Golf is a pastime enjoyed by many across the country, and now that warmer weather has arrived, it’s the perfect time to bust out those clubs and head to the green!
Those new to the sport can head over to Briar Leaf Golf Club this season. The facility has tons of resources, including coaching sessions from PGA Professional Jay Williams, making it easier than ever for newcomers to join in the fun. Williams also provided a few tips and tricks below, so read on to learn the basics of golf to really get into the swing of the sport today.
Equipment
Before even hitting the green, it’s important to make sure new golfers have everything they need to bring their A-game to the course. Like most sports, golf requires a few specific pieces of equipment to play. This typically includes clubs, balls, and tees to begin.
With many options out there, it can be a bit overwhelming for new golfers to figure out what works best for them. Williams recommends starting small, especially since a new set of clubs alone can cost up to a couple thousand dollars. To save money while learning the ropes, the best route to take would be to look for starter sets (typically just a couple hundred dollars) or even borrow what you need from a friend.
Williams also notes to not stress too much about the equipment when just starting out. New golfers should be more focused on learning the basics, so there will definitely be time to upgrade and acquire different tools as time progresses.
“When you're starting out, you truly are learning fundamentals for quite some time. You're not going to notice any real difference in performance with an entry-level set or a top-line set until you become more proficient,” said Williams.
Getting started on the course
While the golf course is where the main action happens, Williams advises new golfers to head to the driving range first. The range offers a space for newcomers to learn the basics at a pace that works best for them. On a course, there may be antsy golfers waiting for people ahead to finish their hole, so the range eliminates that extra pressure from the start.
New golfers are also encouraged to check out Briar Leaf’s training facilities, which include a range and a chipping and putting green, to get started.
“The best place to start out in golf is at the driving range with an instructor and a series of lessons,” said Williams. “You'll learn not only the golf swing but also etiquette, the code of the road, where to go, where not to go, how to make a tee time, where to get range balls, and what you should do once you're on the course.”
Once it’s time to step onto the course itself, Williams notes to schedule a tee time, or the start time, during “slower hours” when the course isn’t as packed. This is usually during the weekday as leagues and outings typically play on the weekends.
Technique
With the club in hand, it’s finally time to hit the ball! When getting ready to swing, a few different factors come into play to get the ball moving: grip (how to hold the clubs), stance (how to stand with the ball between the feet), and swing (when the club makes contact with the ball).
Having coached for many years, Williams knows getting the swing down can be half the battle. Just seconds long, there isn’t enough time to put too much thought into all the mechanics of the swing. At the range, Williams likes to get new golfers in the routine through slow-motion swings and what he calls stop-action swings.
Each part of the technique can be worked on at the range. When golfing at Briar Leaf, Williams will work with each golfer to find the methods that work best for them.
“You can learn those things through our coaching sessions—it’s what we try to do with everyone, but especially new golfers,” Williams said. “We try to get them into a routine that sets them up for success.”
Practice, practice, practice
The only way to improve is to keep playing, so Williams tells golfers to get out there and play whenever they can to up their skill level.
Newcomers, as well as people of all skill levels, can sign up for private sessions with Williams to improve their game with a PGA pro.
“We have full practice facilities, a range, and a chipping and putting green,” Williams said. “I make myself available pretty much seven days a week to work with people and set up private lessons.”
Have fun!
What is even more important than practice, Williams noted, is having fun and enjoying the time spent playing the game.
This is why Williams advises new golfers not to keep score while getting adjusted to the game. It’s inevitable for new golfers to have bad holes when starting out, but that should leave them far from discouraged.
“Just go out there and each time each time see if you're making better contact and hitting more quality shots than the time before,” Williams said. “There will come a time when you start to see those quality shots.”
Williams’ other advice? Bring a friend along! Having another person to bounce ideas off of or practice with can be another way to learn new tips and tricks.
“Another great way to learn is to get a friend or two to do lessons together, especially if you're all new golfers. This helps you hear things over and over and over,” William said.
However, whether it's alone or with a group, Williams highly encourages everyone to give golf a shot, as there’s nothing quite like playing a round of golf on a sunny summer day.
“It's definitely a journey. It's not a destination and you should enjoy it,” Williams said. “You get to be outside with your friends on the grass on a sunny day, and there's pretty much nothing better in the world than that.”For more information on Briar Leaf Golf Club and to begin lessons today, please visit briarleaf.com.
