Step1
So, you've played golf? Well, whether you have or not, for starters you need the right 5 golf clubs... A driver with at least 16 degrees of loft (yes, they're available!), a 9-wood (also available, and will probably be your favorite club), a 7 or 8 iron, a sand wedge, and a putter. That's all you need to start with. If I only had 2 clubs, I would pick the 9-wood and the putter.
Step2
The less experience you have, the more the right club helps!
JUST AS IMPORTANT, you should have these 5 clubs custom fitted to you. Think about it: who needs custom-fitted clubs more, you or Tiger Woods? Or, would you ski with boots that don't fit? Run with shoes that don't fit? Clean a floor with a rake, a broom, or a vacuum?
Step3
Even if the clubs are not custom fitted, you can proceed--but trust me, you'll want them custom fitted sooner rather than later. If the clubs are too heavy or too stiff you're already starting with an often insurmountable handicap.
Step4
Each of these clubs has enough loft (some call it 'pitch') to get the ball up in the air. Not enough loft is the main reason people have trouble whether they're a beginner or have been playing golf for a long time. Loft is your friend, and lower lofts are much harder to play with.
Step5
Learn a good, athletic set-up.
Sure, you'll need to learn how to grip the club and a few other things from a pro, but to start with just get your hands as close together as you can. If you're right-handed, make sure your left hand is at the end of the rubber grip, with your right hand just below. Place your left thumb inside of your right palm, with your fingers wrapped around the grip. (If you're a lefty, reverse it!)
Step6
Swing rhythmically, like a child on a swing set.
Start with the 9-wood. Place a ball on a low tee. Start Swinging! Think of a child on a swing. It isn't a whip, it isn't a chop, IT'S A SWING!
Step7
Now, do this SLOWLY and SOFTLY: the swing should go over your right shoulder and then over your left shoulder. Follow this for the rhythm: Count out loud (or whisper) as you swing back -- one, two, three (the club should be over the right shoulder), paws (really it's pause, but don't pause -- it's just a change of direction)....then count four (this is when you hit the ball or at the bottom of your swing) five, six. One, two, three, paws, four, five, six.
Step8
Don't worry about whether you hit the ball or where it goes until you've made about 10 swings. Next, place your feet together with the clubhead behind the ball, then move your right foot so your feet are about shoulder width apart. Try some more... Remember the rhythm... and soft and slow beats aggressive and fast!
Step9
Try your other clubs (except the putter, of course), from the low tee, except the driver. Place the driver on a little higher tee so that 1/2 of the ball is above the top of the club. Compare what happens with each club. Higher or lower? Farther or shorter?
Step10
If you've had help from other golfers you may have heard that you should "KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN." Now, remember, I've been teaching for over 25 years and I've never told anyone that they had to do that. "DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR HEAD!!!" If you do, you'll truly be a head case ..... Did you know that the world's #1 Women's player - Annika Sorenstam - actually turns her head BEFORE she hits the ball?
Step11
OK... Now, you're ready to go on the golf course. Or, maybe you need to have a few more sessions hitting balls, but that's ok. Of course, you really should go on the course for an hour with a pro, or, at least somebody you trust. Make sure you adopt my "Rules For Beginners": ....
Step12
Rule #1: Whoever goes with you has to be patient and make it about YOU!
Rule #2: You should play at the course when it is not busy!
Rule #2: You get to hit more than one ball from anywhere you want.
Rule #3: You get to "FLUFF" your ball up on a tuft of grass wherever
you want to.
Rule #4: You get to THROW your ball whenever you want to... :)
Rule #5: If you've hit it 8 or 10 times you get to put it on the green
and putt!
Rule #6: If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right!!!
Step13
The reason you get an extra ball any time is that you should try to immediately correct whatever just happened. If your extra ball isn't better, no big deal. There's no place you'll learn more from failure than golf!
Step14
Most importantly, have fun!
Because you're a beginner, you need different rules than other accomplished players. This way you'll learn FASTER.
Get out on the golf course faster using the 5 most important clubs!
The less experience you have, the more the right club helps!
JUST AS IMPORTANT, you should have these 5 clubs custom fitted to you. Think about it: who needs custom-fitted clubs more, you or Tiger Woods? Or, would you ski with boots that don't fit? Run with shoes that don't fit? Clean a floor with a rake, a broom, or a vacuum?
Learn a good, athletic set-up.
Sure, you'll need to learn how to grip the club and a few other things from a pro, but to start with just get your hands as close together as you can. If you're right-handed, make sure your left hand is at the end of the rubber grip, with your right hand just below. Place your left thumb inside of your right palm, with your fingers wrapped around the grip. (If you're a lefty, reverse it!)
Swing rhythmically, like a child on a swing set.
Start with the 9-wood. Place a ball on a low tee. Start Swinging! Think of a child on a swing. It isn't a whip, it isn't a chop, IT'S A SWING!
Most importantly, have fun!
Because you're a beginner, you need different rules than other accomplished players. This way you'll learn FASTER.
Enthusiast 
