Golfing is a sport that involves a whole lot of greenery and peace of mind. But playing golf also needs constant practice and determination to get the hang of it. It’s the kind of sport that is difficult to master but is so easy to get hooked on.

So, if you’re prepared to let yourself be taken into the golfing world gradually, here’s a rookie guide to help you with everything you need to know about playing golf.

Golf Terminology

While golf training one of the first things you need to understand when it comes to golf is the terminology. While there are many terms you’ll probably encounter as you play more frequently, there are a few you need to memorize to be able to play the game.

When it comes to the golf course there are three areas you should be familiar with: Fairway, the green, and the rough. Fairway is the area on the golf course that leads up to the green, the green is the area that is soft and where the hole is situated, and the rough is usually filled with trees or bushes as it is a wild area situated on both sides of the fairway.

You will also find countless sand-filled ditches known as bunkers, or other parts such as streams, ponds, or trees which are known as hazards as they stand as an obstacle between you and being able to get the ball into a hole.

When you swing the club in an attempt to hit the ball, it is known as a stroke and the scoring system involves an ace, eagle, birdie, par, bogey, double bogey, and a triple bogey. You should also get familiar with how to swing and other terminologies related to it.

Have someone teach you or you can watch videos about the grip, the setup, how to swing, how to putt, how to chip, how to use a golf push cart, and other important terminologies related to actually playing golf.

Golf Training Aids

As you’re a rookie, you’ll need a lot of practice and aid to be able to get the hang of the game. But fret not, as there are many training aids for golf that can make you feel like a pro in no time. Whether it’s a grip trainer to help your tempo or other tools to improve your swing and power, there are so many tools you can use as a rookie to help accomplish your task successfully without giving up mid-way.

These tools make golfing more enjoyable, help you learn how to golf faster, and can easily bring you up to speed in the golfing world and then allow you to eliminate one aid at a time as you improve.

It is also a good idea to invest in a launch monitor to collect golf swing data. The insights you gain from this will enable you to gain a deeper understanding of your game. Being able to practice with a commercial golf simulator is a game changer for many golfers looking to improve!

Some of the data that you can get from a standard launch monitor include the following: carry distance, ball speed, clubhead speed, and launch angle. You can use this data to determine the areas in which you should spend your efforts to improve your game.

How to swing

When you swing the club in an attempt to hit the ball, it is known as a stroke and the scoring system involves an ace, eagle, birdie, par, bogey, double bogey, and a triple bogey. You should also get familiar with how to swing and other terminologies related to it.

You can watch videos or have someone teach you about the grip, the setup, how to swing, how to putt, how to chip, and other important terminologies related to actually playing golf

Golf Etiquette Guide

While there are countless golf rules you will get familiar with as you play, there are a few basic rules you need to be familiar with in terms of golf etiquette.

– Avoid talking as someone is focusing on a back-swing.

– Never walk in someone else’s line (a line is a path from their ball to the hole).

– Try not to hit the ball into another group’s area.

– Avoid giving advice to another player.

– Refrain from getting angry when your shots don’t go as you please.

– Always be on time.

– And remember to have fun.

– Don’t drive on newly planed grass with you electric golf trolleys.

Wearing the Right Golf Attire

In most cases, you’ll be expected to wear specific golf attire when entering a golf course.

This consists of a polo shirt along with pants, shorts, or a skirt for women. Red Birdie Golf will help you decide on the best golf shirts for men.

As golf is usually played in the sun, a shaded hat and sunglasses, and sunscreen are always recommended.

Golf Gear Guide

When it comes to playing golf, there is essential golf gear you’ll need to have. Instead of buying all this the first time round, you can either rent them or just borrow them from a friend. But here is the essential gear you should have to be able to play golf:

– Golf bag and golf balls

– Golf tees

– Divot repair tool

– Ball marker

– Golf gloves

– Golf club

And while it is optional, you can also opt for golf shoes to help you get the balance and grip you need on the different golf terrain. For a comfortable and reliable grip, explore the perfect golf gloves choices just for you, ensuring optimal performance during your golfing sessions.

Playing golf is a sport that you’re bound to fall in love with eventually. However, it is very difficult to master. The more you play, the more you’ll improve, but in most cases, you will need a lot of aid to help you enjoy the game and feel like you’re getting the hang of it. Also, you can prefer Electric Golf Trolleys that help to manage your golf game better.

Take your time, allow yourself to improve and you’ll find yourself hooked to this sport if you’re planning to play golf and looking for the best accessories or equipment contact Clarkes Golf now for the best solutions.

Thailand’s PGA golfer Jazz Janewattananond has something special in his bag that’s made him the talk of the Asia golf circuit. Buddhist meditation techniques he learned as a monk in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

The 24-year-old is Augusta-bound after a huge year when he won the Asian Tour order of merit. With two tournament victories, and impressed at the PGA Championship at Bethpage.

Jazz’s victory at the Indonesian Masters in December saw him safely inside the world top fifty. He also secured his place among golf’s elite at the Masters in April.

The unassuming former monk is now 40th in the rankings, the second-highest Asian behind South Korea’s Im Sung-jae. Jazz walked off with four 2019 Asian Tour awards including Players’ Player of the Year.

The former teen prodigy — who goes by the nickname Jazz, given by his music-loving father. He became the youngest player, at 14 years and 71 days, to make the cut at an PGA Asian Tour event in Bangkok in 2010.

Jazz Became a Buddhist Monk in Chiang Rai, Thailand

But after turning pro at 15, there have been tough moments too after losing his Asian Tour card in 2016. That’s when he spent time living as a Buddhist monk.

Jazz shaved his head and wore saffron robes at the monastery in Chiang Rai Province. The experience had a profound effect on Jazz.  After leaving the Temple in Chiang Rai, he who won his first PGA Asian Tour event, in Bangladesh, a few months later.

He has since chalked up five wins on the Tour and sits higher on the rankings than Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat. An established US PGA Tour player who he calls his “older brother”.

Jazz also turned heads during his Major debut at last year’s PGA Championship. He was tied for second behind Brooks Koepka after the third round.

Jazz says meditation remains an important tool as he builds his career. “I’m still meditating,” he said.

“Not all the time, its what I do when I feel like something is off, or I feel like I need to get back to the peace.”

After dominating the Asian Tour awards, handed out this week at a ceremony in Hong Kong, Jazz said his Players’ Player of the Year prize shows “you’re doing something right”.

“They’ve accepted you,” he said.

As well as the US Masters and playing more on the European Tour, Jazz has his sights on breaking into the world top 30 in the “short-term”.

And if Jazz is playing on the final day at Fanling, he will switch his outfit to orange. The colour he wears every tournament Sunday in homage to his Buddhist robes.

Ever since the 1960s, when political stability in Thailand reached a point where tourism could flourish. Thailand has been a major vacation destination with visitors from all around the world. Enjoying lively cities and beautiful beaches in cities like Bangkok and Phuket.

In fact, tourism accounts for somewhere between 10 and 20% of Thailand’s gross domestic product, which is a huge amount!

But it’s only recently that golfers have begun to recognize that Thailand is more than beautiful beaches, great architecture, and amazing food. There are numerous world-class golf courses that make great use of the wonderful climate and stunning landscapes. While golf in Thailand dates back to 1923, it’s been enjoying a boom lately as more than 250 courses dot the landscape. Thai professional golfers are becoming ubiquitous on both LPGA and PGA Tour leader boards.

Alpine Golf Course Chiang Mai, Thailand

Alpine Golf Club, located just 20 minutes north of Bangkok, is perhaps the best public golf course in Thailand. The lush course resembles a botanic garden more than a golf course, a testament to the perfect weather and exquisite craftsmanship exhibited by the grounds keeping crew.

At 7100 yards, it’s long enough to test the games of top tier players, and there are plenty of water hazards and challenging holes to keep you interested. The short par 4 16th hole is one of the best, challenging you to flirt with a water hazard to get the best angle to the green. Long hitters may try to drive the green, but anything other than a precisely targeted drive will result in bogey or worse. The gold course also offers a driving range where you can practice your golf swing.

The Old Golf Course at Siam Country Club Bangkok Thailand

The Old Course at Siam Country Club is an absolute gem located 90 miles southeast of Bangkok. While the “Old” in the name only dates back to 1972, it’s still one of the more elegant and mature courses in the country. It was renovated in 1997 with grasses better suited to the local climate and since then has remained in ideal conditioning. It’s only 10 miles from the major beach resort of Pattaya, making it an ideal option for golfers looking to combine golf and beachfront relaxation.

The Old Course is most notable for its “Amen Corner of Thailand”, a stretch of holes that will make or break your round. The long par 4 15th gives you all you can handle and then some, followed by a tough par 3 16th and then a difficult, water-laden par 4 17th. If you survive that stretch intact, the par 5 18th is a gettable, rewarding good approach shot with makeable birdie opportunities. With three beautiful courses available, Siam Country Club is one of the best complexes in the country.

Banyan Golf Course Hua Hin Thailand

A third course that should be on every golfer’s list is Banyan Thailand, located on the coast 130 miles southwest of Bangkok. Local architect Pirapon Namatra laid the course out to take advantage of the lovely coastal setting. Providing some of the best views of the Gulf of Thailand you’ll find.

The signature par 3 15th gets all the press because of the truly stunning views behind the green. Some people pay the greens fees just to get the photo op on the 15th tee! But the course truly shines on the interesting, risk/reward par 5 holes. They’re the key to a successful round and the most interestingly designed holes on the course.

When playing in Thailand, you’ll need to make sure you’re making solid contact, as breezes off the coast are a near-constant, even several miles inland. The best way to combat wind is to make pure contact: the better the ball strike, the better your ball will behave.

So take an extra club and make sure you’re swinging smoothly and on-plane, as failing to maintain the proper swing plane will impart side-spin, which wind always enhances.

A good mental approach is also essential for a good round in Thailand. With numerous water hazards on almost every course, you’re bound to find a few of them. Just keep a smile on your face, accept that you’re not perfect (and no golfer is!) and focus on making a good swing on your next shot.

Focusing on your target instead of trying to avoid a hazard is the best way to make a good swing. So instead of “don’t hit it in the water”, think “hit it at the top of that tree in the distance.” Positive targets are the best way to counter negative thoughts.  You can also learn more from a detailed guide on How To Swing A Golf Club