Fairway Primer

From the first tee, one shot at a time

Your first round, made easy.

Golf for absolute beginners, explained without the jargon. We start with the grip, stance, and posture that everything else is built on, walk you through buying your first clubs without overspending, get you comfortable chipping and putting where most strokes are saved, and cover the rules, etiquette, and pace-of-play know-how that make your first round on a real course feel easy instead of intimidating.

Getting StartedClubs & GearThe SwingShort Game & PuttingOn the CoursePractice & Improvement

Latest guides

26 guides
Clubs & Gear

Golf Balls for Beginners: Which Ones Should You Use?

A plain-English guide to the best golf balls for beginners — what to buy, what to skip, and how much to spend when you're just starting out.

August 20, 2026
Getting Started

Driving Range 101: How to Practice at the Range

Learn how to use a driving range as a beginner: buying a bucket, picking a bay, range etiquette, and what to actually practice.

August 18, 2026
Practice & Improvement

Simple Golf Drills You Can Do at Home

The best golf drills at home for beginners: grip checks, putting on carpet, slow-motion swings, and tempo work you can do without leaving the house.

August 15, 2026
On the Course

How to Keep Score in Golf (and What a Handicap Is)

Learn how to keep score in golf, read a scorecard, count penalties, and understand what a golf handicap is and how it works.

August 13, 2026
Short Game & Putting

How to Get Out of a Greenside Bunker

Learn how to hit out of a bunker with the splash shot technique — open face, hit the sand, accelerate through. A plain-spoken guide for beginners.

August 11, 2026
The Swing

How to Fix a Slice: Why You Slice and How to Stop

Learn how to fix a slice with clear explanations of why it happens and practical drills to stop slicing the driver and irons.

August 8, 2026
Clubs & Gear

Buying Used Golf Clubs Without Getting Burned

A practical guide to buying used golf clubs for beginners: where to shop, what to inspect, how to price fairly, and red flags to avoid.

August 6, 2026
Getting Started

What Is Par? Birdies, Bogeys, and Golf Scoring Explained

Learn what is par in golf plus birdie, bogey, eagle, and more. Golf scoring explained in plain language for complete beginners.

August 4, 2026
Practice & Improvement

How to Warm Up Before a Round of Golf

A practical golf warm up routine for beginners: dynamic stretches, range progression, and putting prep to play better and avoid injury.

August 1, 2026
On the Course

How to Keep Up the Pace of Play

Learn how to manage pace of play in golf so you move efficiently, respect other golfers, and enjoy a full round without slowing everyone down.

July 30, 2026
Short Game & Putting

Putting for Beginners: How to Read Greens and Make More Putts

Practical putting tips for beginners: grip, stroke, speed control, reading greens, and a simple pre-putt routine to sink more putts on the course.

July 28, 2026
The Swing

How to Swing a Golf Club: A Step-by-Step Beginner Guide

Learn how to swing a golf club with this plain-English beginner guide covering setup, backswing, downswing, impact, and follow-through.

July 25, 2026
Clubs & Gear

How Many Golf Clubs Does a Beginner Actually Need?

Wondering how many golf clubs do I need to start? A beginner needs far fewer than the 14-club max. Here's the practical starter selection.

July 23, 2026
Getting Started

How a Round of Golf Works: 9 vs 18 Holes Explained

Learn how a round of golf works, how many holes you play, what par means, and whether 9 holes or 18 holes is right for you as a beginner.

July 21, 2026
Practice & Improvement

Should Beginners Take Golf Lessons? What to Expect

Golf lessons for beginners can save months of frustration. Here's what a first lesson covers, what it costs, and how to find a good instructor.

July 18, 2026
On the Course

The Basic Rules of Golf You Need on Day One

Learn the basic rules of golf before your first round: counting strokes, out of bounds, lost balls, pace of play, and more, explained simply.

July 16, 2026
Short Game & Putting

How to Pitch the Ball: Distance Control Around the Green

Learn how to pitch in golf with a simple clock-face method for distance control, club selection tips, and the key differences between pitching vs chipping.

July 14, 2026
The Swing

Golf Stance, Posture, and Ball Position for Beginners

Learn the golf stance for beginners: how to set up athletic posture, find the right stance width, and position the ball correctly for every club.

July 11, 2026
Clubs & Gear

How to Choose Your First Set of Golf Clubs

Buying your first golf clubs doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's how to pick a beginner golf club set that fits your game and your budget.

July 9, 2026
Getting Started

Golf Terms Every Beginner Should Know

A plain-English golf glossary for beginners covering scoring terms, course layout, shot types, and equipment basics.

July 7, 2026
Practice & Improvement

How to Practice Golf So It Actually Helps Your Game

Learn how to practice golf in a way that builds real skills. A beginner's guide to effective golf practice routines at the range and beyond.

July 4, 2026
On the Course

Golf Etiquette 101: The Unwritten Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Learn golf etiquette for beginners — from yelling fore to fixing ball marks — so you can play confidently without annoying everyone around you.

July 2, 2026
Short Game & Putting

How to Chip a Golf Ball: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to chip a golf ball with the right setup, club choice, and motion. Simple, practical chipping basics for beginners.

June 30, 2026
The Swing

How to Grip a Golf Club: The Foundation of a Good Swing

Learn how to grip a golf club correctly with this beginner's guide. Covers all three grip styles, pressure, hand placement, and common mistakes.

June 27, 2026
Clubs & Gear

What's in a Golf Bag? The 14 Clubs Explained

Confused about what clubs are in a golf bag? Here's a plain-English breakdown of all 14 types and what each one actually does.

June 25, 2026
Getting Started

Golf for Complete Beginners: How to Get Started

Learn how to start playing golf from scratch: gear, rules, first swings, and what to expect on your first round.

June 23, 2026

Browse by topic

Getting StartedBegin here. What golf actually involves, the handful of words you need to know, how a round is structured from the first tee to the last putt, and the lowest-pressure way to start: a bucket of balls at the range, a single club, and a few simple goals. No membership, no fancy gear, and no fear of looking like a beginner.Clubs & GearWhat you actually need versus what can wait. How to choose a forgiving first set without overpaying, what each club in the bag is for, picking golf balls, gloves, and shoes that suit a beginner, and how to buy quality used clubs without inheriting someone else's mistakes.The SwingThe motion everything is built on. How to hold the club so the face squares up on its own, set your stance, posture, and alignment, and make a balanced, repeatable swing. We work through the faults every beginner meets first: the slice, the hook, topped shots, and the chunk, and how to fix the cause rather than the symptom.Short Game & PuttingWhere the strokes actually hide. How to chip and pitch around the green with a predictable roll, escape a greenside bunker without fear, and putt with a steady stroke and good distance control. Most beginners save more shots here, in an afternoon, than in months of work on the full swing.On the CourseTurning range swings into a real round. The etiquette that keeps you welcome, how to keep pace and not hold up the group, the rules you genuinely need on day one, simple scoring and what a handicap means, and smart course management: aiming for the fat part of the green and playing the percentages.Practice & ImprovementGet better on purpose. How to practice at the range so it transfers to the course, drills that fix real faults, what a beginner lesson should cover, an honest look at warming up and golf-specific fitness, and the mental habits, one shot at a time, that keep the game fun while you improve.