First Time Fridays is a new summer video series for beginners to get the inside scoop about how to look and feel like a golfer.
First Time Fridays is back again! A new summer series brought to you by Kathryn Newton, Golf Digest and Morton Golf. We will give you the inside scoop on how to look and feel like a golfer for all you beginners out there. Golf is an intimidating sport so we want to make it easier for you to feel comfortable from the get-go. This week’s tip: How to Get Off the First Tee
Congrats you now know how to book a tee time, what to do when you get to the course and dress appropriately! Next step is heading to the first tee and how you go about the first shot of your round.
When you get there, most courses will start you out on a Par 4 or 5, you will know what it is from the signage posted or by looking on your scorecard. For a par 4 or 5 it’s best to use your longest club, the driver. Put your glove on (if preferred) and walk up to the tee markers.
Tee markers? Huh? These are those small boxes on the shorter grass that determine where you hit from. You will need to choose one set and play those the entire time. Most courses have their boxes colored so it will be easy to find on each hole. As a beginner, the best advice Kathryn gives is to start from the forward tees, which are sometimes marked red. As you become more comfortable with the game, try out a different marker going back.
You should tee off between the markers: you can place your ball up to two club lengths behind but you can’t hit in front of the markers.
You can choose who goes first by coin flip or some other fun game between your group. If other players are using different markers, the players furthest behind goes first. After that, person with lowest score goes first.
You’re almost ready; time to tee up your ball. Using a tee, put it between your middle and index finger with ball balancing on top of tee. You’ll then push the tee into the ground and keep the ball balancing on top. How high you’d like the ball teed up is up to you. For driver, you’ll want a couple of inches off the ground. For irons, much lower.
Now it’s time to hit the ball – nerves may be setting in now, but hey that’s normal. Even for the professionals. So go out there and have fun. With a nice and easy swing your chances for success are much higher.
Check back next week for tips on “How to Play Any Hole, Anywhere”. Thanks for watching!
