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Plenty of women want to try golf and never do. The reasons are almost always the same: I will be the worst one there, I do not have the right kit, and everyone else seems to know what they are doing. Every one of those worries is normal, and every one of them is easy to solve. This guide walks through how to begin, step by step, so your first visit feels like a good idea rather than a leap of faith.
Why golf is a good game to start
Golf is one of the few sports that people take up at 25, 45 or 65 and carry on playing for decades. You can play with friends, with a partner, with your children or on your own. It gets you outside, it is gentle on the body when you build up sensibly, and you are playing against the course and your own last score rather than against anyone else.
It is also a game where improvement is very visible. The first time you hit a ball properly, clean and into the air, you will understand why people get hooked.
The four worries, and what to do about them
| The worry | What actually helps |
|---|---|
| I will be terrible | Everyone is at the start. Join a group set by experience, so you learn alongside other beginners at the same level. |
| I have no clubs | You do not need any for a beginner lesson, as clubs are provided. Buy nothing until you know what suits you. |
| I will be watched | A private lesson bay means nobody is looking at your first swings. |
| I do not know the rules or etiquette | You learn these gradually. Lessons start with the swing, and the rest comes when you step onto a course. |
What happens in a first lesson
A good first lesson is not a test. A coach will usually talk to you first about why you want to play, what you have tried and whether you have any aches or injuries. Then you will work through the basics in a calm order:
- Grip. How to hold the club so it works with you, not against you.
- Posture and balance. How to stand over the ball without feeling stiff or awkward.
- Aim. Where the club face and your body should point.
- A simple swing. Short, easy swings first, with the ball very much secondary.
The aim is to hit a few good shots by the end, so you leave wanting to come back. If you want to know exactly what to expect from a beginner session, our beginner golf lessons page walks through it.
Group sessions or one to one?
Both are good, and many women use a mix. Group sessions are relaxed and sociable, which suits anyone who learns best with company and a bit of laughter. One to one lessons suit you if you want complete focus on your own swing, or if you have a particular thing you want to fix.
Evolution Golf Academy runs a Ladies Academy alongside its adult coaching, and one to one coaching with a PGA Professional is available whenever you want it. Our ladies golf lessons page has the details. Bringing a friend along is a good idea, and it often makes that first session far easier.
What to wear and bring
Keep it simple. You do not need a full golf outfit to start.
- Clothing: comfortable clothes you can move your arms and shoulders in freely. You do not need a smart outfit.
- Footwear: trainers or golf shoes with a flat, grippy sole.
- Layers: a light jacket or fleece you can take off, as you will warm up quickly.
Gloves are optional at the start. If the grip slips in your hands, a golf glove helps.
Building confidence quickly
Confidence in golf comes from having a plan, not from hitting every shot well. A few things make a big difference early on:
- Book a short block of lessons. Learning builds when each session follows on from the last, so a run of lessons usually beats one-off visits.
- Practise little and often. Twenty minutes on a range, twice a week, is worth more than one long session that leaves you tired and sore.
- Start with short shots. Chipping and putting are where scores are made, and they are easier to learn than full swings. A short game practice area lets you work on them close to the green.
- Measure what you can. Seeing ball flight and carry distance on a screen turns "that felt odd" into a clear next step.
- Keep the score out of it. For the first few weeks, count good contacts, not strokes.
Looking after your body
Golf involves turning, bending and holding positions, so a few minutes of gentle warm-up before you hit balls helps. Walk briskly for a couple of minutes, loosen your shoulders and hips, and start with short swings before you go to full ones. If something hurts, stop and mention it to your coach. If you have a longstanding injury or health condition, speak to your GP or physio before starting any new activity.
Using the range between lessons
Once you have had a few lessons, the driving range is where your swing settles in. At Evolution you can walk in without booking, with baskets from £4, and the range is open every day from 7am to 10pm. Our TrackMan driving range shows ball speed, carry and club path on each shot, which is a big help when you are working out what your swing is really doing.
Three myths worth ignoring
"You need to be fit." You do not. You need to be able to walk and turn, and the game builds up from there. "You need to be young." Golf is played well into later life, and there is no age at which it is too late to begin. "You need to play 18 holes." Plenty of people enjoy the range and the short game for months before they ever step onto a course, and some never feel the need to. Start where you are comfortable and let the game grow at your pace.
Your next step
You do not need to be fit, sporty or good at ball games to begin. You only need to turn up. A single one hour lesson with a PGA Professional is £55, and a block of five is £270, which works out at £54 a lesson. Details of every option are in our guide to how much golf lessons cost.
If you would like to start, get in touch and tell us a little about yourself. We will point you to the right lesson, and the clubs will be waiting.
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