10 Tips for the First Time on a Golf Course That’s New to You
Even the most seasoned and skillful golfers can get the yips when faced with playing a golf course for
the first time. Unlike your tried-and-true stomping grounds where experience has informed your
strategy, you’re playing this course without the benefit of prior knowledge. That’s OK! Our pros are
sharing 10 tips to make it a rewarding round.
Know Before You Go
Before you step foot in the tee box on the first hole, make sure to head to the course’s official
website for a literal lay of the land. You’ll learn the hole-by-hole yardages and other helpful details.
Many sites will also include tips from their pros so you can play it smart. (Tap into some of ours
here!)
Sharpen Your Short Game
Since you’re going to this golf course for the first time, you don’t know what challenges its greens
and bunkers will bring. But you do know the skills you need to bring! Brush up on your chipping and
putting at practice facilities before the round to put yourself in the best position possible.
Be an Early Bird(ie)
This may seem obvious but rolling up right at tee-off doesn’t set you up for success. Arrive at the
course early, check- in and loosen up so you’re in an optimal mental and physical state before
approaching the first hole.
Chat Up Staff
An early arrival also allows you time to interact with staff. These are the spikes-on-the-ground professionals who can provide you with invaluable insights, including the speed of the greens and proven strategies to approach tricky holes.
Tap Into Tech
When playing a new golf course, a rangefinder or GPS is your best friend. Either tool will deliver accurate measurements of the green as well as any hazards. This will help you make club selections that land you on the fairway – not in sand or water.
Partner With a Practiced Pal
The best buddy to invite along is one who’s already played the course. As you move from hole to hole, make sure to study their approach and strategies – and if each pays off – to determine how to tackle it for yourself.
Take it Easy
Not knowing the course’s trouble spots, this isn’t the time to play aggressively. The goal here is to keep the ball in play and aim for the center of fairways and greens rather than crushing the ball and going for riskier shots.
Gather Your Thoughts
After holing out, make sure to jot down notes that will help improve your performance during your next round on the course. Think: areas to avoid and specific clubs that worked well – or didn’t – on each hole.
Relax Into the Round
Our best advice for how to play a golf course for the first time is really how you should play every course, every time. Keep a firm grip on your patience and just swing into the fun. As seriously as we can sometimes take the game of golf, we have to remember it IS just a game.
Don’t Skip the 19th Hole!
It’s finally time to grab a round of drinks with your foursome and celebrate your maiden round. Located in our Clubhouse, Piedmont’s features a full bar and modern American cuisine. On warm days, diners are invited to eat outside on the sun-dappled terrace showcasing enviable views of our Greg Norman Course.
BONUS TIP: Go Out Swinging
Let’s face it. The weather doesn’t always cooperate with your tee time. Rather than scrapping the day, you can work on perfecting your swing. The Lansdowne Golf Academy is one of the few instructional facilities in the mid-Atlantic to offer Gears Golf Biomechanics. A true game changer, this system features the most advanced motion capture solution – breaking down your every moment of your swing from address to follow-through. The result? Data collected from this camera-based tech points to how to correct or enhance your player performance in real life.
We hope these tips for playing a golf course for the first time help drive you to a winning round. Ready to test your skills on one of our club member and resort guest-exclusive championship courses? Check out our variety of value-added stay packages to make the most of your golf getaway.
