Golf 101

Find a facility near you! The best way to start is at a local public course. Find a PGA certified coach near you or a coach at your local course. They can help you build your golf skills from the ground up.

FACILITY FINDER

PGA COACH FINDER

Refer to our beginner gear guidelines: GEAR

No equipment, no problem! Almost all coaches will provide equipment during lessons and instruction!

Shop our partner, ROGER DUNN, and get a 90 day, money back guarantee if you change your mind!

Lessons are a great way for young golfers to learn the basics, build confidence and have fun while getting started in the game. One-on-one instruction with a PGA Professional can give your junior personalized guidance based on their age, experience and goals.

FIND A PGA PROFESSIONAL- aka coach!

Looking for a more social way to learn? Junior golf camps are a great option for kids who want to learn alongside other young golfers while developing their skills and making new friends. Explore junior golf camps throughout Southern California.

JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS

Ready to take the game to the next level? Southern California has the largest Junior Tour in the nation. We recommend starting with the JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT TOUR (JDT). The JDT is not meant to be extremely competitive but rather meant to give players the experience they need to be comfortable playing competitive golf and move to the next level.

Not sure what to expect or if this is for you? WATCH THIS!

Contact staff below for more information for to join!

Eddie Rodarte, PGA (JDT Manager) – erodarte@pgahq.com

Heejo Hyun (Junior Golf Coordinator) – hhyun@pgahq.com

Douglas Raleigh (Junior Golf Coordinator) – draleigh@pgahq.com

Refer to our beginner gear guidelines: GEAR

No equipment, no problem! Almost all coaches will provide equipment during lessons and instruction!

Shop our partner, ROGER DUNN, and get a 90 day, money back guarantee if you change your mind!

Lessons are a great way for new golfers to learn the basics, build confidence and have fun while getting started in the game. One-on-one instruction with a PGA Professional coach can give you personalized guidance based on your experience and goals.

FIND A PGA PROFESSIONAL – aka coach!

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces Veterans and Active Duty military members to the game of golf in a welcoming, supportive environment. The program is open to Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans from all eras and is offered completely free of charge.

Through a six-week program, PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency teach the fundamentals of golf while using the game to support physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.

Whether you’ve never picked up a golf club or you’re looking to try something new, PGA HOPE is a great place to start.

A golf handicap is a number that represents a golfer’s skill level and allows players of different abilities to compete fairly.

Imagine this:

A handicap levels the playing field so golfers of all skills can play together.

Refer to the SCGA to get your handicap!

Driving range 

The driving range is a great place to practice your swing, get comfortable with your clubs, and learn the basics before heading out onto the course. What is a driving range? A driving range is a practice area where you hit golf balls without playing a full round. You can rent clubs from the facility, or bring your own. You can also bring your own golf balls, or get some from the pro shop. We recommend you get some rental balls from the pro shop because you will need many, and don’t get them back once hit. 

Playing a round

WATCH VIDEO HERE

A typical full round consists of 18 holes, although you can also play 9 holes. You hit from the tee box → fairway or rough → green → hole. 

Before you arrive, book a tee time with your facility. When you do arrive, check in at the pro shop or the designated check-in area. There, they will typically assign you a golf cart and get you any equipment you need. From here, go to the first tee, and hit! The objective is simple: get your ball from the starting area into the hole in as few strokes as possible. Don’t forget…have fun!!!

What tees do I play from?

Not sure which tee box to use? You’re not alone! Golf courses offer different sets of tees to make the game enjoyable for players of different abilities. Tee boxes are at the beginning of each hole and that is where you set your tee and ball up, and hit your first stroke of the hole. Why are there different tees? They change the total distance you play, making the course more manageable or challenging. Each course has their own color coded system to keep consistency throughout the round, you can play from any tee you would like, depending on your skill level.