Everything you need to know about the game of golf. From clubs and scoring to rules, etiquette and how to start improving from your very first round.
Golf can seem complicated from the outside — unfamiliar terminology, unwritten rules, and a scoring system that goes in the opposite direction to every other sport. But once you understand the basics, it all makes sense very quickly. This guide has golf explained in simple terms, covering everything a complete beginner needs to know before picking up a club for the first time.
In This Guide
How a Round of Golf Works
A golf course is divided into individual holes — usually 18, though many beginners start on a 9-hole course. Each hole has a teeing area (where you start), a fairway (the mown grass leading to the green), a green (the smooth putting surface surrounding the hole), and various hazards such as bunkers and water.
Here is the sequence of play for a typical hole:
Golf Scoring Explained
Golf scoring is unique in sport — the lower your score, the better. Every hole on the course is assigned a par, which is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete it. Holes are typically par 3, par 4, or par 5. Add up the pars for all 18 holes and you get the course par — most courses play to a par of 70, 71, or 72.
Golfers describe their scores relative to par using specific terms. Here is golf scoring explained in full:
| Score Name | Strokes vs Par | Example (Par 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Albatross / Double Eagle | 3 under par | 1 stroke on a par 4 — extremely rare |
| Eagle | 2 under par | 2 strokes on a par 4 |
| Birdie | 1 under par | 3 strokes on a par 4 |
| Par | Even par | 4 strokes on a par 4 |
| Bogey | 1 over par | 5 strokes on a par 4 |
| Double Bogey | 2 over par | 6 strokes on a par 4 |
| Triple Bogey + | 3+ over par | 7+ strokes on a par 4 |
Beginner tip: Don’t worry about par when you start out. A great first goal is to simply finish each hole, even if it takes you 8 or 9 shots. Many beginners play to a maximum stroke limit per hole to keep the round moving.
Golf Scoring Formats
The most common format you will encounter is stroke play, where you count every shot over the whole round. Other formats include:
Stableford: You earn points based on your score relative to par on each hole (2 points for a par, 3 for a birdie, etc.). This is a popular beginner format because bad holes hurt less.
Match play: You play hole by hole against an opponent, winning or losing each hole. The overall winner is whoever wins the most holes.
Texas Scramble: A team format where everyone tees off and the best shot is selected. Great fun for beginners at golf societies or charity days.
Golf Equipment Explained
Under the rules of golf, you can carry a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag. As a beginner, you won’t need 14 — a half set of 7–8 clubs is more than enough. Here are the main types of clubs and what they do:
Driver
Used for your tee shot on longer holes. Has the lowest loft and hits the ball the furthest.
Fairway Woods
3-wood and 5-wood. Used from the fairway or tee when accuracy is more important than distance.
Hybrids
A cross between an iron and a wood. Easier to hit than long irons and great for beginners.
Irons (3-9)
Used for approach shots to the green. Higher numbers mean higher loft and shorter distance.
Wedges
High-lofted clubs for short shots around the green. Pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge are the most common.
Putter
Used on the green to roll the ball into the hole. You will use this club on every single hole.
Getting started on a budget: Before buying new clubs, check a local charity shop, ask family members if they have a spare set, or visit a second-hand dealer. A good used set can cost as little as $50 to $100 and is more than adequate while you are learning.
The Rules of Golf Explained
The official rules of golf are maintained jointly by The R&A and the USGA. While the full rulebook runs to hundreds of pages, the essential rules a beginner needs to know are quite straightforward.
Key Rules Every Beginner Should Know
Golf Etiquette Explained
Golf has a strong culture of etiquette and respect — for other players, the course, and the game itself. It can seem like a lot of unwritten rules at first, but most of it is common sense once explained.
Golf Handicaps Explained
A golf handicap is a numerical measure of your playing ability relative to par. Its purpose is simple — it levels the playing field so that golfers of different abilities can compete fairly against each other. Without handicaps, a player shooting in the low 70s would have a huge advantage over someone averaging in the mid 90s. The handicap system bridges that gap and makes the game enjoyable for everyone.
Golf handicaps are governed globally by the World Handicap System (WHS), introduced in 2020 to bring consistency across all countries.
How is a handicap calculated?
Your handicap index is calculated using your most recent 20 scores submitted to the WHS. The system takes into account the difficulty of the courses you have played using course rating and slope rating, so a good score on a tough course is properly recognised. The best differentials from your recent rounds are averaged to produce your handicap index, which is updated regularly to reflect your current form.
How to get a handicap: To get an official handicap you need to join a golf club affiliated with your national golf union. Once you are a member, submit your scores after each round and your handicap index will be established once enough rounds have been recorded. If you are not ready to join a club, many countries also offer associate or online memberships through their national union which allow you to get an official handicap without being attached to a specific course.
How to Get Started in Golf
With golf explained, here is the practical path to getting out on the course for the first time.
Performance Tracking from Round One
Shot Scope’s shot tracking and GPS devices tell you exactly how far you hit each club and where you are losing shots — perfect for golfers at every stage of their journey.
Explore Shot Scope ProductsUsing Technology to Improve Your Golf
One of the biggest advantages available to modern golfers is technology. Whether you are a complete beginner or a single-figure handicapper, the right tools can accelerate your improvement significantly.
GPS Watches and Devices
A GPS golf watch gives you accurate yardages to the front, middle and back of each green, plus distances to hazards like bunkers and water. For beginners, knowing your yardages takes a huge amount of guesswork out of club selection.
Shot Tracking
Shot tracking devices, like those from Shot Scope, automatically record every shot you hit on the course. After the round, and see your average distances with every club in the bag. For beginners, this is invaluable — knowing you hit your 7-iron 130 yards on average means you can make confident club selections instead of guessing. Using data insights such as Shot Scope 6 lets you see which part of your game needs most work, giving you a clear path to improvement.
Launch Monitors
A portable launch monitor gives you instant, accurate feedback on your swing and strike at the range. The Shot Scope LM1 is a compact device that sits around a driver’s length behind the ball and delivers real-time data on five key metrics with no calibration, no tablet required, and no subscription fees.
Shot Scope Tip: Data from over 460 million shots on the Shot Scope platform shows that amateur golfers lose more shots from inside 100 yards than from any other distance. As a beginner, dedicating range time to chipping and pitching will lower your scores faster than working on your driver.
Summary: Golf Explained in 60 Seconds
Golf is played over 18 holes (or 9). You hit a ball from a tee into a hole, counting every stroke. The lowest score wins. Every hole has a par — scoring below par is a birdie or eagle, above par is a bogey. You carry up to 14 clubs: woods for distance, irons for approach play, wedges for short shots, and a putter on the green. Etiquette matters — be quiet, be quick, repair divots and bunkers, and shout “Fore!” when your ball heads towards others. Get a handicap through your club, play to your level, and use technology to understand your game faster. Most importantly, enjoy every round — even the bad ones.
