Golf Courses for Beginners: Where to Start Playing

The easiest golf course for beginners is a short one: a par 3 or academy course, where the holes are shorter, a round is quicker and nobody expects you to have a handicap. A 9-hole course is the next step, and golf centres, which are run for visitors, are usually the most relaxed place to start. Tee Time lists 31 par 3, academy and pitch and putt courses and 221 9-hole courses, and you can book any of them as a visitor without joining a club.

What makes a course good for beginners

A full-length 18-hole course can be hard work when you are new. The holes are long, a round often takes four hours, and you may lose a lot of balls. A course suits beginners when it has:

• Shorter holes, so you can reach the green in one to three shots and still feel you are playing golf.
• Fewer holes, so a round fits into an hour or two and you finish before you get tired.
• No handicap requirement. Many members' clubs ask visitors for one, but par 3 courses, academy courses and golf centres rarely do.
• A relaxed dress code. Golf centres tend to be less strict than members' clubs, though golf shoes or trainers with a flat sole are still wise.
• A range or practice area nearby, so you can warm up first.

Par 3 and academy courses

On a par 3 course every hole is a par 3: one good shot should reach the green, then you putt. Holes are usually short, so you need only a few clubs. An academy course is built for learning, with short holes and gentle hazards, and is often where a club's coaches take beginner groups onto the course for the first time.

Some you can book on Tee Time, from our catalogue of courses:

• London: the 9-hole par 3 course at Dukes Meadows Golf, Tennis & Ski.
• The South East: Twisted Stone Golf Course in Woking, Surrey, a 9-hole par 3.
• The East of England: the 9-hole par 3 at Chadwell Springs Golf Centre in Ware, Hertfordshire.
• The East Midlands: the 9-hole par 3 at Delapre Golf Centre in Northampton, which also has a driving range.
• The South West: StarGolf in Cheltenham, an 18-hole par 3 course.
• The North West: Southport Golf Academy in Lancashire, a 9-hole academy course with a driving range.
• The North East: Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy at Stockton-on-Tees, a 9-hole academy course.
• Scotland: the 9-hole par 3 at Paul Lawrie Golf Centre in Aberdeen.
• Wales: Llanyravon Golf Club in Cwmbran, a 9-hole par 3.
• Northern Ireland: the 18-hole Temple par 3 course at Blackwood Golf Centre in Bangor, County Down.

The full list is below, grouped by region.

9-hole courses: the next step

Once you can get round a par 3, a 9-hole course on full-length holes is a good way to try "proper" golf without committing to 18. A 9-hole round usually costs less and takes about half the time of 18 holes. Use the holes filter in search to show only 9-hole tee times, and see 9-hole golf courses for how they work and where they are.

Golf centres and pay and play courses

Golf centres are mostly run for visitors rather than members, so their tee sheets are usually open to anyone. Many have a driving range, a short course and a pro shop in one place, which makes it easy to practise, play a few holes and ask for advice on the same visit. Public and pay and play courses work the same way: you book a tee time and pay for that round only. Pay and play golf without a membership explains the different kinds, and driving range near me shows how to find a range near you.

Beginner golf courses with a coach

Some people searching for a beginners course mean a course of lessons rather than a place to play. Many golf centres and clubs run beginner groups that meet once a week for a few weeks, lend you clubs and finish with a few holes on a short course. These are arranged with the club's professional, not through Tee Time; golf lessons near me explains how to find one.

What to bring to your first round

• Clubs. You don't need a full set. A few irons, a wedge and a putter are enough for a par 3, and some golf centres hire clubs.
• Balls and tees. Bring more balls than you think you will need.
• Shoes and clothes. Golf shoes or flat-soled trainers, and a collared shirt if the course asks for one. Check the course's website for its dress code.
• Time. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to check in, find the first tee and hit a few practice putts.

A few habits that help on the course

Golf has some etiquette that matters more than the score. Keep up with the group in front, and if you are holding up the group behind, wave them through. Stand still and quiet while others play. Repair pitch marks on the green and rake bunkers after you use them. If you lose a ball, look for it briefly and then drop another. Nobody minds a beginner who keeps the game moving.

How to book your first tee time

1. Search tee times by date, time of day, number of players and distance from where you are, or choose a region.
2. Set the holes filter to 9 if you want a shorter round.
3. Choose a tee time. Each listing shows the green fee per player where the club publishes one.
4. Sign in and book with the name, email address and phone number saved in your Tee Time account. You don't need a club login or a handicap.

For a step by step walk-through, see how to book a golf tee time as a visitor. When you are playing regularly, how to get a golf handicap explains the next step.

Find a course near you

Browse golf in London, the South East, the East of England, the East Midlands, the South West, the North West, the North East, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, or search by distance from where you are.