Is golf hard to learn? We won’t lie to you – yes. In fact, many multi-sport athletes will tell you themselves that it’s the hardest sport they’ve ever partaken in. The physical and mental challenges of learning golf lead to many giving up early – and what a shame that is. 

Because despite the fact that golf is a challenging sport to learn, it’s also one of the most rewarding. If you can stick with it and get through the touch early stages of learning golf, you’ll look back and thank yourself for not quitting. We aren’t being dramatic when we say golf can change your life – it changed ours!

Today, we’ll answer questions that are no doubt on your mind – why is golf a hard sport to learn? And just how hard is it to learn golf as a complete newcomer? Is there anything you can do to speed up the learning curve and fast-track your way to shooting low scores and having fun?

By the end of this article, we hope to leave you feeling confident and inspired along your own journey to starting golf. Let’s dive in.

Is Golf Hard to Learn?

So is golf hard to learn? Yes – as mentioned earlier, getting the swing of things (who doesn’t love a good golf pun?) is much more challenging than most other sports. Below, we’ll break down both the physical and mental challenges presented when first starting golfing.

The Golf Swing Itself Can Be Hard to Learn

If you’ve never swung a golf club before, you might assume it’s pretty straightforward. The ball is motionless – you just have to hit it toward your target. How hard can it be? Once you’ve had your first trip to the driving range (or maybe even straight to the golf course) you’ll retract that sentiment. You’ll get it.

The fact of the matter is that the golf swing presents a unique challenge. You must have good mobility to get full extension, excellent tempo to ensure a pure strike, and great hand-eye coordination to square up your club face with the ball.

Eventually, the golf swing isn’t even something you think about. You just approach the ball, go through your pre-shot routine, and swing – no thought required. But at first, you’re trying to juggle all these different thoughts in your mind: Initiate the backswing, hinge your wrists, start the downswing, connect, compress, follow through, and hold it…that’s a lot to keep in mind!

The hips, shoulders, arms, wrist, and core are all engaged in the golf swing. With so many moving parts, there is a lot that can go wrong – and be prepared for things to go wrong often when first starting out. A well-struck golf shot will be a rarity until muscle memory takes over and you engrain good swing patterns.

Short Game Presents its Own Difficulties

Hitting the ball far and accurately is only half the battle of getting your ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. Your short game – chipping and putting – is actually where you’ll lose the most strokes. This sounds counterintuitive…the closer to the hole you are, the easier it should be – right?

Wrong.

When you’re closer to the hole, the margin for error is lower – and the need for precision goes up. You’ll have to navigate sloping greens, gaping bunkers, and hazards all around the green. Getting the “touch” that is required to chip the ball near the hole and the “feel” to knock down putts is something you only develop with reps. 

Over time, you’ll get better at choosing the right shot when in tight and reading greens. But early on, all this will take a toll on you mentally – which is the other reason golf is so hard to learn.

The Mental Aspect of Golf is Quite the Challenge, Too!

What most people don’t realize when starting golf is what a challenge it can be mentally. In fact, this is the aspect of golfing that is the most challenging for many beginners. There are a few reasons for this:

• Pressure: Golf is often played in high-pressure situations, such as in tournaments or when playing for money, which can lead to anxiety and nerves. This can cause golfers to become overly focused on the outcome of their shots rather than the process of executing them.
• Focus: Golf requires a high degree of focus and concentration, especially during the swing. Distractions, such as other players, noise, or negative thoughts, can easily disrupt a golfer’s mental game, causing mistakes and inconsistent play.
• Patience: Golf is a slow-paced game that often requires golfers to wait for their turn to hit, and to deal with long periods of inactivity between shots. This can be challenging, as golfers must maintain their focus and patience throughout the round.
• Course Management: Golfers must make decisions on shot selection, club choice, and strategy on every hole, which can be mentally draining. Making the wrong decisions can lead to bogeys and higher scores, causing frustration and a negative impact on a golfer’s mental state.
• Resilience: Golf is a game of ups and downs, and golfers must be able to bounce back from mistakes and negative experiences. This requires mental resilience, as golfers must be able to maintain their focus and confidence even after a poor shot or a string of bad holes.

All of this is to say the battle that goes on in your own head will be far tougher than the battle on the golf course itself. But with that said, we wouldn’t change any of it for the world…

Trust Us, Though – it’s Worth the Challenge!

As we mentioned earlier, golf is one of the most rewarding sports to learn. The feeling of accomplishment as you start hitting good shots more frequently and see your scores drop is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced – and we’ve played multiple sports our entire lives. Golf will teach you a lot about yourself, and you’ll be mentally stronger for it.

Beyond that, golf is an opportunity to get outside and spend some time in nature – our own personal choice for meditation. Moreover, golf will strengthen existing relationships in your life while forging new ones. Trust us – despite how hard golf is, it’s worth the challenge!

Why is Golf a Hard Sport to Learn For Some and Not Others?

One of my best friends and I started golfing right around the same time. It was right at the start of the pandemic we both got into the sport – late 2020, in fact. Just over 2 years ago I swung a golf club for the first time – and to be honest, he had golfed a lot previously as a kid.

Fast forward to today, and he’ll break 100 on rare occasions. I regularly shoot in the 80s and play a 12 handicap. What’s the difference? Why is golf a hard sport to learn for some while others seem to pick it up naturally? There are a few contributing factors worth pointing towards.

Some People Take it More Seriously

First and foremost, I took the sport more seriously. It’s probably fair to say that my friend looked at golf as something to do every so often on beautiful, warm days when there’s nothing better to do. He probably plays less than 10 times a year – while I play a few times a week. 

We mentioned earlier that many of the challenges of learning to golf are just a matter of getting reps in. The more often you play, and more specifically, the more dedicated you are to getting good at the sport – the faster you’ll pick it up. Pretty simple. 

Some People Have Existing Athleticism That Carries Over

Another point to mention is that while we both played hockey growing up, he is a goalie – while I’m a forward who shoots a lot of pucks. The takeaway here? I had existing athleticism that translated to the golf swing, which he lacked. That’s not to say that my swing was anything to write home about – frankly, it still isn’t two years later! 

But i was able to hit the ground running a lot easier as I had engrained that rotational strength, mobility, and hand-eye coordination that is required for both shooting a hockey puck and hitting a golf ball. Other sports that will have some carry-over to golf include lacrosse, baseball, and tennis – there are likely others as well.

Some People are Just Gifted!

You probably have someone in your life who just seems to be good at everything – I’m lucky enough that I’m that person! I say this not to be cocky, but rather to be transparent. There are very few things I’ve tried in my life that I’ve sucked at. Call it genetics, call it luck, call it what you like – some people are just going to get it faster when it comes to learning golf.

How Hard is it to Learn Golf From Scratch?

So – in saying all this, what can you expect when first starting out? How hard is golf to learn? In this day and age, it’s actually easier to learn than ever. Quality information is more available than ever before. And if you’re willing to put in the work, you can pick up the game fast. But how fast, exactly?

I’d say it took me a good 3-6 months to the point where I felt confident in my ability to get around a course without looking out of place. It took me a year to break 90, and 2 years to break 80. I think it’s also worth noting that this is not the norm, though. This is possible for you if you are willing to hit the range a few times a week and dedicate yourself to the game. 

And to help make the process even easier and jumpstart your journey, we’ll provide a few tips for fast-tracking your success below.  

Tips for Speeding Up the Learning Process

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could skip the trials and tribulations of the early days of learning golf? If you could just get to the point in your career where you consistently shoot par or better? Well, that’s just not possible – but there are a few ways you can speed things up and get better, faster. Here’s our advice on the matter:

• Find a good coach: A golf coach can provide personalized instruction, help identify and correct swing faults, and provide feedback on your shots. Having a coach can help you improve your game more quickly and efficiently. 
• Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving in golf. Make time for regular practice sessions, both on and off the course, and focus on specific skills such as chipping, putting, and sand shots. You should spend more time at the range or at the short game area than on the actual golf course playing rounds – no matter how much more fun actually playing is!
• Start with the basics: Focus on the fundamentals of the swing, such as grip, stance, and alignment, before moving on to more advanced skills. Mastering the basics is critical to building a solid foundation for your game.
• Focus on your strengths: Identify what you do well and focus on improving those skills. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and help build confidence.
• Get the right equipment: Make sure you have the right golf clubs for beginners, golf balls, and other equipment that suit your level of experience and ability. The right equipment can help you play better and more consistently. Read our article on what you need to start golfing if you’re not sure where to start.
• Learn from your mistakes: Analyze your shots and identify what you did wrong. This will help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future. Get an app that can help you track your rounds and find areas of improvement. Or, at the very least, keep a golf journal where you record thoughts and happenings from each round you play.
• Stay positive: Golf is a challenging game, but it’s important to maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated. Surround yourself with positive people and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.

In conclusion, the learning process of golf can be accelerated by finding a coach, practicing regularly, focusing on the basics, focusing on your strengths, getting the right equipment, learning from your mistakes, and staying positive. Remember to take your time and enjoy the game, as golf is a lifelong pursuit that can bring you joy and fulfillment for years to come.

Is Golf Hard to Learn? Wrapping Things Up

So, is golf hard to learn? Yes. How hard is it to learn golf, though? It depends on how serious you are about getting good at this sport in a timely manner – and whether you have any existing athleticism that will translate to the game of golf. In a best-case scenario, you can shoot double-digit scores in a year or less – but don’t attach yourself to the score when learning golf. That’s a surefire way to get frustrated and end up quitting.

Instead, learn to love the process. Accept that you’re going to suck for a while and embrace it. Celebrate the little wins you encounter – whether it’s playing an entire round with just one sleeve of balls, hitting the fairway on most of your drives, or one-putting a few holes. 

And if you want to speed up the learning curve and get to the good part, read our article on the best way to learn how to play golf for beginners. You can also check out our articles on how to start golfing – which teaches you when kids can start golfing along with key golf terminology for beginners.

Or, discover the cost to golf in our guide to pricing breakdowns. We also have a guide on the cost of golf lessons to help you determine whether or not golf lessons are worth it – and if so, how many golf lessons you should take.

We’re here to empower you along this journey and help you enjoy the game of golf as much as we do – so don’t hesitate to reach out or leave a comment with any specific questions you have!