The best advice for starting golf?
For a good start to golf in Annecy, the Belvédère golf course is the perfect place to learn about your new passion.
Taking up golf after watching it on television can give you a false idea of the sport, especially with the pros hitting the ball from stratospheric distances and making it look easy. However, if you've never played before, you may be surprised by the challenge of hitting a good shot.
Many players are discouraged from learning to play golf because they are intimidated and don't want to make a fool of themselves on the golf course.
Golf is a game of constant progress and improvement. Your friends who are "good" at golf have been practising and playing for years, and have taken a long time to reach their level.
All you need to do to get there is get in the game now, absorb as much information as you can and get out there and start improving.
Everyone wants to improve, even the PGA Tour professionals.
A good start to golf with a structure that shares your goals
Our aim at Golf du Belvédère Annecy is to help golfers adopt a more intelligent approach to the game, and that goes for beginners too!
Take lessons now:
- The bad news when you're just starting out is that you don't know much about golf.
- The good news? You don't know much about golf.
You probably don't have any bad habits and you have tons of questions about what to do. There's nothing like starting with a positive direction. And don't just ask for instructions when you're having trouble. It's just as important to know what you're doing right as what you're doing wrong.
Your golfing friends may sometimes have some good advice for you, but it's best to go to a PGA professional, as they're the ones trained to teach the game to someone like you.
Getting started in golf is all about having fun on the course
Once you're at the driving range and have warmed up, try a short 9-hole course or a pitch and putt course.
These courses are an excellent next step in learning to play golf, as the shorter holes mean you don't have to hit the ball 300 metres and you can learn the basics of chipping and putting.
What equipment do you need to get off to a good start in golf?
There's no doubt that the right equipment is always useful, but you won't need to empty your savings account to get started. Instead, look for the type of equipment that will allow you to develop your less-than-perfect skills with a minimum of expense.
You'll have plenty of time to research the latest products on the market (and when you do, make sure you start your search with a fitting, but in the beginning, make learning - not buying - your priority.
Why hit balls at the driving range?
Practising at the driving range may not be as much fun as playing a round of golf, but players who are serious about improving their game need to spend time on the driving range - on a regular basis. Practice builds a reliable swing.
The more you practise, the more confident you become in your swing. On the driving range, you have the freedom to try out radical changes in technique, because shots don't count.
Why have a routine when hitting balls at the driving range?
Everyone wants to see how far they can hit a golf ball, but when you get to the driving range, resist the temptation to immediately start hitting drivers. Yes, you might hit a few, but swinging for maximum distance will put you out of sync - and quickly.
- Start by hitting one of your wedges or short irons, warming up your golf muscles with half-swings.
- Then increase the length and speed of your shots, and move on to medium irons.
- Then switch to the driver and, after hitting a few balls with it, return to the short iron or wedge.
This will help you control your pace and your blood pressure.
Learn and master short shots and the short game.
Almost half of your shots are made within 50 metres of the green. That means you should probably spend half your practice time with your wedges and putter.
It may sound boring, but the good news is that you can practice your short game in your own garden, or even in your TV room. Set out buckets in your garden at different distances and try throwing balls into them. Make good and bad throws, just like on the course.
When it comes to putting, your carpet may not be as fast as the greens, but you can still practise aiming and rolling balls through doors and into the legs of furniture.
La meilleure façon d'apprendre le golf
All golfers have been bad golfers at one time or another - and many of us still are - and you'd be surprised how much you can learn as you go along.
The hardest part of golf can be getting started. Ask yourself a few questions.
- Firstly, why do you want to play?
- Is it for professional or social reasons?
- Perhaps all you need is some basic instruction and patient friends.
- Perhaps you're looking to dive in head first in the hope of improving quickly.
- If so, there are plenty of top-level courses available. Next, how much are you prepared to invest?
- This applies to both time and money.
The fact is, there's a huge difference between wanting to start out and have fun and being a serious player. Answer these questions and playing golf will be that much easier.
The two best places to learn the game are on the driving range and on the course.
Practices often allow you to hire equipment, which means you can turn up, take 50 or 100 balls and try to hit the ball.
We strongly recommend that you do a few practice swings on a driving range before heading out to the golf course, as it's useful to be able to hit the ball consistently!
Why and how can you control your time on the golf course?
Once you've mastered the two steps above, consider taking on a full 18-hole course.
However, don't feel pressured to score a full scorecard, the best approach is to treat your first few rounds on 18-hole courses as learning experiences - make a shot, find your golf ball, do it again, then pick up and move on to the next hole when you've had enough.
This approach saves you from having to hit big golf shots and allows you and your friends to play at a reasonable pace.
On that note, don't worry if there are golfers behind you, just ask them if they want to move on to this hole or the next - so you can relax and enjoy your time on the course.
Because golf for us is synonymous with meeting and sharing, at The Belvédère Annecy Golf Club, you won't just find a beautiful training facility,you'll also find a soul, an atmosphere... in short, a smiling welcome that will make you want to extend your sporting experience with a moment of relaxation.
At The Belvédère Golf Course, just outside d'Annecy you can enjoy a meal with a breathtaking view of the Aravis massif.
You will also find at your disposal some very nice infrastructures such as :
- A 230-metre multi-storey driving range
- A putting green
- An approach area
- A 9-hole course to put your training into practice
- The Annecy Golf Academy with two instructors
- Training course to obtain the the Starter - Green Card,
- Adapted golf clinics In summer and weekend
