You CAN Be a Successful #Golf Beginner. Here's How

After introducing several of my colleagues to the wonderful world of golf, they caught the bug. It was inevitable - the ball was airborne, the weather cooperated...all things necessary for a successful start.

What steps were taken to ensure success for these two golf beginners and what is needed by the newbie to establish advancement of their golf goals? Here are three tips to help beginners get in, and stay in, the game.

1. Set a plan into motion. Most beginners want to get right out there on the golf course but that is not the best course of action. Time on the driving range is essential and, although practice is good, targeted practice is even better.

You have to be able to move your playing piece before you take the next step, otherwise, playing "military" golf is no fun (left, right, left, right). Step one leads us directly to step two (see below).

2. Qualified instruction is key to success. Although I put my colleague in the correct positions so that she could get started (she was very eager to hit the ball), when the professional golf instructor arrived, he noticed things I did not, such as a weak grip which was causing her to slice the ball. Take lessons but make sure to understand and learn each one before moving to the next.

3. Get custom fit for golf clubs. (This tip goes for all golfers!)
Did you know, it costs the same amount of money to buy golf clubs "off the rack" as it does to get them fit to your exact specifications? Also, a custom club fitter makes sure that the lie and weight of the golf clubs suit your particular swing.

If you are reading this and you are the beginner, remember that only focused practice will allow you to improve. I know you are in a hurry to get out onto a golf course but you will have so much more fun if you learn the basics! Remember, this is a game that will last you a lifetime. Take your time and enjoy the process.

What is the mentality of any golfer who wishes to become a winner? With so many different skill sets needed, from mental to physical, Golf for Beginners took one section from an infographic from Onlinegolf.uk to show you what, in their opinion makes The Perfect Golfer.

1. Every shot counts, so remain focused on one shot at a time. If you hit a bad shot, it's automatically in the past and you must then focus solely on the shot you face next.

Play to your own strengths and try not to overthink shots. Keep it simple: aim to find the fairway and middle of the green every time.

Make your practice time a pressured environment. Imagine being in a scenario where that one shot counts. Apply your pre-shot routine and evaluate the success of each shot. This will help you when you play in your local weekend Stableford or medal competitions.

Are you a golf beginner who needs answers? Ask away, we're here to help.
Contact golfforbeginners@aol.com, leave a comment below or tweet us @Golf4Beginners.

Thanks for sharing Onlinegolf.uk!

3 Steps to Achieving YOUR #Golf Resolutions

Resolutions are made this time of year and, for golfers, the main theme is to work on areas which are weak and need improvement.

What is your most important new year golf goal?

PGA Tour players, in general, rely on the short game to get them into contention, so it seems like a just and proper resolution to work on wedge and putter development. Other golfers like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, may be looking ahead to a certain major victory in 2018., and devising individual goals to get them there.

One thing is for sure - luck and/or wishing won't make it happen. "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do." - Carl Jung

In this Golf for Beginners blog, we hope that you set reasonable and achievable targets. Here is how to start this process:

1. Look at your game and decide where you are at your weakest or where you lose the most strokes. For me, it is in my approach shots and putting.

2. Put your goals down on paper - make a list and determine how you will achieve those goals. Break down each goal into smaller parts. As I have been told in the past...how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! SET YOUR GOALS NOW!

As for my personal golf goals, I need to get to the range more and focus on shots that are 100 yards and in. I also need to bone up on chipping with clubs other than my sand wedge, such as my 8-iron.

SET GOALS THAT WILL MOTIVATE YOU!

A good tip I found on Mindtools.com is to write down why your goals are valuable and important to you. Make sure that your goals are: specific. measurable. achievable, relevant and you attach a due date to them. Just saying, "I want to improve my putting this year" or "I want to lower my handicap" isn't enough.

3. Get out there and make it happen!
Many a resolution has been broken because we are not determined enough to work our way through our sluggishness ...we also make excuses. After reading this blog, why not work on one of your resolutions?

Read: Golf Resolutions for a Happy New Year


Which golf resolution will you be working on this year? Write it down here, in the comments section of this golf blog, and tweet us at @Golf4Beginners, then make it happen!

Just the Facts - 150th World Almanac Features All-Time Golf Winners

Rankings play an important part in golf and every fan has an opinion.

This is particularly true when golfers discuss topics like, "who is the best player never to win a major" or the flip side, "who is the worst golfer to win a major".

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." ―  John Adams

The 150th Anniversary edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts for 2018 is a repository for golf facts as well as lists of notable personalities, science and technology innovations, maps and U.S. History.

With a week off for some R&R, I had the chance to peruse this reference book and it is an eye-opener for anyone interested in learning more about the world in which we live.

If you are a fact lover and are interested in who won the Olympic Gold Medal in golf (do you remember...seems like a really long time ago) or the Women's All-Time Leading LPGA Tournament Winners, this book may be just what you're looking for!

"The World Almanac is considered America's top-selling reference book of all time, with more than 82 million copies sold. Since 1868, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs."

Many internet aficionados may say, "you can simply search these facts on the internet" but there is something "novel" about thumbing through a physical book that makes this World Almanac a special resource. True, you may consider the 1,000 or so pages a bit of a paperweight but, when I received it in the mail, my husband grabbed it, commenting that he can't wait to read through it. And yes, there is a Kindle edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2018 so, for all of you who prefer to go paperless, there is an option for you.

Are you a fact lover? Which is the most unique golf fact that you have come across? Tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners or let us know in the comments section of this golf blog.