It’s astounding to me how often I get comments such as, “I’ve never golfed, but I love reading your column.” Not only is it a huge ego boost (thank you), but it’s always somewhat baffling.

Golf, like any hobby, has its own lingo that would seem like a foreign language to an outsider. Am I wrong? Simple terms like “birdie” or “tee box” that golfers take for granted, wouldn’t actually mean anything to a layman.

I was reminded of this when I received an email from Lori this past week.

Lori, you might remember, was brand new to golf a few years ago when she reached out to me. She said she was nearing retirement and was looking to get into golf, but didn’t really know how to start. Well, my eyes lit up reading that email. I offered to take her out and show her the ropes.

The timing of her inquiry wasn’t exactly ideal. It was right at the end of the 2018 golf season (October, if I remember correctly). It was cold, windy and rainy. So, you know, perfect golf conditions. All that said, we had a blast. I was able to help her learn a proper swing as well as teach her some of the rules of the game. She texted me a few days later to say that she had bought a set of clubs. She had caught the bug.

I thought of Lori often during the 2019 season. I was hoping she had found someone to take her golfing because one round with me probably doesn’t give you the confidence to go out and play alone.

Then last week I get an email from her. Unfortunately, some health issues delayed her start to the golf season and then when she finally felt up to playing, she felt like she had forgotten everything she learned. That’s understandable, right?

Lori included a laundry list of exceptionally profound questions, if I’m being honest. She didn’t just say, “How do I start again?” Lori has clearly been thinking about what equipment she needs, how she should dress, where she should go, the etiquette of the game, etc.

Going back to the beginning of this email, I decided it would be a better idea for me to answer some of her questions in this column so that all those non-golfers can read about how to get started. Starting anything new can be intimidating, so I want to hold your hand and guide you through the process. Huge thanks to Lori for the motivation for this project.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

What are the basic golf clubs needed and what are the differences between them?

There are several different types of clubs. Drivers have longer shafts and larger heads. The club face is almost completely flat. These are generally only used to hit off a tee and are designed to hit the ball a long way. Woods look somewhat like drivers in that they have fairly flat faces and larger “half-moon” bodies. They’re again used for hitting the ball a long distance, but are more for hitting off short grass than off a tee. Irons make up a good portion of a golfer’s bag. They range in number (generally) from 4 to 9. The higher the number, the greater the angle of the club face. That means that a 9-iron is going to hit the ball much higher (and therefore, a shorter distance) than a 4-iron. Then there are various wedges, which are essentially irons with an even greater angle on the face. A lob wedge, for example, will hit the ball almost straight up in the air. They’re designed for getting the ball to hit the green with very little roll afterwards. Most people, I suspect, are familiar with the putter, which is used to, you know, putt. There are several different putter head shapes. It’s just a matter of preference as to which one to use. There are also clubs called hybrids. They’re a mix between a wood and an iron. Personally, I struggled for years to hit these clubs well, but now they’re an extremely versatile club for me. For a seasoned golfer, the difference between clubs is huge. For new golfers, I always recommend using a middle iron, such as a 6, until you’re confident in simply making contact with the ball. What do you actually need to get started? Not much. A driver or a 3-wood can be used to tee off. Maybe a few irons — you could do something like all the evens (4,6,8) or odds (5,7,9). I absolutely love my pitching wedge. Then make sure you have a putter.

How do I drive a golf cart? Are they all the same? Where do I drive if there are no paths?

Every golf cart I have used has been relatively the same. There are gas carts and electric carts, but they drive pretty similarly. There’s one big rule to remember with carts: Keep them away from the greens. Usually courses will have other restricted areas marked with signs. You might hear something called the 90-degree rule if there’s been some rain. This means that carts shouldn’t be driven up the fairway. Drive in the rough until you reach where you ball is, then you can make a 90-degree turn (get it?) into the fairway to your ball. If there was enough rain, carts might not be allowed on the fairways at all. Heck, early in the season carts aren’t allowed on the course at all. These rules are to prevent the carts from tearing up the soft turf in the fairways, obviously. We can all appreciate trying to keep the course in the best shape possible. In all honesty, there’s nothing wrong with just walking. You can either carry your bag or get a hand cart, which can be rented at most courses.

I can’t say for certain how many parts this column will continue for, but if you have any ideas for topics you’d like me to hit on (whether you’re a non-golfer or a seasoned pro with ideas on what newbies should know), please send me an email.

Until next time, golf is great. Go get some.

Stefan Gestwicki is an OBSERVER contributing writer. Comments on this article can be sent to golfersdiary@gmail.com