Learn to play booklet

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Golf Drive

Shepparton, Vic, 3630

ph:(03) 58 212 531

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Playing Golf - Instructional

“Learn to Hit”

with

PGA Head Professional

Darren Rodgers

Over the past 5 weeks you have learnt the easy, basic fundamentals to hitting the golf ball.

It is no secret that golf can be a hard game to play, this is due to the varying aspects and skills

required to play. Learning to hit the ball is quite easy and just the first stage to a life long journey of

instruction, both sought and self indulged.

This booklet is to be used as a reference guide, a book to reflect on when things turn sour and when

“the back to the basics” are again required.

There is so much information available at your fingertips. Some good, some bad and others just not

relevant. Many golfers are openly happy to share their words of wisdom with you, passed down

from generation to generation, again good and bad.

The key to learning golf is absorbing the information which is most relevant to you at your learning

cycle.

I’m yet to find a quick fix cure for life long improvement. What works today is no guarantee for

tomorrow. Most improvements come from following the basics like in this booklet and time, time to

practise and time to play.

Enjoy !!

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Golf Drive


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Week 1 SET UP

Grip

Gripping the club properly allows you to maintain control

throughout the golf shot. Tension levels are controlled via the

grip. Too tight creates extra tension and a restriction of freedom

of movement. Grip the club firm in your top hand and lightly in

your bottom hand. Your bottom hand thumb should pinch your

index finger.

Stance

The stance should have your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointing

square and knees slightly flexed.

Posture

Push your arms straight out in front of you, point the club to the sky.

Tilt forward and allow the club to drop to the

ground. Your weight should be evenly disburse

and slightly on the balls of your feet. Your

arms and hands simply hang from your

shoulders, with your shoulders above your

toes.

Aiming

Paramount to hitting the ball to the target we must aim properly, each time

we set up to hit a shot we need to visualise the H position as per the

diagram. This ensures a square set up and correct alignment.

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Golf Drive


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Week 2 - 8 Step Golf Swing

There are 8 positions to swinging the golf club properly

Position 0 – this is your set up position

Position 1 – Take the club back 30cm low and

straight. Ensure to keep the arms and wrists in the letter V

Position 2 – Stop the club

parallel to the ground, the toe should be pointing to the sky

and the club aiming down the line of your toes.

Position 3 - Hinge your wrists so the butt of the club points to

the ball. Nothing else moves in this position

Position 4 – Turn your shoulder

under your chin and let your weight

move to your back foot.

Congratulations, you have just completed your back swing.

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Week 3 - 8 Step Golf Swing

Position 5 – Return the club to the exact same position as 3. The

down swing is a repeat of the back swing. Remember the butt of

the club should be pointing to the ball.

Position 6 – Return to position 0 however lift your rear heel

and shift your weight onto your front foot. The club face should be

pointing down your target line and brushing the grass

Position 7 – This is a

mirror image of position 2. Turn your body to face the

target. Club should be parallel to the ground, toe pointing

to the sky and aiming at the target.

Position 8 - Fold your arms and hinge your wrists to allow the

club to swing over your shoulder. Notice my club is parallel again and

the toe is now pointing to the ground.

Congratulations, you have just completed your golf swing. Practise this as many times as possible

using a mirror, you will be surprised how easier it gets the more you practise.

5

Golf Drive


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Week 4 - Chipping and Putting

To chip and putt are the short game aspects of golf. There is much emphasis on one’s golf swing,

however being a competent short game player is critical, to having good scores when playing.

The techniques are simple and no real athletic ability is required. Feel and touch are areas which

cannot be taught and is perfected only by practise.

Chipping

Set Up

- Keep your feet closer together with your weight

predominately on the front foot.

- Hands push forward at address

- Ball position towards your back foot toe

Swing

- Maintain the V in your arms throughout the swing

- Backswing length equals follow through swing

length

- Club head must be accelerating through impact

- The club must brush the grass through impact

Putting

Putting is the most individual aspect of Golf. There are no specific rules as each player adopts their

own method. As you practise and find your strengths and weaknesses, we recommend practise

putting 3 times more than that of any other golfing aspect.

The key to putting is only having a maximum of 2 x putts per hole. We can do this by making sure our

first putt has finished close enough to the hole so our second putt is of short length only. The two

main factors are,

1. The putter face must be aiming down the intended roll line

2. The speed of the putt must enable the ball to roll close to the

hole

These two simple factors performed consistently, will have you reputed

as a putting champion.

6

Golf Drive


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Week 5 - Overview and Playing

The last week of the Clinic is a relaxed week. We overview the previous 4 weeks of learning golf and

if situations allow, even play a few holes.

There is more to golf than just knowing how to hit a ball. The first 5 weeks certainly gets you started

on the right foot.

Other areas of golf which we have classes and have to be learnt over time are,

Pitching

Sand bunker play

The 14 clubs in our golf bag and how/when to use them

Playing rules, regulations and etiquette

Scoring and the score card

Playing competitions

Equipment knowledge

Golf is one of the few sports which can be played with family friends and strangers, where differing

skills and abilities can be performed on a level playing field. All over the world there are wonderful

Golf Courses to be explored as well as your own backyard.

Please keep this Learn to Play Golf handbook nearby as a valuable reference guide.

I hope you have enjoyed your 5 week lessons and we look forward to seeing you at our advance

classes when you are ready.

Good golfing and remember a bad days golfing beats a good day working.

Kind Regards,

DRodgers

Darren Rodgers

PGA Head Professional

7

Golf Drive


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General Tips

Golf being an outdoors sport, is played in all conditions. Wind, rain, hot and cold climates in fact

there are only three conditions for which we abandoned play,

1. Flood water

2. Fire

3. Lightning

It is strongly advised that if these conditions are experienced, that you cancel your game or leave the

golf course immediately. Most Golf Courses also have warning alarms when required.

A check for basic essentials prior to playing is recommended. Make sure you have:

1. Hat and sunscreen

2. Water and fruit

3. Band aids and aspirin

Not all golf courses have water and toilet facilities on course, sometimes you can be a very long way

from the club house when these facilities are needed. Plan carefully before you start your round.

Golf is one of the safest games you can play. Freak accidents have been known to occur but if you

take care and follow these simple rules it will ensure a safe and enjoyable game for you and your

playing partners.

The safety cry word in golf is “FORE” we yell this out loud when a ball may hit another

player, players are then to take evasive action by ducking and covering their heads with their

hands to avoid being hurt.

Note: the word fore comes from ancient days when soldiers defending the Realm would do archery practise and yell “beware

before” as they fired the arrow, this would defend their actions if someone got hit. We simply modified this saying by using one

word.

Never hit a ball if a player is in front of you and within range

Never swing a golf club without checking your immediate surroundings, we recommend a 4

x metre radius of open space before swinging.

All players should stand behind players as they play and again 4 x metres is the rule

Never walk ahead of your playing group

Common sense prevails in most cases

Golf is one of the friendliest sports ever to be played. In most instances you will find, if you wave and

say hello to a fellow golfer, they will reply in kind.

8

Golf Drive


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Golf Terms & Definitions

Back Nine – The last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course.

Ball Mark – The indentation your ball makes when it lands on the green.

Ball Marker – Any small object that can be used to mark the position of a

golf ball that has been lifted off the green. Coins are commonly used as

ball markers.

Bunker – A hazard, often a depression, which is usually filled with sand.

In some instances a bunker may be a grassy depression on a golf course.

Caddy – A person who carries or handles a player’s clubs during a round

of golf. A caddy can also help the player with club selection and strategy.

Chip Shot – A short shot with a low ball trajectory played onto the green

causing the ball to roll when it lands.

Club head – The end of the club designed for striking the ball.

Course – The “course” is the whole area within which play is permitted.

Divots – A piece of turf dug out of the ground by the golf club when

striking the ball. They should be replaced and stepped on, or if seed mix

is provided (check in your golf cart or on the tee box to see if available),

completely fill the groove in the ground.

Fairway – The closely mown grass leading from tee to green. It is the

desirable place to land your ball while playing golf.

Flag Stick – A moveable pole or straight indicator with a flag centered in

the hole on the green to show the hole’s position Fore – A warning

shouted to let a person within hitting range know that a player is about

to hit. It is also shouted when a ball in motion may hit or come close to

hitting another person.

Front Nine – The first nine holes of an eighteen hole golf course.

Golf Bag – A leather, vinyl, or canvas bag used for carrying golf clubs, golf

balls, and accessories.

Golf Shoes – Shoes specifically designed for the game of golf. The soles

on golf shoes are specially designed to give you the traction needed to

help you stay balanced while you swing, yet provide you with comfort.

They are available in a variety of styles and made with a variety of

materials. Plastic cleats are mandatory at virtually all facilities. It is

difficult, if not impossible, to find golf courses that permit metal spikes

on the bottom of shoes.

Green Fee – The fee a golfer has to pay for the use of a golf course.

Green – This part of the hole is designed for putting. It is the best-kept

area of the course.

Grip – The part of the club held by the golfer. Common materials used

are leather and rubber. The term “grip” is also used when referring to

the placing and positioning of the hands on the club.

Hazard – A “hazard” is any bunker or water hazard.

Hole – An area of the course consisting of a teeing ground, putting green

and the area in between. The term “hole” may also refer to the hole

found on the green.

Honour – The person who tees off first on a hole.

Iron – Any club with a thin metal club head.

Lie – This is the position of the ball on the course after a shot has been

made. In most circumstances, the golfer is not allowed to touch or move

the ball once it has landed.

Line – The players intended path of ball to the hole.

Pace of Play – The speed in which a group plays during a round of golf. A

good rule of thumb is to always keep up with the group in front of you.

Par – The score in strokes assigned to a hole based on how an

accomplished player would score on the hole.

Penalty Stroke – A stroke added to your score for a rules violation.

Pitch Shot – A short shot in which the ball is played with a higher

trajectory onto the green causing it to have little or no roll.

Practice Putting Green – An area designate to practice putting.

Putter – A club specifically designed for putting.

Rough – The area of long grass that lines the fairways and connects from

tee to green. Typically, you would want to avoid landing your ball in the

rough.

Round – Typically eighteen holes of golf.

Shaft – The long, thin part of the club connecting the club head to the

grip. Some of the common materials used for shafts are steel, graphite

and titanium.

Superintendent – The person in charge of maintaining the golf course.

Also called the greenkeeper.

Tee – A small peg used for resting your ball on and raise it off the

ground. Typically, tees are used only from the Tee Box.

Tee Box (or teeing ground) – A designated area as the starting place for

the hole to be played.

Tee Shot – A shot played from the tee. It is your first shot on every hole.

Wood – Any club that has the general characteristics of a wooden-

headed club. Today, “woods” are primarily made of metal composites.

Typically sends the ball long distances.

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Golf Drive


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NOTES:

Learn to play booklet

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