The ultimate beginners’ guide to golf from golfclubs4cash

Golf is one of the most popular sports in the United Kingdom, with over 946,000 people in England alone playing a round of golf at least twice a month. Considering the number of benefits a round of golf brings to your health and wellbeing, it’s hardly a surprise that more and more people are being tempted to learn how to play golf.

Why is golf so popular?

Even the gentlest game of golf gets you out in the fresh air for 3-4 hours at a time, and given walking is one of the best forms of exercise, you can see why so many people are attracted to the game. In addition to this, walking in beautiful surroundings brings considerable benefits to your mental health too. Whereas other sports such as football, rugby and netball require a high level of mobility and fitness, golf is far more accessible to all, meaning it’s easy to get involved no matter your physical ability. 

Add to this the element of friendly competition against yourself and your fellow players, and not forgetting the social element at the 19th hole, it’s little wonder that golf only ever seems to grow in popularity.

How do I get started in golf?

For those among you who are interested in getting started in golf, it can be easy to be put off or intimidated by a game that you don’t yet know much about. But don’t worry - we’re here to set out the basics for you so that you can take your first tentative steps. But be warned - once you get involved it’ll be a passion for life!

For those of you interested in how to get your children started in golf, we’ve written a complete guide to getting kids into golf with everything you need to know to get them up and running.

Invest in your first golf clubs

You’ll need a set of golf clubs right from the start, and it can be difficult to choose which ones are for you before you’re an experienced player. Buying second hand golf clubs is the way forward, because they are considerably cheaper than buying brand new and often in just as good condition. If you subsequently decide they’re not for you once you’ve had some experience playing with them, you can simply sell them on without losing too much money. Check out our article where you can find out about the many other advantages to buying preloved golf clubs too.

Starting out, you may not want to spend too much on your golf equipment, so check out our selection of fantastic used drivers under £150, fairways under £100, and iron sets under £250.

If you’re in any doubt about which used golf clubs are for you, you’ll find that the staff at your local golf course will be able to help and advise you. And of course, you can always get in touch with our friendly PGA Pros at golfclubs4cash who have years of experience matching players to their perfect golf clubs.

We’ve developed a Frequently Asked Questions page where you can find out more about buying second hand golf clubs from golfclubs4cash.

Learn the basics of a golf swing

The first thing you need to know is that golf is a game that is accessible to all. Whether male, female, left or right-handed, able-bodied or not, young or old - golf is for you, and you can be sure of a warm welcome at your local golf course.

Before committing to a round of golf, first of all head to your local driving range and book a lesson or two with a professional PGA pro who will take you through the basics. Here you’ll be able to practise your swing and start to understand technical elements such as loft and lie of the ball.

Check out our five top tips for improving your golf swing, and keep practising! Your teacher will help you learn good habits along with the fundamentals of posture, grip and stance, and they’ll also be able to let you know when they think you are ready for the golf course.

How do I choose the best used golf clubs and accessories for me?

Fear not, we’ve got you covered. Across the golfclubs4cash website you’ll find comprehensive buying guides for every type of golf club, from drivers through to putters. Buying a mid-range club is a good idea to start with - don’t be tempted by the really expensive ones just yet as it’ll take time for you to figure out which brands and models will best suit your game.

What are the different types of golf clubs?

There are several types of golf club that are suitable for different shots on the golf course. In a nutshell, these are:

• Drivers - for hitting shots off the tee (the first shot you take from each hole).
• Fairways - for long shots off the fairway or rough
• Utilities/hybrids - great for beginners, can be used anywhere on the course
• Irons - great for a variety of shots, available in different loft angles
• Wedges (also part of the iron family) - to get your ball out of a tight spot such as a bunker
• Putters - for the final precision shots into the hole

It’s important to know that golf clubs are available in left-handed or right-handed formats, so if you’re left-handed make sure you’re buying clubs that suit your preference. You’re allowed 14 clubs in your bag at any one time. Check out our article on the most important golf clubs to have in your bag to learn more about this, and download our app to get instant access to the biggest range of second hand golf clubs available in Europe.

As you improve your game, you’ll find that you’ll probably want to upgrade your clubs, so we don’t recommend spending more than you have to on your first set of golf clubs, because the chances are you’ll be trading them in before too long.

The main thing to be wary of is that some unscrupulous dealers are known for buying and selling inauthentic clubs, so check out our guide to spotting counterfeit golf clubs so that you don’t get misled. If you’re in any doubt about the authenticity of a golf club then don’t buy it, and feel free to give us a call to ask for our expert opinion.

What golf accessories will I need?

The sheer number of different types of golfing accessories available on the market can be overwhelming, but don’t feel you need to invest in all of this straight away. The main thing you need is a golf bag (check out our buyers’ guide to golf bags where you'll learn the difference between a cart bag, a stand bag and a tour bag).

Again, we recommend buying a second hand golf bag as opposed to new, so that you can easily change your mind if you need to. When you trade used golf equipment in with golfclubs4cash you can get cash back or alternatively store credit if you’d prefer.

You’ll also need some golf balls, tees, a towel and a water bottle, along with anything you need to protect yourself from the weather (e.g. sun hat and sunscreen in summer, raincoat and scarf in winter). As you play more, you may wish to look into investing in a used GPS/Rangefinder which will really help you with your game.

How do I play my first round of golf?

Once you join a local golf club, you’ll be able to meet other players who are beginners just like you. They’ll be happy to take you out on the course and talk you through the basic elements of a game of golf.

The more you play, the more you’ll get to grips with the scoring system and how the game works, including the rules of golf (which have been simplified recently to make the game more accessible).

Most golf clubs are 18 holes, but you will also find 9-hole courses around you too. If 18 holes feel a little overwhelming to start with, then we recommend a few gentle 9-hole games to get you into the (ahem) swing of it. 

What should I wear on the golf course?

Dress codes on the golf course used to be very strict, with polo shirts with collars, long, smart trousers for men and capri pants for women being encouraged. These days, things are a little more relaxed, but you will probably find that your golf club still has a dress code so it’s important to swot up on this before you head out to play before you commit an unintentional faux pas!

You’ll need sensible shoes and clothing that is suitable for the weather that you are playing in. And don't forget headgear - a cap provides essential shade and shelter from the sun’s rays. If you’re in any doubt about what is and isn’t allowed on the course, the golf club will be happy to answer your questions.

If you’re heading to the driving range to practise your swing then you needn’t worry so much - there are rarely dress codes which will apply in these scenarios.

How does a golf handicap work?

The golf handicap system ensures a level playing field. The lower the handicap, the better the player, and a professional will play off a handicap of between 4 and 0 (0 also being referred to as a ‘scratch player’. While it’s complicated on the face of it, once you get the hang of it you’ll find it’s pretty straightforward, and we’ve written a handy guide which explains the golf handicapping system (including the introduction of the new World Handicap System) in more detail.

In this same handicap article, you’ll also find the answers to common golfing terminology questions such as, ‘what is par/scratch/a bogey rating’?

How do I get better at golf?

The only way to get better at golf is to practise! Whether that’s on the driving range, at home with your putters, or out on the golf course, every time you play you’ll be building on your experience and learning from others around you. You might also like to watch some of the Major competitions either live or on TV so you can watch how the world’s best golf professionals attack their game!

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to lower your handicap and improve on every game. While it’s naturally very tempting to get a buzz from the competitive element of golf, the most important thing is that you’re enjoying yourself, keeping fit and active and learning a new skill.

You’ll find that improvement sometimes comes in sharp peaks, and other times you’ll feel yourself plateauing a little - and sometimes you may find that you’re not playing at your best at all. But don’t worry - as long as you’re playing regularly and challenging yourself on different courses and with different shots, you’ll find that improvement comes.

If you really want to see constant improvement, then there is no better way to achieve this than to take regular lessons with a PGA pro. Expert tuition is great for highlighting the areas you need to work on in order to see the improvements you’re looking for. Don’t be tempted to take tips solely from your fellow players - while they may mean well there is no alternative to learning from a trained professional.

How do I encourage others to get into golf?

Once you’ve got the hang of golf and feel confident on the golf course, it’s important to remember that there will be new players coming to the game who feel exactly as you did when you started out. Make them feel welcome, offer to take them out on the course for a round or two and give them plenty of encouragement.

So, that’s our guide to getting started in golf wrapped up. What else would it be helpful for you to know? At golfclubs4cash we’re always developing new content that helps our customers improve their game, so if there’s something you need to know then let us know!

We’re here for all your golfing needs

Check out our vast range of second hand golf clubs and equipment to get started, and get in touch if there is anything in particular that you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to source it.

With free, next-day UK delivery and a comprehensive returns policy, you’re in the safest of hands with golfclubs4cash. And don’t forget to keep your eye on our special offers and deals, along with our bargain basement where you can find amazing used golf clubs at unbeatable prices!