Getting started for the first time golfers

If it's your first time to be on a golf trip and to be playing golf in general, prepare yourself. According to one editor: “the hardest part about golf can be getting started.”

But, don't worry that much, remember that this is your first time and you just want to get a feel of what the game is all about.

Here are some of the things that you have to remember before saying, “I'm ready to take on the golf course!”

Since you're a beginner, make learning a priority-- and no need for the expensive equipment you may have wanted.

1. Golf club. You don't need the best one there is to offer. Focus on finding the sort of equipment that will allow you to develop your 'imperfect skills' with minimal expense. But if you don't have time or money to buy a club, borrowing clubs during a round is permissible under certain circumstances, but it's against the rules in most. So it's best for a beginner to simply make sure you have the club you need.
   
   
2. Golf balls. Again, choose the less expensive brand. If you're unsure of the number of balls to buy, buy balls based on how many you lose in a round or have multiple balls ready. You'll probably lose a few balls in your first round. Also, the rules of golf allow you 5 minutes to search for your ball, so take a look in the general area of where your ball went. If you don’t see it within 30 seconds, drop a marker where you thought it landed and keep on going. 
    
3. Dress codes. Many golf courses have dress codes. Find out the appropriate dress code to wear at the course you're playing. A pair of khaki shorts or slacks and a collared golf shirt will almost always meet the requirements, but it's a good idea to check beforehand.

Yes, it's true, the Rules of Golf is 182 pages long, and getting good score is important. But for beginners:

4. Rules. Learn the basics of the rules and etiquette of the game. There are any number of web sites where you can do this. Don’t worry about the rules too much. Frankly, you probably won’t even know all of them that well.

5. Score. Don’t worry about your score also. Remember, this is your first time and you just want to experience playing golf. Just relax and enjoy your golf trip. 
    
6. Position. Develop a pre-shot routine you are comfortable with and stick to it every single time - it will become almost second nature after a while and you will not even need to think about how to get yourself in the right position. Also, when playing, play one shot at a time. If you hit a bad shot, don't focus on what you did wrong, just move on.

And lastly, make sure you warm up and stretch before you even pick up a club. Remember, it's your first time so don't get mad if things go wrong. It's your golf trip after all!