New Gal Golfer

Welcome to Golf!

Welcome to the wonderful world of golf. You have embarked on a journey like no other. Golf is more than a game; it is a lifestyle.

A lifestyle that can be enjoyed at any age and any level. If you are playing golf, you probably have already experienced that one hit. That one solid, pure strike that sent the ball to bliss – and you following closely behind.

I began my journey not too long ago. I was introduced to the game by my stepfather. Richard always wished for a golfing family because he knew the value it would bring to us all. He anticipated that the pursuit would yield much joy and a lasting bond for years to come. He was right, mostly, with the exception of a few tough, but valuable lessons I experienced along the way. Learn from my mistakes and get on the fast track to confidence and optimal enjoyment.

Let’s begin with these 5 Tips for New Golfers. Follow these tried-and-tested tips for optimal enjoyment on the emerald fairways.

Brittany is new to the game and is enjoying every minute of it. She is featured in Before & Afters with Real Women!

Meet Brittany as she improves her fairway woods!

5 Tips for New Golfers

Invest in Professional Lessons

Hi! My name is Christina Ricci and I’d like to personally welcome you tot he game of golf. It is hands down, the best game in town. With that, I’d like to share some advice that I hope is helpful as you begin your journey.

I could not have dropped to a 5 handicap in 5 years without lots of professional golf lessons. And, I really enjoy learning, albeit at times, I get overly frustrated. For me, learning is fun and it should be for you as well!

When I started, I signed up for a series of 10 lessons. I got a deal by signing up for multiple lessons and more importantly, it meant that I was making a commitment to improve!

Group instruction is a terrific way to meet new players and work on elements of your game that you cannot typically get to with your one-on-ones, such as the short game, bunker, etc.

The most important factor when spending money for professional lessons is don’t waste your money! If you take a lesson and then do not work on the principles in-between lessons, then what’s the point? Or I see this quite often—and I was guilty of this—you’ll stray off track. You read a tip in a golf magazine and before you know it, you are heading down the wrong road. Moral: Stay on track!

The More Pars Platform is here for you. It is designed to guide you step by step from the clubhouse to the 19th hole. My suggestion it to enroll in the Par Course. The Par Course is comprehensive curriculum that covers everything you need from bag drop to your last putt on 18.

Get the Right Equipment!

Clubfitting is an enigma to most, especially newer players. Learn the real deal about clubfitting with a Q&A session presented by Carlsbad Golf Center showcased here on the site. Here are two top questions:

My swing can vary from day to day. How does the clubfitting process accommodate for that?

Clubfitting is a process that helps to find clubs that make you more consistent, no matter how you are swinging that day. All golfers have good and bad days, but their swing characteristics like swing speed and how they move through the hitting area don’t vary much. Also, most clubfitters have clubs for every type of golfer, so they can build in ultimate forgiveness in the club configuration to help you improve and be more consistent with certain head designs, lofts, and shafts.

How do I know if I’m good enough to be custom fit for clubs?

If you have, at a minimum, a somewhat repeatable swing, you can be custom fit for clubs or a putter. Many times people think they have to be a “good” player to deserve custom fit clubs. Actually, it’s the opposite — don’t wait to be “good” because you will play better with custom fit clubs. A highly-skilled player can compensate for poorly fit equipment better than a lesser-skilled player. In fact, it may be the equipment that is holding you back from reaching your potential. Many players see significant improvement in their game with new equipment or adjustments to their existing clubs.

Join Great Organizations!

Jump start your experience by joining amazing women’s organizations such as EWGA, Women On Course, Latina Golfers Association, and your local golf associations. Participating right out of the gate provides superior support, not to mention super-fun as you learn and play the game.

Explore these great organizations

Women on Course is a national event and online program that welcomes women of all skill levels highlighting the business, social, and lifestyle benefits of the game. The national event team plans and facilitates Signature and Play Day events in more than 20 U.S. cities that are open to members and guests. Learn More »

The Latina Golfers Association acts as a welcoming committee that helps Latinas of all skill levels take their first step into the world of golf through clinics, workshops, outings, and mentoring programs. Learn More »

Join the largest women’s golf community.

One of the most renowned women’s golf groups is the LPGA Amateur Golf Association (formerly EWGA). It has nearly 20,000 members in chapters throughout the United States, along with international chapters in Canada and Italy. The EWGA offers a wide range of organized golf activities, player development and education programs, and volunteer, social, and networking opportunities for both novice and experienced golfers. JOIN NOW

Play for your bottomline!

I enjoy hearing stories of why women dip their toes into the game. Many actually re-enter the game after a long hiatus. Some enter the game because their significant other plays. Other women utilize the game not only for the social environment but for business! Whatever the reason, welcome to golf.

“Golf is a great way to build relationships with clients, prospective clients, people within your company. If you can talk about golf, all of the sudden, you have a reason to talk to the CEO or your boss two levels above you.”

– Adrienne Wax, author of Even Par: How Golf Helps Women Gain the Upper Hand in Business

Play Your Game, Not His!

Husbands have a way of undermining a woman’s game, unintentionally. He is only trying to help, which is very considerate. Thank You, Dear Hubby – but we have other plans.

A True Story
During an on-course event, I was chatting with a lovely woman named Nancy. She stated that she primarily plays with her husband who introduced her to the game. Often while playing, he would undermine her preferred choices on shots; shots she felt she could make. He would typically tell her to lay-up or play it safe. Our focus for the day became that she play HER game, not her husband’s. Learn how we did it inside the Blog!

Here’s the deal with this scenario:

Don’t listen to your husband. Politely thank him for his advice. State,

“I feel confident. I am going for it.”

Play your game, not his!

Your Kick-off Playlist

Explore More Playlists

Explore these focused learning playlists to get you up and running quickly.

Take a Structured Learning Course!

Head over to Golf University and enroll in an engaging learning experience. Guided learning courses are designed to make the learning process focused and easy breezy as it takes you through the sequential steps of the game – from tee to green and in-between.

Enroll in Golf University!