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Golf is a wonderful game that is embraced by new golfers every day thanks to the physical and mental benefits it provides. Its popularity is growing as it offers new challenges to golfers that are eager to work harder and improve their game!
However, a lot of people are still reluctant to take up the amazing game of golf because of some misconceptions that they have. For instance, some believe that golf is a rich man’s game; others believe that it is not an actual sport or that it is too easy or too difficult to master, etc. However, we assure you that most (if not all) of those misconceptions and judgments are simply wrong!
This article will be devoted to exploring the ten most common myths and misconceptions about golf and providing proof to bust those myths once and for all. The goal is to encourage more people to engage in the amazing game of golf without any worries or misconceptions.
Happy reading!
10 Most Common Golf Myths and Misconceptions
1- Golf is too difficult or too easy to master
There are two types of people sharing this misconception, albeit with two extreme ideas.
The first group believes that golf is too challenging to learn and master, and as a result, they don’t even try it at all. On the other hand, the other group would say that golf is too simple and doesn’t require any effort. For these people, golf is not even worth it and is seen as a waste of time.
We have to admit that golf is not easy to learn and master. In fact, it is a very technical and challenging game! To improve, a lot of time and effort needs to be invested. However, we also need to point out that it is not too challenging or impossible to master either. With the right amount of practice, determination and dedication, anyone can learn to play golf and continuously improve their level.
In a nutshell, everything worthwhile in life is challenging to achieve; simple things are usually not the most interesting. Golf is not an exception!
2- Golf is not a real sport
It seems that this is one of the most widely popular misconceptions about golf. A lot of people believe that golf is all about riding a cart, stopping to hit a golf ball and getting back in the cart! The whole golf round is nothing but a ride in a comfortable cart. At least, that’s what these people see on TV.
This can’t be further from the truth! To begin with, a lot of golfers choose to walk between the holes of a golf course, which provides very good physical exercise. Moreover, the golf swing is not just a random movement; it is rather a very precise set of positions and movements combined together to swing the golf club in a specific manner and control the ball trajectory, speed, spin, etc.
Golf is a challenging sport, both physically and mentally!
Read: How to avoid topping the golf ball?
3- Only rich people can afford to play golf
This may have been true in the past, when only rich people could afford to buy golf gear and go to golf clubs and resorts to enjoy the game.
Today, however, technological advancements have reversed this trend, as more and more people can play golf even if they are from the middle or working classes.
Golf clubs and overall gear have gotten more affordable, which means that golf, as a game, is not exclusive to wealthy people anymore. Also, technology allows golf clubs to accommodate many more players at the same time without any issues because computers can help manage everything.
Today, golf gear, as well as club subscriptions, are relatively cheaper, which means the game is more accessible to people from different social classes.
4- Playing golf on a course requires old-fashioned clothes
Most of the people having this misconception have an image of golfers wearing khakis and collared shirts due to dressing codes imposed by golf clubs.
This may be true for some exclusive private clubs that impose a strict dressing code on their customers. However, the majority of public golf clubs impose very little to no dressing code on golfers. So, in the end, as long as you have some clothes on, no one will stop you from wearing your most comfortable outfit to hit the golf course.
5- You have to be a certain age to play golf
Some golf clubs may have their own age requirements, but there is no rule in the PGA, USGA or any other major golf authority that sets a minimum age for people to start playing golf.
As a matter of fact, the earliest you pick up the game, the better results you may be able to achieve. This is because young players tend to learn the game and improve faster.
Some of the youngest PGA tour players of all time include Don Dunkelberger (1937 Chicago Open) at age 11, Michelle Wie (2004 Sony Open – age 14), Guan Tianlang (2013 Master – age 14), among others.
6- Before going to a golf course, I have to get better
This is a common issue with beginner golfers. They prefer not to go to a course until they learn how to play the game. They are simply afraid of making mistakes and being embarrassed on the course.
You need to know that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes while playing. Mistakes are a sign of trying and learning. We assure you that no one will be judging you or scrutinizing your mistakes.
On the contrary, most players on a golf course will be more than happy to help you out and give you tips on how to improve your game and get better. So, stop worrying and hit the golf course as soon as you can!
7- You should always keep your head down while swinging
The idea here is that by keeping the head down, you will be able to focus on the ball and achieve better contact with the club resulting in a better swing and shot (better accuracy and speed).
The truth is that doing so may increase your chances of getting injured. In addition, looking down will restrict movement on the upper part of the body and cause imbalance during the swing. That’s why we highly discourage keeping the head down while swinging!
8- Using your partner’s old clubs until you get better
This is usually a matter of saving money. New golfers want to try golf before they invest money in it. For example, a wife may be tempted to try her husband’s clubs to see if she likes golf or not.
While this may sound like a good idea at first glance, it really isn’t! You will end up making the process of learning golf much more complicated than it really is. What works for one player may not work for another, more so if they are of different genders. There are club sets designed specifically for women, children, seniors, etc. There are even different clubs for right-handed and left-handed players.
Each age or gender category has specific needs that are taken into consideration while making golf clubs. That’s why you need to buy at least a couple of clubs that are suitable for you while you test-drive golf instead of using gear that will make things worse!
9- It’s all about swinging your club very fast
Some players believe that what matters is a swing that is as fast as possible. Everything else is less important than swing speed. This may be true if you know how to make good use of that speed.
In fact, too much focus on swinging your club very fast may cause injury in the long term, especially if other things like balance, impact, etc., are neglected.
Read: How to avoid back injuries?
That’s why the majority of players focus more on having consistent swing speeds coupled with good impact to achieve better results.
10- Golf is for older people
This is one of the worst misconceptions that a lot of people have: Golf is a game for older people (especially rich ones).
This is absolutely ridiculous, as golf has never been related to a specific age or gender category (and will never be). People of all ages can play and enjoy the game regardless of how old they are.
Statistically speaking, the majority of professional golfers are younger people, which shows that golf is not about age or anything related to it; it’s more about passion and the love of the game!
Golf is a beautiful game that is widely misunderstood by a lot of people around the world. There are countless misconceptions that prevent a lot of people from even trying the game, consequently missing out on enjoying one of the most addictive and fun games!
In this article, we busted 10 of the most widely spread myths and misconceptions about the game of golf. We also tried to clarify everything so that people could have an idea of what golf really is.
In the end, we encourage anyone who is thinking about trying golf just to go ahead and do it without overthinking. Don’t believe anything you hear, and try to experience everything and see for yourself. You will be surprised at how simple and enjoyable golf can be.
Now, it’s time to hit the course and start playing without any worries or concerns!
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Daisy is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Golfs Hub. She is associated with Golf for more than 20 years. She got the inspiration from her father. She is a very private person & doesn't like to be photographed. She's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Now she is enjoying her retirement from day job... but not from Golf! Daisy lives in southeasternmost part of New York state with her family.
