The driving range is rehearsal. The course is opening night. And your first nine holes will feel like the longest and shortest two hours (++) of your life, somehow at the same time.
You'll forget half of what your pro taught you the second you step onto the first tee. This is normal. Your brain hands the mic to your nerves, and your nerves are not good at golf. Take a breath. Take your practice swing. Hit the ball. Walk after it. Repeat. That's the whole game. Or if you play like us you might shank it onto the putting range into someones stomach! Ouch!
A few things will surprise you: how heavy your bag gets, how fast nine holes goes, how loud silence can be when three people are watching your tee shot, and how genuinely thrilling it is to chip one onto the green and have it stop somewhere near the flag.
You will hit at least one shot today that makes you say "ohhhh, that's why people play this game." Hold onto that shot. Pull it out of your pocket when the next four are catastrophic.
Aunt Trudy's Tip: "Pace of play, sugar. Pace of play. If the group behind you is waiting, wave them through with a smile. Pick up your ball if you've hit your max beginners are allowed to pocket a hole, and the golf gods will forgive you. Repair your divots, rake the bunker, fix your ball mark on the green. Leave it nicer than you found it."
You don't need to keep score on your first nine. You don't need to play "real" golf. You just need to make it from tee to green to next tee, over and over, until the round is done. Buy yourself something cold at the turn. Take a photo on hole 9.
You did the thing.
Now get Off Course and into the Club. You deserve it. Chardonnay time.
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