The night before your first tee time
Your checklist
Week before
- Book a tee time at a beginner-friendly course
- Check and confirm the course dress code
Day before
- Charge your phone fully
- Check your bag — count clubs, confirm maximum 14
- Confirm your golf shoes have soft spikes (or are spikeless)
- Set an alarm to arrive 30–45 minutes before your tee time
- Review 5 core etiquette rules
- Lay out your clothes, shoes, and bag by the door the night before
Morning of
- Check the weather forecast one more time
- Eat a proper breakfast or meal before you play
- Double-check bag: balls, tees, glove, marker, divot tool, water, snack
At the course
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before your tee time
- Unload your bag at the bag drop (or carry it to the cart area)
- Check in at the pro shop and pay your green fee
What to bring
- 1–2 golf gloves
- 20+ wooden tees (assorted heights)
- 6–12 golf balls (cheap, used, or mid-range)
- Ball marker (coin or small flat marker)
- Divot repair tool
- Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher)
- Hat or visor
- At least 2 large water bottles
- Snack or energy bar
- Lightweight layer/pullover
- Lightweight rain jacket (if forecast >20% chance of rain)
Etiquette that matters most
Keep pace
4 hours for 18 holes. Be ready when it's your turn. Keep moving.
Play ready golf
Ready golf = hit when you're ready and it's safe. Don't wait for formality.
Know where to stand
Stand still, stand to the side, stand safely away. Simple.
Carry a provisional ball
Hit a provisional, search 3 minutes, play accordingly. Don't skip the provisional.
Which club for which shot
- Tee shot on a long hole
- Driver (1-Wood)
- Long shot from the fairway or rough
- 5-Hybrid
- Mid-length approach to the green
- 7-Iron
- Short approach (under ~100 yards)
- Pitching Wedge (PW)
- Out of a greenside bunker
- Sand Wedge (SW)
- On the green
- Putter