A practical guide to what matters most.
Beginner golfers can often feel overwhelmed before ever hitting their first good shot. Which clubs do I need? What type of golf ball should I play? What about golf gloves and other things I need? What should I do when I’m on the green? Do I really need a golf lesson? How or what should I practice? There’s a lot to process in a short amount of time. Which is why we felt the need to boil all your questions down into 10 things beginner golfers need to know. 10 simple yet foundational concepts that will make life simpler as you learn to have fun playing golf.
By the way, don’t forget about any items you may be thinking of that are not mentioned in this post. You may need some, but not all, later as you become a more skilled and experienced golfer.
You Don’t Need Everything to Get Started
The good news is that less is actually more for beginner golfers. You don’t need everything. And don’t need to know everything about golf right away.
In my experience, beginner golfers improve faster when the game is simplified. And fun is the main objective. You should learn what matters most first, ignoring, for now, all the other items that are not useful at the moment. Build a few essential habits and learn to make choices that help you have more fun with less effort.
True, looking and acting the part is sometimes what a new golfer needs to experience immediate but fleeting confidence. But those cosmetic items that are your temporary camouflage will be seen through by others faster than you realize, forcing you to make simple and effective choices to actually gain experience, knowledge, and functionality as a new golfer.
So here are 10 things beginner golfers need to know. All are practical starting points for you, not determined by an emotional opinion. Just common-sense basics that will make golf an easier game for you to understand, play, and enjoy, right out of the gate.
1. You Do Not Need a Full Bag of Golf Clubs or a Pile of Gadgets
Many beginner golfers assume they need a complete set of clubs, premium golf balls, multiple gloves, a rangefinder, a launch monitor, three training aids, and a tour bag before they can even look like a golfer.
You don’t!
The Rules of Golf allow a golfer to carry up to 14 clubs. But you do not have to carry 14. In fact, most beginner golfers are better off starting with fewer clubs and learning what each golf club does well. A putter, a wedge, one or two short-to-mid irons, a hybrid, and one longer club are plenty to begin learning the game.
Golf Clubs
For beginner golfers, fewer golf clubs often means fewer decisions. And fewer decisions usually mean less confusion and simpler choices.
A simple starter set of golf clubs will help you learn distance gaps, club selection, and basic shot patterns without standing over every ball wondering which club you’re “supposed” to hit. That is one reason beginner golf lessons are helpful. A good coach can tell you what you actually need instead of what golf marketing tells you to buy.
Golf Balls
There are different types of golf balls available. With some specifically designed for beginner golfers. Most of those are the less expensive golf balls to purchase. And offer less spin and softer cores to promote straighter and longer shots. A good example of this type of beginner golf ball is the Callaway Supersoft. Its dimple design allows for excessive spin while providing a core that stores more energy, resulting in longer, straighter shots with the limited skills you currently possess. And these balls are affordable to lose, should you find yourself hitting golf balls into creeks or ponds, or in an area out of bounds.
Premium golf balls are wonderful and designed for golfers more experienced than you. Learn to make a golf swing that squares the golf club face first, each swing you make, before investing in a premium golf ball that requires more swing speed to compress the ball in the same way a beginner golf ball does.
Golf Gloves
A golf glove is not a necessity or requirement. But golf gloves do make it easier to generate the friction you need to hold a golf club comfortably and securely.
A golf glove is traditionally worn on the hand that holds the top, or butt end, of the golf club. For the right-handed golfer, that is your left hand, the opposite for a left-handed golfer. Wearing a golf glove on the top hand provides additional security for the club in that hand, which does the most pulling through the swing, as well as for rotation. But as a beginner golfer, you may find it easier to secure and control the golf club by wearing a golf glove on both hands until you build the finger strength necessary to secure the golf club as you swing.
It’s important that if you decide to use a golf glove, you choose one that is durable yet comfortable. It fits your hand without being too tight or bunching up in the palm or sides. A golf glove should fit snugly on your hand.
‘Needed’ versus ‘Wanted’ Accessories
Taking a less-is-more approach to equipment, here is what you need to play golf right now. A set of golf clubs, a few golf balls and tees, a golf glove if you want one, a towel, a ball marker, a divot tool, and water. That’s it.
Most everything else you’ll think of as being a piece of equipment falls in the category of an accessory. Accessories make you feel like you “want” something, but don’t really need it. Take a wait-and-see attitude with everything else. So you can find out if golf is a game you truly enjoy. Before investing your hard-earned dollars in items you may not need now or in the future. Doing so makes the problem-solving aspect of golf easier for you as a beginner golfer.
2. Dress for Movement, Comfort, and Weather
Beginner golfers sometimes worry too much about looking like they belong. My advice is to focus first on feeling like you can move.
Shoes
Golf shoes matter because they help you keep traction and balance, especially on wet grass, slopes, and sandy areas. Comfortable shoes that keep you stable are more important than stylish shoes that hurt your feet by the sixth hole.
Comfortable Clothing
Wear clothes that let you turn your shoulders, rotate and bend from your hips, and walk comfortably. If your shirt pulls across your back or your shorts make it hard to squat and read a putt, the clothing you’re wearing is actually hurting your enjoyment of golf.
Weather-Related Apparel
Golf is played outside, which means the weather is part of the game. A light rain jacket, a hat, an extra towel, and an extra glove on damp days are practical and not luxuries. The beginner golfer who stays comfortable playing in the elements will be more patient, leading to an expedited learning curve and more enjoyment of the game and its surroundings.
3. Protect Your Health the Same Way You Protect Your Score
Golf does not look physically demanding until you spend four plus hours in the sun walking five plus miles, while bending, concentrating, and making golf swings. Sometimes, after only one round of golf, the beginner golfer could lose all interest in golf, simply because of items that most of us take for granted and do not make a round of golf fun.
The FDA and CDC recommend broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, along with other protective measures such as hats, sunglasses, and clothing that cover exposed skin. That matters in golf because even a short practice session can mean prolonged sun exposure.
Sun Protection
If you are going to be on the course or range regularly, build a routine. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher before you play. And reapply as needed as you play. A broad-brimmed hat to protect your neck and a good pair of sunglasses can help make the sun your ally, not your enemy, on the golf course. And more obviously, the beginner golfer who makes sun protection automatic is making a very smart long-term decision.
Hydration, Nutrition, and Recovery
Hydration matters too. The American College of Sports Medicine notes that activity should be started while properly hydrated, and that fluid replacement during activity should prevent excessive dehydration. In plain English: show up with water already in your system, and do not wait until you feel lousy to start drinking.
Water is better than sports drinks. And much better than alcohol.
Consuming simple protein-based snacks goes a long way toward keeping you fueled during a practice session or a long golf round. And do not ignore recovery. Sleep matters. Whether you’re walking or riding, you’re expending more energy playing golf than you realize. If something hurts, don’t just swing harder and hope it disappears. Listen to your body and adjust. If you’re taking golf lessons, inform your golf coach of your experiences when it comes to keeping fit for golf. I bet your golf coach has a few suggestions that will help you play better by taking better care of yourself.
4. Learn a Few Rules and Etiquette Habits Early
All beginner golfers should learn a handful of rules and etiquette habits right away because doing so will make the game safer, smoother, and more enjoyable for everyone. You’ll also feel more comfortable and less embarrassed when playing with strangers with whom you can sometimes be paired.
You don’t need to memorize the entire rule book. The most important part of the rules book is the definition section. If you take a glance at the definitions every so often, you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll become educated about the rules that matter to you most.
From an etiquette standpoint, understanding the pace of play is probably more important than anything else. No matter who you play with, you don’t want to be the golfer holding everyone up. Nor do you want to be the fastest golfer in your group, impatiently waiting for everyone else to catch up with you.
On the Course
Stand where you’re safe and can’t be seen by the golfer who is next to play. Remaining relatively still and quiet when someone is swinging is the acceptable norm.
Pace of play is all about the group in front of you. Not the group behind you. Always make sure you can see the group ahead of you.
A few other etiquette items include only marking your ball on the green when asked or needed. Always repair your ball mark and one other. Always rake the bunker when you’re in it, hitting a shot. And replace or fill divots to keep the fairways nice and lush.
At the Practice Facility
Etiquette matters at the golf practice facility as well. No one wants to be around a golfer who is ignoring the simple rules designed for everyone’s safety, or who is the constant complainer looking for sympathy.
Ropes on a practice range are there for a reason. To manage and rotate turf and turf conditions. Always respect the staged ropes and hit your practice shots within the designated roped areas. Obey the signage of the facility and avoid any “closed” areas.
Having your practice balls scattered all over is an accident waiting to happen. Ensure you’re only taking a couple of golf balls at a time out of the bucket to avoid clutter. Do the same when at the short-game area. While being courteous about how much space you use. The USGA’s practice-facility guidance repeatedly comes back to the same idea: be courteous to others and respect the area you are using.
When we conduct a Custom Coaching Program for Beginners, we teach our clients these good, courteous habits and highlight the rules of golf that will make the biggest difference in their experience.
5. Play From Tees that Fit Your Current Skill Level
One of the fastest ways to make golf miserable is to play a golf course that is too long for your current skill level.
This is a common, avoidable mistake among beginner golfers. Their egos get in the way, leading them to think that moving up a tee is somehow embarrassing. It’s not; it’s smart golf!
The USGA and PGA of America have long promoted “Tee It Forward,” and USGA materials note that shorter tees can improve playability, pace, and enjoyment for players with slower swing speeds. USGA research also indicates many golfers are playing courses that are too long for their ability.
For the beginner golfer, the right tee should let you keep the ball in play more often, hit shorter clubs into greens, lose fewer balls, and finish holes without feeling like every par 4 is a survival test.
Playing the wrong tees is the most overlooked item for a beginner golfer. When taking beginner golf lessons, this should be a point of emphasis. And it is with each of our clients, regardless of skill level. It doesn’t matter how good or bad your swing mechanics might be. If you choose to play a tee that puts longer irons and hybrids in your hands after hitting great tee shots into the fairway, you’re playing the wrong tees!
6. Your Setup Matters Before Your Swing Speed Does
Beginner golfers usually want the ball to go high, straight, and far. That makes sense. But before this can happen consistently for you, something else needs to become consistent in your setup.
Aim, Balance, Ball Position, Grip.
If any of these setup pieces fail to repeat consistently or are performed poorly, your golf swing has no chance of being consistent.
This is why I believe “your basic and standardized setup positions” are where you’ll make the biggest improvements as a beginner golfer. For that matter, for any skill level golfer. Tour players obsess over their setup positions. So should beginner golfers! It is arguably the most important of the 10 things beginner golfers need to know. Because it affects everything, a poor setup can create bad contact, slices, topped shots, and fat shots before the club even starts back.
Having a golf coach help you with these fundamentals could mean the difference between you playing golf for a lifetime and quitting before you get a chance to play one round. Learn how to stand to the ball. Learn where the ball goes in your stance with different clubs. Learn how to aim the leading edge of the golf club. Learn what athletic balance feels like.
7. The Brain and Body Learn New Movement in Stages
This is one of the biggest concepts beginner golfers need to understand, especially if you get frustrated easily.
A new movement does not become reliable just because you heard a good tip once.
Motor-learning research shows that skill learning develops over repeated practice sessions and that improvement tends to happen across both short and longer time scales. In other words, your brain and body need repetition, time, and consolidation. That is why a new motion can feel awkward today and more natural later.
Your body and brain learn how to swing the golf club the same way you learned how to walk. Why? Because your body must first learn to balance any new movement. Before allowing you to gradually and naturally increase the speed of the new movement. You didn’t just pop out of your mother’s womb running a race. And you fell several times as you learned to walk, then to run, allowing your equilibrium to find balance in the movement.
Small and Slow
Start small. Start slow. If a motion is brand new, make shorter swings and slower swings first. Give yourself a chance to feel the movement. Learn how to control the face of the golf club during this small, slow movement so you can hit short but straight shots at your chosen target. When the proverbial wheels fall off your game, these small and slow shots are the training wheels you place back on your swing to help learn the balance of your swing.
Small and Slow Beget Smooth
Once the movement starts to make sense to your equilibrium and brain, you begin to blend the pieces of your golf swing. This is where smoothness starts to appear. Not because you forced speed, but because the movement began organizing itself better.
Smooth Begets Fast and Far
Only after the movement is smoother and more repeatable should you increase speed. Many beginner golfers try to skip straight to “fast and far.” That usually creates tension, poor contact, and inconsistency.
If you are taking beginner golf lessons, expect some phases of improvement to feel awkward. Expect to feel uncomfortable. It’s part of the normal learning cycle of a new movement. If you’re attending golf schools for beginners, understand that learning is usually better when changes are introduced clearly, simply, and in manageable pieces.
8. Practice Must Have a Purpose
Hitting a bucket of balls is not a practice plan.
One of the most useful habits for a beginner golfer is learning how to practice with purpose. Some of our most recent John Hughes Golf blog posts make that point: good practice habits come from specific priorities, realistic goals, and resisting the urge to chase random swing tips.
A simple beginner practice session might look like this:
- Warm up for a few minutes.
- Work on one setup key.
- Hit a small number of shots to a short and specific target.
- Spend time putting.
- Finish with a challenge game.
That is enough.
You don’t need to hit 100 drivers. You don’t need six swing thoughts. You don’t need to leave exhausted to feel like the session “counted.”
Beginner golf lessons should leave you with one or two drills you can actually repeat, on your own, in between golf lessons. The best golf schools for beginners do the same thing. They simplify. They organize. And they help you understand what to practice and why.
9. The Golf Course Teaches Things the Range Can’t
The range is useful. The practice green is useful. Even alternative golf entertainment venues can be useful because they help new players get comfortable holding a club, making swings, and enjoying the game’s social side.
But there are parts of golf you only learn on the golf course.
Uneven lies. Club selection. Wind. Pace. Where to miss. When to chip versus pitch. How nerves change a simple shot. How a good decision can save a bad swing.
That is why on-course coaching matters so much. Within all our customized coaching programs, John Hughes Golf emphasizes learning and testing on the course. Golf is the only game where you don’t practice on the field you play on, making on-course coaching that much more important. On-course coaching helps our clients connect their mechanics to the situations and decisions they face on the course while providing a training opportunity to learn how to score where and when it matters.
So yes, practice. Yes, have fun at golf entertainment venues. But if your goal is to become a real beginner golfer who can play the game with confidence, make time for actual golf course learning experiences, too.
10. The Fastest Way to Improve is to Received Structured Help Early
No rule in golf requires beginner golfers to struggle alone for a year before asking for help.
In fact, the opposite is usually true. A small amount of quality guidance early in the process can save months of confusion.
Good beginner golf lessons should help you with the basics: aim, balance, ball position, grip, club selection, practice habits, simple rules, and how to transfer range work to the course. Golf schools for beginners can be even better when they combine supervised practice with on-course coaching.
Keeping these elements at the core of what we do for beginner golfers is what makes John Hughes Golf and our current offering of programs distinctly different. We take these 10 things a beginner golfer needs to know and put each into practical use. With the larger coaching message across the site clear, what matters are customized golf coaching and instruction, realistic goals, measurable progress, and fun for any golfer.
If you’re a beginner golfer, these 10 things beginner golfers need to know are what you should look for. Not the loudest tip. Not the fanciest gadget. Not the most complicated language. Look for clear communication. A simple plan. A golf coach who teaches you how to practice. And a learning environment that makes you want to keep coming back.
Conclusion
If you are just getting started, remember this: golf gets easier to enjoy when you stop trying to know everything at once. Follow these 10 things beginner golfers need to know, and you can’t go wrong.
1. Start with enough equipment, not too much equipment.
2. Dress to move.
3. Protect your health.
4. Learn basic rules and etiquette.
5. Play the right tees.
6. Build your setup.
7. Practice in small, clear steps.
8. Get on the golf course.
9. Seek good golf coaching.
10. Keep the game fun.
And when you’re ready, seek the guidance and assistance of a good golf coach who can take you through a series of beginner golf lessons. Or conducts beginner golf schools designed to make the game simple.
That is how a beginner golfer builds confidence. That is how improvement starts to stick.
And that is how golf becomes a game you’ll want to play for a long time.
