What you need to know
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Participation Programs | Where can I go for golf lessons? | Girls' Golf Network | Women's Golf Network | What do I have to wear when I play golf? | What footwear do I need to wear? | Where can I buy golf clothing? | Where can I buy Golf Clubs? | What is the Pace of Play Recommendation? | What are the different forms of competitions? | What are the basic Rules of Golf? | What is Golf Etiquette? | How do I take care of the Golf Course?
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Participation Programs
Regardless of playing ability, experience or previous involvement in sports, the opportunities offered by Golf Victoria aim to cater for all women. These programs relate to ways new golfers and beginners can participate in golf.
Opportunities include Come and Try Programs, Casual Golf Days and Information Resources. These aim to introduce more women to the sport whilst illustrating the benefits of golf, such as social, health, fitness and mental.
Where can I go for golf lessons?
Most public golf courses, private golf clubs and driving ranges have a golf professional on staff. The best way of finding out where to go for lessons is to ring and/or visit your local course or driving range. The venue will be able to tell you what type of lessons they offer such as private lessons, semi private lessons, group lessons or weekly group clinics. The price of lessons and clinics often vary, with group clinics generally being cheaper than private lessons. The price for a private 30 minute lesson is typically upwards of $40.
By finding out exactly what is on offer at a variety of venues you can make the decision about the best place to start, depending on your needs. For further information about the venues in your area contact WGV or visit WGV's Club Directory
You can find a golf pro in your area by visiting www.pga.org.au and searching by postcode.
Girls' Golf Network
The Girls Golf Network (GGN) caters for girls from 7-17 years. GGN welcomes beginners and competent golfers alike, providing a participation pathway across a range of skill levels. GGN is a network through which girls can build friendships while they learn, play or compete.
GGN members receive regular information on all the latest in girls golf: coaching, clinics, camps, social golf and competitions. Members can also obtain an official Golf Australia handicap.
GV conduct a range of activities just for GGN members. These activities and events provide a safe, fun environment where girls can improve their skills and sample the excitement of competition in a relaxed fun way.
Women's Golf Network
The Women's Golf Network (WGN) has been developed by Women's Golf Victoria to provide all women with the opportunity of playing, or learning to play the game of golf and offers a pathway to regular competition and club membership if desired. WGN will appeal to women who want to play golf but have not known how or where to start.
A key benefit of WGN is the opportunity to obtain an official GA Handicap without being a member of a golf club.
The focus of the WGN is on relaxed participation, learning golf, gaining confidence on the golf course and the formation of friendships and networks. The WGN is a 'one stop shop' for women golfers through its range of casual playing opportunities, regular on course experience, monthly competitions, seminars and business networking opportunities.
Membership to the WGN is open to women of all ages and abilities, including golf club members.
Click here for more information on the WGN
What do I have to wear when I play golf?
Dress rules vary from club to club. Most golf clubs, particularly private ones, have specific rules relating to minimum dress requirements both on the course and in the clubhouse. Find out in advance by contacting the club about any other special dress requirements.
Some general standards include:
- Tailored shorts with socks are usually permitted and many golf clubs insist that shirts must have a collar.
- Excessive advertising on garments is generally not acceptable.
- Football or tennis shorts, tracksuits, T-shirts and jeans are normally not permitted. Don't be afraid to ask what to wear if you are invited to play.
A phone call in advance will make sure you look the part and avoid any embarrassment.
What footwear do I need to wear?
Many clubs have banned the use of metal spikes and made soft spikes compulsory. You can wear runners at most public courses but most private courses will require you to wear spikes. Please check the club's policy prior to arriving for play.
Where can I buy golf clothing?
There are numerous outlets that sell golf clothing. These include the pro shop at most golf courses and golf ranges as well as retail outlets such as The Ladies Tee, The House of Golf and Drummond's Golf.
WGV's State Team clothing supplier is Five Under. Visit www.fiveunder.com.au to see the latest range.
Where can I buy Golf Clubs?
You can purchase individual and sets of golf clubs at the pro shop at most golf courses and golf ranges. The Golf Professional at these outlets will be very useful in helping you select the appropriate equipment. Ask the Professional to fit you for your new clubs to make sure they are suitable for your age, height, strength and ability.
What is the Pace of Play Recommendation?
To assist you play an enjoyable round of golf, here are some handy pace of play tips.
- Play without delay; e.g. select club and ball while other players are having their shots.
- If a player believes their ball is lost, play a provisional ball.
- Players searching for a ball should call the group behind them through if it is apparent that you will be searching for some time. A maximum of 5 minutes is allowed to search for a lost ball.
- Immediately leave the putting green when all players complete the hole. E.g. always mark the card while waiting your turn at the tee.
- If your group falls more than one clear hole behind, call the group following through.
Tips to avoid slow play:
- Be ready to play at least 10 minutes before your scheduled tee-off time.
- Walk quickly between shots.
- Be ready to play when it is your shot.
- Be ready to execute your shot as soon as you are set up.
- Do not take more than one practice swing.
- Do not mark your card while on the green.
- Try to hole short putts, unless you will be standing on another player's line.
- Do not leave your golf bag at the front of a green; always leave it to the side nearest the next tee.
- When you arrive at the next tee the person with the lowest score on the previous hole should tee off immediately.
What are the different forms of competitions?
There are many variations on the basic game of golf. They are, however, only variations of stroke play and match play. Stroke play allows you to compete against everyone else on the course that day while matchplay is a hole by hole contest between two players (or pairs).
Stroke play - The score for each hole is recorded on the scorecard and totalled at the end of the round. The player with the lowest score is the winner. If there is a handicap event, handicaps are deducted from the gross totals and the player with the lowest nett score wins the handicap section.
Par and Stableford are variations of stroke play based on the nett score of each hole. Foursomes is a variation where two players form a team and use one ball, hitting alternatively. Four Ball is another team game, but each player plays their own ball.
Other games you might hear of include:
Ambrose
Canadian Foursomes
Foursomes
Matchplay
- A type of competition in which each hole is a separate contest played between 2 players or 2 pairs.)
- A hole is won by the player who has the lowest score or nett score on that hole. The player who wins the most holes out of 18, wins the match.
- If a player is leading by a number of holes greater than the number of holes remaining, they have won the match.
Click here for more information on golf competitons and how they are played
Click here to download a more comprehensive list of alternative golf games
What are the basic Rules of Golf?
- The maximum number of clubs you can carry during one round of golf is 14.
- When playing from the teeing ground the ball must be played from within 2 club lengths behind the tee markers.
- If the ball falls off the tee before you have commenced your downswing (stroke), you may replace it without penalty.
- Other than on the tee, if a ball moves during the address a one stroke penalty is incurred and the ball must be replaced.
- If you make a swing at the ball and miss, you must count that as a stroke.
- Once you have hit from the teeing ground, the ball should be played as it lies. However there are occasions where a Local Rule will allow you to tee the ball up or prefer (move) the lie a specified distance without penalty.
- You must not improve the lie of the ball by pressing down the area around your ball or on your line of play.
- You are not allowed to move, bend or break growing vegetation.
- Except in a hazard, loose impediments such as fallen tree branches, leaves and loose stones can be moved from around the ball without penalty. However if your ball moves in the process you are penalised one stroke and must replace it.
- The player that is furthest from the hole always plays first.
- A ball embedded in its own pitch mark on any closely mown surface may be lifted, cleaned and dropped without penalty as near as possible to where the ball originally lay but not nearer the hole.
- Except in a hazard, if you play the wrong ball you are penalised 2 strokes.
- If you play the wrong ball from a hazard there is no penalty.
- You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball. If within this time you cannot find the ball it is deemed to be lost.
- If your ball is lost or out of bounds you must go back to where you last played your stroke and play another. You must count both strokes and add a penalty stroke.
- If you have hit a ball which you think may be lost or out of bounds, you are allowed to play a provisional ball. If you find your original ball you simply pick up the provisional. If you cannot find the original you play the provisional. If you find the original ball you cannot play the provisional ball. Always tell your playing partner if you are playing a provisional ball.
- If your ball lies in casual water or Ground Under Repair (GUR) [includes ball and/or stance] you may lift and drop your ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief , not nearer the hole with no penalty.
- If your ball lies in a hazard you must not ground the club during the address or back swing ie. you cannot ground your club in a bunker or touch the water in a water hazard (although you may touch anything fixed or growing). Penalty is 2 strokes.
- When your ball is on the putting green you may mark, lift and clean your ball and then replace it without penalty.
- When you have played from the putting surface, your ball must not strike the flagstick. Penalty is 2 strokes.
- When on the putting green your ball cannot make contact with another ball. Penalty for this occurring is 2 strokes and you must also replace the ball moved to its original place.
- When on the putting green you are not allowed to touch the line of the putt (including spike marks) except to remove loose impediments, fix a plug mark or in marking the ball. The surface cannot be tested either for example by rolling a ball or scraping the surface. Penalty for this is 2 strokes.
- If a ball lands on a putting green other than that of the hole being played, you must drop the ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief of the green no nearer the hole.
- During a stipulated round, a player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except her partner and may ask for advice from his/her partner or their caddies. Information on the rules or matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or flagstick on the putting green, is not advice. The penalty for asking for advice is 2 strokes.
Click here for more information on the Rules of Golf
What is Golf Etiquette?
Here are some basic etiquette tips that are handy to know when you first start out.
Playing order:
- Generally the player with the lowest handicap hits off first but if there are no handicap golfers in the group toss a coin for the honour of starting play.
- From then on the player furthest away from the hole hits first until the hole is completed.
- The lowest scorer on each previous hole has the 'honour' at the next teeing ground.
Consideration
- Don't move, talk, and stand too close or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke. Make sure that your shadow doesn't distract other players, particularly on the putting green.
Practice swings
- When executing practice swings avoid taking divots and causing other damage to the course, particularly on greens.
- Do not take more than one practice swing.
Golf Buggy use:
- Do not wheel golf buggies across greens (unless specifically allowed), tees or bunkers and try to avoid narrow pathways between areas.
Golf Carts use:
- Local golf cart rules should be strictly observed and carts must be driven without damaging the course and with care for the safety of the occupants. Carts should be driven on designated paths. Drivers should avoid severe braking and turning. Park as far away as practically possible from greens, tees and hazards.
How do I take care of the Golf Course?
Greens:
- Damage to greens caused by ball plug marks should be repaired with a pitch mark repair fork or tee. Complete the repair by tapping down with a putter.
- Try to avoid walking close to the hole or walking on the putting lines of others.
- Be careful not to damage the green with the flagstick or by leaning on your putter.
Fairways:
- A player who cuts or displaces any turf should ensure it is replaced and/or carefully repaired. Always carry a sand bucket and fill the divot hole with sand.
Bunkers:
- To minimise the disturbance of sand, always enter and leave a bunker at the lowest point or on the tongue of a bunker.
- After playing a shot, rake smooth your footprints, holes and any other irregularities. After use, place rakes in bunkers facing towards the green (I.e. facing down the fairway), and at the lowest point of the bunker.
