Jillian Mele and Kristen Casey, Co-founders of LemonRose Golf, playing at Broad Run Golfers Club
Thinking about picking up a club for the first time—or the first time in a while? Congratulations! Golf has become one of the greatest joys in our lives, and we’re passionate about helping more women experience the game. We’ve put together a few of our favorite beginner tips to give you a boost of confidence before you step onto the course.
When I was starting out, one of the things that kept me coming back for another round—even when I was playing poorly—was picking my shot of the day at the end of each round. No matter how bad it may have been, there was always at least one good shot that put a smile on my face. In fact, 10 years later, I still do this from time to time! It gives me a reason to celebrate a positive moment and appreciate the progress I’m making.
As any golfer will tell you, each day and each round is different from the one before. When you can find a glimmer of magic in all of them, that’s the secret sauce that keeps you coming back again and again.
If you read my blog titled “He Said I Wasn’t Good Enough—So I Played Anyway,” you know that some people are better at supporting a newbie than others. When you can find people who are willing to help you learn the game, it’s such a blessing.
In my first few years, I’d go out to play 9 holes with my dad and uncles. We always played in the late afternoons when the course was quieter. For me, it was the perfect time to learn—fewer people, less pressure, and more room to get comfortable. It’s hard to learn the game when you’re constantly trying to keep up with strict pace-of-play expectations!
And by that I mean—don’t get beat down by not being great right away! Everyone has a first shot, a first miss, a first par, a first birdie… everything comes in its own time (and sometimes without warning!).
That’s the beauty of golf—it’s wildly unpredictable, which can be both frustrating and fun. As long as you know your game and keep your expectations aligned with where you are, you’ll be just fine. When people ask how I play, I say: “Great! I’m a 28 handicap, and I play like a 28 handicap!” They always laugh—and it always breaks the ice.
Things like… don’t talk during someone’s backswing. Don’t walk across the line from their ball to the hole on the green. Rake the sand trap. You get the idea.
Anything you can learn ahead of time will help ease your nerves if you’re playing on a course for the first time. If you’re at a country club, do they have a dress code? Is there a skort or dress length requirement? Do they require a collared shirt?
Golf is a game full of traditions and etiquette, and the more you know ahead of time, the smoother (and less intimidating) your round will be.
My dad once joked that all I needed was a little catnap between holes to regain my energy and play better. (And yes—it’s true. It’s on my Instagram page!)
I’ve found that taking a moment to reset—whether it’s mental or physical—is never a bad thing. If you need to pick up your ball to keep pace, do it. If you need a breather, take it. It’s your game. Play it in the way that works for you.
Similar to picking a shot of the day, I like to pick something on each hole I did well. It may not have been my best hole but what did I do well? I feel that even if I don’t have the best tee shot this mindset forces me to not give up on the hole. I can still have a great iron shot or make a good putt and there you have it, that's what I did well on that particular hole. And yes, there are times when the best thing I did was create content for a blooper reel- but hey, it's something!
Especially, when I was first starting out, it helped me to look at each hole individually, rather than an 18 hole round or a four hour outing. That can be intimidating- especially if your first or second hole wasn't your best. Play each hole as its own, enjoy it- and remember to find that one good thing you did. You're lucky enough to be playing this great game!
This just might be my biggest piece of advice. Everyone has a bad shot. Laugh it off and move on. I can't tell you how many times I've said “practice swing!” when I’ve completely missed the ball or something like “well, it went, not where I wanted it to but it went somewhere!”
Golf is a hard game to play, it can be frustrating to say the least. How can you play the same course over and over with the same clubs and still have such varying scores on each hole? These are the things that keep us competitive with ourselves and keep us coming back for more so have fun and laugh!
I've said it many times before and I’ll continue to say it- when you feel good about yourself, when you're confident and you look like you know what you're doing you're more likely to perform better. There is so much to think about when you're playing golf (How's my stance? Keep my head down! Follow through! - you get the point).
I often ask questions like “what club are you thinking of?” You're with these same people, whether they be friends, colleagues or strangers you've been paired up with. It's a rare opportunity to have someone's, pretty much, undivided attention for four hours. Take advantage! People want to see you succeed so ask the questions, start the conversations. You never know where that discussion will lead. Golf is such a unique game that lends itself to so many more opportunities off the course.