Learn golf: tips, gear, courses, rules and lifestyle guides
Golf Authorities Learn has free beginner-friendly guides in five topics: golf tips, golf equipment, courses and travel, rules and scoring, and lifestyle and gifts. Start with golf tips for beginners, how golf scoring works or golf handicap explained.
Golf Authorities Learn is our free library of answer-first golf guides, organized into five topics so you can go straight to what you need. Golf Tips covers what to know before your first round, fixing a slice, swing fundamentals and choosing lessons. Golf Equipment helps you buy for your game: balls for slower swing speeds, forgiving drivers, walking bags and GPS watches versus rangefinders. Courses & Travel explains how to find public courses, book cheaper tee times and pack for a golf trip. Rules & Scoring explains scoring terms, match play and stroke play, out of bounds, etiquette and the World Handicap System, with a free handicap calculator and links to the official USGA and R&A rules. Lifestyle & Gifts covers what to wear, gifts under $50 and golf games to play with friends. Every guide starts with a quick answer, ends with FAQs and lists its sources, and our guides link to each other so you can keep learning one topic at a time.
Golf Tips
Golf tips for beginners: what to know before your first round, how to stop slicing, swing basics and drills, and how to choose golf lessons.
Golf tips for beginners: 15 things to know before your first round
Golf tips for beginners: 15 things to know before your first round, from what clubs to bring and tee choice to scoring, etiquette and pace.
How to stop slicing the golf ball
How to stop slicing the golf ball: what causes a slice (open clubface, out-to-in path), grip and setup fixes, three drills and equipment that helps.
How to improve your golf swing: a beginner's guide with drills
Golf swing basics for beginners: grip, posture, ball position and tempo, plus home and range drills you can do in 10 minutes.
How to choose golf lessons (and how many you need)
How to choose golf lessons: group vs private vs simulator vs online lessons, what to ask a coach, how many lessons you need and how to find a PGA coach.
Golf Equipment
Golf equipment guides by need: golf balls for slow swing speeds, forgiving drivers, walking bags, GPS watch vs rangefinder and choosing clubs.
Best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers (slow swing speeds)
Best golf balls for beginners, high handicappers and slow swing speeds: low-compression two-piece picks with pros, cons and who each suits.
Best forgiving drivers for distance and accuracy
Best forgiving golf drivers for distance and accuracy: high-MOI picks for high handicappers and slicers, with pros, cons and who each suits.
Best golf bags for walking the course
Best golf bags for walking: lightweight stand bags and push carts, what weight and straps to look for, with pros and cons for each.
Golf GPS watch vs rangefinder: which is better?
Golf GPS watch vs laser rangefinder: accuracy, speed, blind shots, slope and rules, plus picks with pros and cons for each type.
How to choose golf clubs for beginners
How to choose golf clubs for beginners: complete sets vs individual clubs, shaft flex, club length for your height, used clubs and when to get fitted.
Courses & Travel
How to find golf courses near you, book cheap tee times and pack for a golf trip: practical guides for public golfers and travelers.
How to find good public golf courses near you
How to find good public golf courses near you: search tools, how to judge course difficulty with Course and Slope Ratings, and beginner-friendly picks.
How to find cheap golf tee times
How to find cheap golf tee times: twilight and weekday rates, tee-time apps, hot deals, off-season dates, nine-hole and resident rates, and memberships.
What to pack for a golf trip: complete checklist
What to pack for a golf trip: a checklist for clubs, travel bag, clothing, rain gear, accessories and carry-on, plus tips for flying with golf clubs.
Rules & Scoring
Golf rules and scoring explained with USGA and R&A sources: scoring terms, handicaps, match vs stroke play, out of bounds and etiquette.
How does golf scoring work? A simple guide for beginners
Golf scoring explained for beginners: counting strokes and penalties, par, stroke play vs match play, net scores and how to fill in a scorecard.
What are birdie, eagle, bogey and par in golf?
Golf scoring terms explained: par, birdie, eagle, albatross, bogey, double bogey and hole-in-one, with a quick chart for every par.
What is the difference between match play and stroke play?
Match play vs stroke play explained: how each format is scored, conceded putts, order of play and which format suits casual rounds.
What happens when you hit a golf ball out of bounds? (and what is a provisional ball)
What happens when you hit a golf ball out of bounds or lose it: stroke-and-distance penalty, how to play a provisional ball and the Local Rule option.
Golf etiquette for beginners: rules everyone should know
Golf etiquette for beginners: pace of play, safety, honor and ready golf, caring for the course, green etiquette and dress code basics.
How long does 18 holes of golf take?
How long 18 holes of golf takes for a foursome, solo players and walkers vs carts, plus 9-hole times and tips to play faster.
What is a golf handicap and how is it calculated?
Golf handicap explained with the World Handicap System formulas: Score Differential, Handicap Index (best 8 of 20), Course Handicap and a free calculator.
Lifestyle & Gifts
Golf lifestyle guides: what to wear golfing, golf gifts under $50 and golf games to play with friends.
What to wear golfing: a complete outfit guide
What to wear golfing for men and women: dress code basics, shirts, pants, shorts and skorts, shoes, layering for cold or hot weather, and what to avoid.
Golf gifts under $50 golfers will actually use
Golf gifts under $50: practical and personalized ideas such as balls, gloves, ball markers, towels, headcovers and putting mats, with tips on choosing.
Best golf games to play with friends
Best golf games to play with friends: scramble, best ball, Nassau, skins, Wolf, Bingo Bango Bongo and Stableford, with simple rules and who each suits.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a new golfer start?
Read golf tips for beginners, then how golf scoring works and golf etiquette for beginners.
Are these guides free?
Yes. Some guides link to retailers, and we may earn a commission if you buy.