Tips For Women Golf Beginners

Are the obstacles to starting to play golf for women greater than for men? Is there a perception amongst women that golf is elitist and mainly for men? Is it more difficult for women to get good advice on how to start playing golf?

Maybe. I confess I don't have the answers to these questions. What is true is that anyone starting something new probably needs to challenge some personal assumptions before they start and have some clear guidance on how to proceed. This is as true for men as it is for women.

Golf beginners, whether male or female, need to know that golf is not as exclusive and elitist as it used to be. More and more women and men are starting to play golf and they don't have to be out of the 'top drawer' to do so.

Undoubtedly there are golf clubs that will only admit members who have enough money to pay high membership charges and green fees. Some golf clubs may very well only admit men as members and players.

I don't subscribe to this form of sexual discrimination and believe that men and women should be treated equally in all forms of life and particularly having the right to play golf anywhere where men play.

Who wants to play at golf clubs where these attitudes prevail anyway? Certainly not me.

But there are lots of golf clubs around and whilst some of them might be elitist and discriminatory, many will not be. A little research on golf clubs in your area will probably show that women are as welcome as men. Phone around and find out.

The information available to women on how to start playing golf and the route to learning the game is probably as accessible for them as it is for men.

My advice to women who want to start playing golf is:

Speak to people

Talk to you friends and any other people you come across who play golf about your interest in learning how to play. Be clear about what you want to know. For example, what golf equipment you need. How much to pay. What clubs to use. Where there are women friendly golf clubs.

As a background to this discussion you might want to talk about why you want to play golf and what interests you about the game. Discuss your anxieties and fears about starting.

You will probably find that you will obtain a lot of information and reassurance from talking about playing golf that overcome the problem of taking the first step.

Everyone has had to start sometime and most of them will be willing to share it with you.

Learn to play from 'green to tee'

It is often said the best way to learn to play golf is from 'green to tee'. You may have heard this expression. Basically it means that you should start by learning to putt, followed by chipping and pitching and finally by learning how to drive off the tee.

This is sound advice. You will not look an obvious beginner with a putter in your hand. If you start swishing a driver around, you will.

Get a bag of balls and take your putter onto a practice green and learn to putt. Spend an hour 2 days a week practicing long putts and short ones from all parts of the green - uphill and downhill.

This is the best way to start learning to hit golf balls.

Learn with a friend

Ask around amongst your friends and colleagues and see if anyone wants to learn with you. You will both feel more confident about learning with someone else.

Playing with someone else means that you can add some competition to your practice as you learn to putt.

Place a dozen balls each around the putting green and award points for i) getting nearest the hole and ii) sinking the putts. This'll add enjoyment to your practice.

Learn how to hit the ball

Do you play any other sport - tennis, baseball, pool, soccer? You will know that you had to learn either how to hit, kick, pot or catch the ball. You can't start playing golf by banging sweet 200 yard straight drives off the tee immediately. Even Tiger Woods had to learn to hit the ball. You will too.

After lots of putting practice, get a 9 iron or sand wedge and practice hitting short shots to the flag from around the green. Place 12 balls at different points between 5 to 15 feet from the green and learn to control shots onto the green.

Start up golf equipment

Don't buy a set of golf clubs - not yet anyway. See if can borrow a putter and 9 iron pitching wedge (or sand wedge) from a friend. If not buy - buy cheap golf clubs from a low cost sports goods store as I did. You will probably get them for less than $15 each.

You will need 15-20 golf balls too. You can get these second hand, usually from a golf club, or buy some 'reconditioned' balls, or beg or borrow them from your buddies.

This is all the golf equipment you'll need to start, so get out there, buy your clubs and start putting and chipping.

Golf instruction

And finally, if you are serious about learning the game, watch golf on TV. You will get a feel for playing shots by watching the pros play the game. Pay special attention to their putting and short shots around the green to begin with. This is the best form of golf instruction for you at this stage.

So it shouldn't be any more difficult for women to start playing golf than for men if you adopt the right approach. Don't let obstacles stand in your way whoever you are. If you want to learn the game you can and you should. It'll probably be one of the best decisions you make.

You'll gain confidence from learning new skills; enjoy fresh air and exercise on some wonderful golf courses; socialise with friends, family and colleagues on the golf course - maybe even do business on the golf course and be part of the global golfing community.

You'll be glad you did. Make a start now - you won't regret it.