Golf basics and tips

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Golf is no longer solely a male domain – more and more women are discovering the game is not only good exercise, but a great way to socialise and have fun.

“Women are definitely getting more involved in golf,” says Richard Mercer, teaching professional at the Cypress Lakes Resort Golf and Country Club in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.

“It’s a trend we’ve been seeing for the past ten years, but it has picked up recently.” Richard isn’t 100 per cent certain why golf is suddenly so popular with the ladies, but he does have a few theories. “Today there are plenty of women playing professionally and they’re raising the profile of the game. Plus, there are more mixed golfing events than there used to be so women can play alongside men and there is a lot of encouragement, particularly for beginners. There used to be so many rules – skirts had to be worn to a certain length and so on, but over time golf has become more relaxed, and today women are very welcome.”

Why golf?
Being made to feel welcome is important, but surely there are other reasons why women should consider getting involved? “Absolutely,” says Richard. “A very close friend said to me, ‘I’ve just played the worst round of golf ever, but I don’t care – I had a lovely day’. To me, that’s golf,” he explains. “You can play terribly, but you’re still out there walking around on the green grass, looking at the trees and the birds; it’s a great way to spend some time.”

Of course, Richard is right. On average a game of golf takes about four hours so players spend plenty of time in the great outdoors. In doing so they’re reducing their stress levels, which in turn is boosting their health. Research has shown that reducing stress increases immunity, helps you sleep better and lowers your chance of developing heart disease, among other things. Then there’s the fact that during a game golfers cover plenty of ground. The result: a mean cardiovascular workout that burns plenty of kilojoules. And let’s not forget the muscle-building workout of swinging your club and hitting the ball, which you’ll do dozens of times during the course of a single game, particularly when just starting out.

“When you swing you use almost every muscle in your body,” says Richard. “You work your entire upper body – your forearms, your shoulders, your back and your abdominal muscles. On the downswing you use your entire lower body, including your bottom and your thighs. Golf is an amazing workout.”

Getting started
If there is a downside to golf it’s that it’s not the easiest game in the world and you will need to get some lessons before you can play competitively. Most experts recommend you start with at least five lessons. This should enable you to understand the concept of the swing, and to also master the basic rules of the game. To book a lesson, simply call your local driving range or club, or even drop in. Sign up with an instructor who has plenty of experience and, perhaps more importantly, the ability to explain things simply. “Golf can be complicated and you don’t want that,” warns Richard. “When you’re starting out a policy of ‘keep it simple stupid’ is best.”

If you find learning difficult, do your best to stick with it – at least for a short while. Golf can be tricky, but that’s part of its appeal. And trust us, you will get there in the end. “I’ve never had a failure,” says Richard, who has been a pro since 1975. “All you need to succeed is a good attitude. Love your good shots and forget about your bad. Do that and you’ll improve very, very quickly.”

Look the part
Many golf courses have dress codes, and generally speaking, the more exclusive the club, the more specific the dress code. To save yourself from any embarrassment, call ahead to a course you intend to play on and ask what the dress code is. Typically, men are required to wear collared shirts and trousers or dress shorts while women can wear dresses, skirts, slacks or golf shorts. Because you do a lot of walking in golf, it’s also important to wear the right footwear. Golf shoes are generally quite light and flexible, yet also supportive. However most golf courses will allow you to wear regular sneakers when you’re just starting out.

Well equipped
If you’re taking lessons, most golf clubs will have spare clubs you can use while you’re learning. If you get serious about the sport though, you’ll want to invest in your own set of clubs to practise and play with. Talk to your instructor, or to a sales assistant in a specialist shop, about your needs. Clubs can range in price from $400 for a basic full set to more than $1,000 for an individual top of the range driver.

The basics
Still not quite sure what golf’s all about? Don’t panic – here are a few tips to help you sound like a pro.

• Keeping score: Each time you hit the ball it’s counted as a stroke; every time you make a stroke you need to count it. At the end of each round, add up your strokes for that hole and write them down. The person who has taken the fewest strokes at the end of the course wins the game.
• Talking the talk: There are a couple of terms you’ll need to know if you want to impress your fellow players. Firstly, ‘par’ is the expected number of strokes it should take you to play each hole. A ‘bogey’ means you have a score of one over par on any individual hole, while a ‘birdie’ means you have a score of one below par on any individual hole.

Play like a pro

Alan Berry (pictured) has been a golf pro for nearly 30 years. He’s a PGA Golf Professional and is on hand for lessons, and a laugh, at the Palm Beach Golf Club. He gave Susie and Autumn a professional lesson before we began this photo shoot, and by the end of the session the girls could not only hit the ball, they could get it into the hole. The Palm Beach Golf Club is at 2 Beach Road, Palm Beach, Sydney.

For enquiries, call (02) 9974 4079 or go to www.palmbeachgolf.com.au.

Alan’s top five golf tips are sure to add a professional edge to your game.

1. It’s important to hold on to your golf club with a relatively soft grip.
2. Concentrate on swinging the golf club, rather than on hitting the ball.
3. Focus on the target (ie. the hole or where you want the ball to land), rather than the ball.
4. Alan says the worst advice you can give a novice is: “Keep your head down; don’t lift your head to look at the ball.”
5. Conversely, Alan believes the best advice he can give novices is: “Keep your head still, but turn it when you’re hitting the ball.”

Words: Kelly Baker. Photography: Steven Chee. Styling: Nadene Duncan. Hair: Raymond Robertson. Make-up: Laura Dominique.