Getting started

Getting started with golf

You do not need experience, your own clubs or a handicap to discover golf. Here is how to start.

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Clear informationPlain languageFor beginners

01 · Just give it a try

Four easy ways to discover golf

Golf is easy to try without making a big commitment. Choose the option that suits you.

Introductory lesson

A golf professional shows you the basics and helps you hit your first shots. Clubs can often be borrowed or rented.

Driving range

Practise shots without playing a full round. A good way to experience what it feels like to strike a golf ball.

Par-3 or short course

Shorter holes make the step from practice to playing on a course easier. Check the course's entry requirements first.

Clinic or group lesson

A sociable way to start. A clinic or beginner course combines an introduction, instruction and often some first experience on the course.

02 · Your first visit

What can you expect?

You will usually start in a practice area such as the driving range or putting green.
A golf professional explains grip, posture and movement step by step.
You do not need to hit the ball far straight away. Good contact and control matter more.
You learn basic safety and how to behave around other golfers.
After a few lessons, you can often practise on a short course or gain course experience under supervision, depending on the venue.

No dress-code stress. Comfortable clothing and shoes that give you good grip on grass are usually enough for a first lesson. Some golf clubs have their own clothing or footwear rules, so check the venue beforehand if you are unsure.

03 · The basics

What do you learn as a beginner?

Golf is about more than making a good swing. You learn different shots and how to play safely and considerately on a golf course.

Long shots

The basics of grip, posture and swing, and how to move the ball forward from the teeing area and fairway.

Short game

Chipping and pitching around the green and putting on the green. These shorter shots make up a large part of a round.

Playing on the course

Safety, pace of play, consideration for others, care of the course and the golf rules you need in practice.

Tip: do not try to perfect everything at once. Golf is a technical sport, and progress comes from combining lessons, practice and real course experience.

04 · Equipment

What do you really need at first?

Less than you may think. You do not need an expensive complete set for your first lessons.

A few clubs: a limited set is enough to learn different shots.
Golf balls: for playing on the course; at the driving range you normally use range balls.
Tees: small pegs used to raise the ball when starting a hole from the teeing area.
Comfortable shoes: specialist golf shoes are often unnecessary for your first introduction.
Useful later: a glove, pitch-mark repair tool, golf bag and perhaps waterproof clothing.

Everything about golf equipment →

Borrow first, buy later

Many beginners do not yet know which clubs feel right. Borrowing or renting for your first lessons helps you avoid buying equipment too early. If you later want your own set, start small; beginners do not need a complete set straight away.

05 · Costs

What does it cost to start golf?

There is no fixed starting price. Costs vary considerably by golf course, type of lesson and location, so you can keep your first introduction small.

Lesson or clinic

Try one introductory lesson or a short beginner course before choosing a larger package.

Practice

At a driving range you normally pay for practice balls; prices and arrangements vary by venue.

Equipment

Borrowing or renting keeps your initial costs low. A complete set can come later.

Good to know: if you continue playing, you will normally pay to use a golf course, for example through a green fee or membership. A membership may include playing rights, handicap registration or both. Some memberships also offer additional benefits such as green-fee discounts. What suits you depends mainly on where and how often you want to play.

Example: Golf4Holland combines handicap registration with green-fee benefits at different golf courses.

06 · After your introduction

Enjoying golf? Continue at your own pace

There is no need to do everything at once. A logical route looks roughly like this:

Take a few lessons

Learn the basic technique for long shots, short shots and putting.

Practise independently

Repeat what you learned during your lessons on the driving range and practice greens.

Gain course experience

Learn how to move around the course safely, at a good pace and with consideration for other golfers.

Work towards course permission and a handicap

If you want to play independently and on more courses, you can continue towards handicap 54.

Learning to play golf → Get your handicap → Golf terms →

Getting started with golf