Golf for beginners: basic rules and terms for playing golf

Costa del Golf is packed with over 70 golf courses and clubs, as well as a pleasant climate that lets golf lovers play golf any day of the year. If you’ve never played golf before, there are some rules and terms you should become familiar with. Check them out below, then schedule a lesson or a round of golf on the Costa del Golf!

Basic rules for playing golf:

How are points scored?

In golf, the amount of points you get directly correlates to the number of strokes it takes you to get the ball in the hole. The fewer strokes you take, the better. At the end of each hole, each player tallies the number of strokes he or she took on that hole. At the end of all the holes, the player that took the least amount of strokes wins.

What do you do first?

Don’t start a game without first making sure you’ve chosen a course that meets your skill level. Here’s a quick guide to the four different types of courses:

• Red: Beginning female golfers (basic and intermediate) 

• Blue: Competition-level women (advanced)

• Yellow: Beginning male golfers (basic and intermediate)

• White: Competition-level golfers (advanced; male and female)

How do tees work?

There are different kinds of golf tees: wooden tees, plastic stepped tees (12 mm, 24 mm or 37 mm), one-tees and little one-tees. Tees can only be used at the start of each hole. You have to figure out the right height of the tee, where the ball should be placed and where you need to stand in relation to the tee. If the tee is too low, you risk hitting just the top of the ball, which won’t get you very far. If your tee is too high, you’ll hit the ball from the bottom, thus sending it straight into the air and reducing how far out the ball could actually travel. 

What are the basic rules of golf etiquette?

This sport requires concentration, so silence and stillness are key when someone is at the tee. Give players plenty of space and avoid moving around as much as possible. Your best bet is to stand across from the player who is at the tee so that you can see where his or her ball lands once it’s hit.

How do you determine who plays and when?

Within a hole, the player who hit the ball farthest goes first.

How do you know which ball belongs to you?

90% of the balls used are white, but all of them are numbered. Before you start, look at the number on your ball and write it down. You can also mark your ball or choose a ball that’s a different colour from your opponents so you don’t get confused.

What happens when the ball goes out of bounds?

If you hit a ball outside the limits of the course, play a second ball. The first hit will be counted as a penalty stroke.

What do you do when your ball cannot be played?

If your ball has fallen behind a tree, in a bush or somewhere else you can’t access, you have two options: you can move the ball a distance of two golf clubs from where it is (but not in the direction that’s closer to the hole) or you can grab a new ball and hit it again from the starting point of your last shot. Both options will result in a penalty stroke.

What do you do when your ball lands in a sand bunker?

When you hit your ball in a sand bunker, you have two options. If the ball is still playable, try to hit it out of the bunker! If it can’t be played, use the same guidelines as in the above point. As a courtesy, rake the sand to smooth it out when you’re done.

What do you do when your ball lands in water?

You have two options! If you’re in the part of the course with the red pegs, you can replay the ball from the point of the previous shot, move the ball along the line between the obstacle’s entry point and the flag (but not towards the flag) or move the ball a distance of two clubs from where the ball entered the obstacle. A penalty stroke will be taken for either choice. If the water hazard is in the centre part of the course or the part with the yellow pegs, you can move the ball along the line between the obstacle’s entry point and the flag (but not towards the flag) or go back and re-hit the previous shot. A penalty stroke will be taken for either choice.

What to do when you get to the green?

Being on the green comes with specific rules. They are:

• Do not leave your bag on the green.
• Do not drive a golf cart on the green.
• Do not walk through the putting line of other players.
• Remove the flag from the hole if all players are on the green.

Who starts the next hole?

A hole is always started by the player who won the previous hole.

Golf glossary: ​basic golf terms you should know

• Birdie: when you get the ball in the hole in one stroke less than par
• Bogey: when you get the ball in the hole in one stroke over par
• Flag: a pole with a piece of cloth at the top that marks the hole on each green
• Bunker: a sand trap
• Fairway: the grassy part of the hole that runs from the start of a hole to its green (except in “par 3” holes, which have no fairway)
• Green: the area surrounding the actual hole and flag
• Hazard: a water trap (it can be either an artificial or a natural lake)
• Major: the highest-ranking golf tournament (also called the “Grand Slam”)
• Par: the specified number of strokes it should take you to get the ball in the hole on any given hole
• Rough: the parts of a hole outside the fairway, where the grass is taller and thicker
• Tee box: where players hit the first shot of any hole (also known as the “teeing ground”)

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to play! When you play golf on the Costa del Golf, you’ll have access to a range of professionals who can answer any questions you may have. (For example: What golf club should you use? Or, how can you improve your swing? It’s normal for amateur golfers to have questions—so don’t hesitate to ask!). Check out our blog and get 360º views of Costa del Golf’s best golf courses here.