Golf Guide

Aaron Buescher
Spring 2014

Table of Contents iii

Contents
Intro to Golf .................................................................................................................................... 3
Golf Information and Etiquette ....................................................................................................... 5
Tips for Beginners........................................................................................................................... 9
What to Buy .................................................................................................................................. 13
Great public courses to play in the Dallas area ............................................................................. 15

Table of Contents 3

Intro to Golf
Golf started in Scotland in the 15
th
century, and the famous St. Andrews course. Players
in that time actually made their own course, depending on which terrain were easiest to traverse.
At first, 11 holes were formed, and they covered the entire property, with the clubhouse at one
end. After players finished with the eleven holes, they turned around and replayed them, 22
holes altogether. Eventually players deemed some holes were too short, so they merged two of
them, knocking eleven down to nine, making the full round 18 holes. After St. Andrews was
constructed, course all over started popping up, with the same basic rues, but the number of holes
varied. When golf clubs around the UK recognized St. Andrews as the rule makers for golf,
other clubs around started either expanding or decreasing in size to accommodate 18 holes. A
fun little bit about golf: it is the only sport in which the lowest score is the winner (more on that
later)
There are many organizations for golf, but the main one is the Professional Golfers
Association, or PGA. The PGA organizes championships that you see on TV, organizes events
for fans, and sets rules to play the game. A PGA member is a golf professional who has to take a
series of test, internships, and a playing ability test. That being said, it is not an easy Association
to be in. These men and women (LPGA) are the best in the world at golf, and they have been
living and breathing it since they were very young. Simply going to the PGA website will give
you many insights on the game, but this manual will give you a brief insight on what golf is
about.
People play golf for many reasons. People play for money, for business occasions, and
for leisure, to name a few. Playing for leisure and on business are the best occasions because
you do not have to be competitive. Golf is intended to be a relaxing sport to ease the mind, when
the golfers play for money, emotions run high and individuals cans get temperamental. If you
are reading this manual, you are here to enjoy yourself. Golf teaches us to not sweat the small
stuff, because things happen, and all you can do is move on. We can use this mindset in our
lives to live better emotionally. One may not think that golf will make them angry, but it does.
On the flip side of angry is pure joy. When you strike the ball nicely, and it lands in the right
spot, there is no better feeling. Golf, unlike many sports, is one played without referees. Golf is
a game where players must show integrity, courtesy, and sportsmanship at all times, no matter
how competitive they may be.
This manual will get young and old golfers alike out on the course and having fun.
However, nobody can play a sport if they dont know how! First off this manual will describe
etiquette and rules that every golfer should know. Without rules, the game is unmanageable and
hard to understand. Etiquette allows the golfer to play like the pros play, even if said golfer
cannot achieve the same score. After the etiquette section, this manual will show you three
golfers who need a little help with their game. The third section of this manual details what to
buy to look and play like a professional. Finally, it will conclude with eight public golf courses
to play in the Dallas area that will be fun for golfers of all skill levels.
Golf Information and Etiquette 5


Golf Information and Etiquette

To start off, every hole in golf has a set number of strokes in order to get par. Once the ball
is in the hole, you calculate your score. Depending on which type of hole you are playing, a 3, 4,
or 5 will be considered par. One over par is called bogey, and one under par is birdie. On each
hole there is a fairway, which is short grass and easy to hit your ball off of. If you do not hit a
ball in the fairway, you will most likely be in the rough. The rough is longer, thick grass which
will decrease your shot distance. The next part of a hole is the green. The green is the area on
the hole, which contains the cup (the hole the ball goes in). The green is the shortest grass,
which is carpet-like in length. You are only allowed to use a putter on the green, to keep
blemishes off. Every round of golf concludes with eighteen holes. Some golf courses may have
three or four 9-hole courses, or even multiple eighteen-hole tracks. Either way, once you are
finished with eighteen holes, your round of golf is over (unless, of course, you paid for an all day
round). Distance is what separates the amount of strokes allotted for par. Usually, a par-three
ranges from 85-200 yards in length, and is achievable by striking the green in one shot, and
putting in two shots to
complete in three strokes,
or par. A par-four varies
greatly in distance, but
the basic rule is to hit the
green in two, and putt in
two more strokes. The
par-five will be longer,
and require three strokes
to hit the green, and two
putting strokes. Hazards
are unfortunately a big part of golf. Hazards vary in type, but the most common hazards are sand
and water. A sand hazard is usually called a sand trap or bunker. Bunkers are on many courses.
When in the sand, it is very difficult to hit a ball with accuracy. Many good golf course
designers place bunkers in areas that golfers are most likely to hit in. Water hazards range from
creeks, ponds, or lakes that will be placed in prime ball placement locations.
There are a few basic golf clubs that this manual will guide you through. A driver is a club
that most golfers hit from the tee box (the starting point for each hole). Fairway woods are
smaller than the driver, and depending on which fairway wood used, distances and loft vary.
Irons range from a nine-iron to a 2-iron (the lower the number the farther the distance). Irons are
like utility club, and golfers use different irons based on their situation on the course. Hybrid
clubs are designed for golfers who want the distance of a fairway wood, with the accuracy of an
iron. Wedges are similar to irons, with a larger loft and larger face. Wedges are used in short
distances, the rough, and bunkers. A putter is a club used on the green to get the ball in the cup.
If a golfer does not know which club to use, he or she may have a caddie on hand to assist with
shot selection. A caddie is a person who joins your group while golfing. This individual knows
the ins and outs of the course, will help the golfers choose what shot to take, and will give
golfers tips on how to improve their game.
6 Golf Guide
Etiquette is a huge part of the golf game. Etiquette is what keeps the game going and
enjoyable. When players disobey etiquette, the game starts drastically declining on the fun scale.
While golfing, please follow etiquette. Below arte lists of etiquette that every golfer should
follow.
Golf Carts
o Keep the cart 50 yards away from the green at all times
o Pay attention to signage pertaining to your golf cart on courses.
o Stay at 90
o
angle to cart path, which is the road carts ride along.
o Do not operate the golf cart while drunk.
o Keep the golf cart behind the golfer that is in the act of hitting their ball..
Music on course/ electronic devices
o If everybody in your party agrees to the music selection, then music is fine.
o Some courses do not allow any form of electronic devices, so follow club rules
pertaining to music playing.
Who plays their ball first?
o The player whos furthest from the hole shoots first.
Standing in front of a golfer who is shooting.
o Do not do this. Always stand behind the golfer in play.
When does one shoot?
o You are allowed to shoot when the group in front of you is out of distance (further
than you can hit).
o When the group is behind the ball in play, or at a safe distance.
What does the term fore mean?
o When a golfer hits an errant shot, the player must call fore to warn other
golfers.
Do not disturb other players
o This is a big issue on the course. Refrain talking on your phone, yelling and
screaming due to emotions, or playing music that is unwelcomed.
o Disturbing players in your group may lead to rifts and cause trouble.
Etiquette on the green.
o Always mark the ball with a ball marker of some sort.
o Do not stand in others putt lines.
o Like on the rest of the course, the player furthest from hole shoots first.
o If a players ball is closest to the hole, that player should remove the flag, once all
players are on the green.
Keeping score on the course.
o One person in each group should be designated as the official scorekeeper, and
one person will attest that score. On informal outings, it is accepted to keep your
own score.
o As a tip, always write down the true score, every time you beat that previous
score, it feels good.
Pace of play and letting others play through.
o If your group may be playing too slow, it is wise to let groups behind you play
through, as to keep them from complaining to the marshal (a course manager) and
to ease stress on your group.
Golf Information and Etiquette 7

o Usually when playing in a foursome, it is customary to let twosomes and those
playing alone pass through, since they play quicker on average.
Always play ready golf.
o Be ready to play when it is your turn.
o If you are ready to play, and the other golfers deem it okay, hit your ball.
o This technique speeds up pace of play.
Provisional ball.
o A provisional is a ball hit after an errant shot. If you cannot find your first ball,
you play the provisional ball, and take a stroke, assuming you lost the first ball. If
you happen to find ball number one, you may pick up the provisional and hit your
first ball without penalty.
The repairing of divots.
o A divot repair tool is used to flatten the indent a golf ball makes on the green.
o You may create a divot after hitting in the fairway. Sand is used to regrow grass
in that area.
8 Golf Guide
Tips for Beginners 9

Tips for Beginners

Golf is a game of constant training, so do not expect to be a pro the first time out on the
course. In this section, this manual will show three golfers who need a little help with their
swings. The tips given in this section may help out new golfers so they can start off on the right
track to becoming a professional.


























This golfers starting stance
seems too stiff. Starting off,
one should have their kneed
more bent, and back slightly
more straight.

In the backswing there
are two noticeable
problems. The golf
club is not parallel to
the ground and his
hips are over-rotated.

In his forward-swing, this
golfer has corrected his
problems. The leading
arm is straight, hips have
rotated, and his eye is on
the ball.

The golfers eyes are
concentrated on the
ball, but it looks like
he made too much of
a divot, causing the
ball to lose distance
and accuracy.
10 Golf Guide

This golfers knees are
not bent enough, and
back is not straight
enough.































His arms go too far
behind him, and his
right knee is locked. His
hips also are not rotated
enough.

It looks like most of the
bad technique earlier was
fixed, with a good follow
through. Although the
hips are not rotated
enough, his eyes are
located on the ball.

His follow through looks
good, but he is leaning
over too much.
Tips for Beginners 11































This golfer has her knees
bent, arms relaxed, eyes on
the end location, and back
straight. Starting off, her
form is perfect.
At this moment, her form is
good, but she has gone too
far in her back swing. This
may lead to an errant shot.
As you can see, the club face
is not going to strike the ball
perpendicular. This is due to
over-rotating in the follow-
through, and bad eye-ball
coordination.

In the final moments of
her swing, her hands are
too high, she is falling
over to the left, and her
golf club is not at a good
angle to the ground.
What to Buy 13


Typical golf attire
What to Buy

Outfits
A Collared shirt is required at most
courses.
Golf shorts (recommended but not needed)
or slacks depending on the weather.
Golf shoes, which have soft spikes on them
for grip.
A golf glove is worn to reduce blisters on
your main hand.




Clubs
Driver
Fairway woods
Hybrids
Irons
Wedges
Complete sets

Accessories
Golf Balls
o Beginners do not need the nicest brand of golf balls. Most sports outfitters sell golf
balls found in lakes, and they work perfectly fine. Just make sure to use a ball washer
when yours gets dirty. If you scuff a ball, start using a new one.
Golf Tees
o Tees come in many different shapes and sizes. The best ones are simple wooden tees
that cost next to nothing. Just make sure to buy long tees in case your drivers
clubface is tall.
Golf Bag
o A golf bag is used to carry all clubs, and has pockets for other accessories.
Complete golf set
14 Golf Guide
Thoughts and Conclusion 15

Great public courses to play in the Dallas area

Woodbridge Golf Club
Course information
o Moderately hard.
o Trees lining most fairways
o Water in play most holes
o Long, straight holes with not much elevation.
o Beautiful course
o Collared shirt required, no jeans.
o Golf carts with GPS
Full 18-hole course with driving range, putting facility, and a golf pro who does 1
on 1 lessons.
Bar and grill on site.
Rates range from $20-$63 depending on what time played.
Wylie, TX
(972)429-5100
www.wbgolfclub.com
Lake Park Golf Course
Course information
o Very easy
o Wide open
o Not too many hazards (water or sand)
o Not a great looking course
o Any attire allowed
o Flat course
Full 18-hole Championship Course and a 9-hole Executive Course with a
driving range.
Bar and grill on site
Rates range from $15 after 1pm - $39 on the full 18-hole course for cart and fees.
Rates on the 9-hole course are $18 during the week and $20 on the weekends, for
cart and fees.
Lewisville, TX
(972)219-5661
www.lakeparkgc.com
Pecan Hollow
Course Information
o Easy to play-moderately hard
o Many trees lining fairways
o There is a creek that runs through most of the course, with small ponds
scattered.
o Sand is in play on every hole.
16 Golf Guide
o Natural grasses also act as a hazard.
o Collared shirt required
o Elevation changes and technical holes make this course somewhat
challenging.
o A recent renovation has made the quality of this course better.
Full 18-hole course with lit driving range, short course that requires a wedge and
putter. The course also has a practice putting green.
No GPS on carts.
Bar and grill on site.
Rates range from $33-$56 per round.
Plano, TX
(972)941-7600
www.pecanhollowgc.com
Firewheel Golf Park
Course Information
o Moderately hard hard
o Many hazards including water, sand, and woods.
o Collared t-shirt required and no jeans allowed.
o Tight holes and wide open holes make this golf park hard to judge, but it
definitely will challenge golfers of all levels.
Firewheel has a total of 63 holes, spanning three completely different courses.
The courses include the Bridges (three 9-hole courses), the Lakes (there is water
on nearly every hole, making it the hardest course), and the Old Course (the easier
of the three).
$20.50-$57 depending on when you play and what course played.
Bar and grill on site.
GPS unit in every cart.
Garland, TX
(972)205-2795 for the Bridges Course
(972)205-2765 for the Old/Lakes Courses.
www.golffirewheel.com
Coyote Ridge Golf Club
Course Information
o A hard course to play.
o Water on many holes.
o Short holes but many challenges including tight shots, tight fairways, and
many elevation changes.
o Trees and bunkers are in abundance.
o Very well-kept golf course.
One of the nicest golf course restaurants in Dallas that hosts many corporate
events.
18-hole golf course with driving range and putting green for practice.
Collared shirt required and no jeans allowed.
Rates range from $25-$70 depending on when you play.
Thoughts and Conclusion 17

There is GPS on carts.
Carrollton, TX
(972)395-0786
www.coyoteridgegolfclub.com
The Courses at Watters Creek
Course Information
o Easy to play -Moderately hard golf course
o There are three courses for a total of 33 holes.
o Small amount of water, and not too many other hazards.
o A very windy course.
o Recently opened so the course still looks brand-new.
The three courses include The Traditions (18-hole championship style course),
The Players (9-hole course opened to appeal to the beginners), and The Futures
(6-hole course also built to appeal to beginners and those who do not have much
time).
Collared shirt required.
Restaurant is on site, as well as a venue for weddings and meetings.
Rates for The Traditions range from $35-$55.
Rates for The Players range from $25-$30.
Rates for The Futures range from $10-$12.
Plano, TX (but technically an Allen course)
(214)509-4653
www.watterscreekgolf.com
Stevens Park Golf Course
Course Information
o Moderately Hard
o Trees line every fairway.
o There is a creek that runs throughout the course but is not a major hazard.
o Few bunkers line fairways.
o Renovated in 2011.
o Dramatic elevation changes.
18-hole golf course with driving range and practice putting green.
Collared shirt required.
Rates range from $32-$50.
Bar and grill on-site.
Dallas, TX
(214)670-7506
www.stevensparkgolf.com

Luna Vista
Course Information
o Moderately hard course.
18 Golf Guide
o Your accuracy will be testes with tree-lined fairways, water on nearly
every hole, and sand traps near the greens.
o This is a very flat course, with no elevation changes.
18-hole golf course with a large putting green for practice, a driving range, and a
short game area.
Bar and grill on site.
Collared shirt required.
Rates range from $29-$45.
Dallas, TX
(214)670-6322
www.lunavistagolf.com

The courses mentioned above are great quality courses that any player can have fun on.
Remember, golf is just a game, please do not take it too seriously.
Thoughts and Conclusion 19

Thoughts and Conclusion


First off, I would like to thank my mother and father for allowing me the opportunity to
start up golf as a kid. Without golf, I would not have a relaxing hobby to play when I am
stressed, or just feel like having fun for a few hours. Golf is a great hobby to have if only for its
relaxation purposes. Golf in todays society is neither growing nor declining, it is simply staying
flat. I believe this deals with economics on the large scale, but there are many other factors such
as willingness to get outside and do something. If you want to escape all the technology and just
go be one with nature for a few hours, golf is a great way to achieve that. I hope the readers of
this manual will utilize the local golf courses I have included in the manual.
The local golf courses on the manual are by no means a definitive list of courses in the
greater Dallas area. There are hundreds of courses around! The list just points at courses with
lower price points. The courses are also just challenging enough to not make you go mad. There
are other courses around that cost three hundred dollars per round, and many private courses
around, but these courses are not intended for beginners. The list provided gives a short and
sweet detail, and should be used on your next golfing adventure.
This project was done as a formal manual for a technical writing class at the University of
North Texas in Denton, TX.
Bibliography

Bibliography
USGA. (n.d.). Golf Etiquette 101. USGA. http://www.usga.org/etiquette/tips/Golf-Etiquette-
101/
PGA. (n.d.) Golf Etiquette. PGA. http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/instruction-
feature/fundamentals/golf-etiquette
USGA. (n.d.). Golf History FAQ. USGA Museum.
http://www.usgamuseum.com/researchers/faq/