Golf Simulator Lessons

One of the best ways to enjoy golf is to visit new courses whenever you get the chance. A new layout challenges your game, breaks up the routine, and reminds you how much variety the sport offers. But showing up at an unfamiliar course without any preparation can cost you strokes and enjoyment. Here's how to make the most of a visit to a new course.

Do Your Homework in Advance

Most courses have a website with course information, hole-by-hole descriptions, and sometimes a virtual tour or photo gallery. Spend ten minutes reviewing the layout before you arrive. Look for recurring challenges: does the course play tight with lots of trouble off the tee? Are the greens known to be fast or heavily contoured? Knowing what to expect mentally prepares you for what's coming.

Arrive Early and Warm Up

At an unfamiliar course, give yourself extra time before your tee time. Arrive early enough to warm up thoroughly and spend time on the practice green before your round. Different courses have different grass types and green speeds. A few minutes on the practice green before you play will calibrate your feel and keep you from three-putting your way through the first few holes.

Stop in the Pro Shop

The Pro Shop staff knows the course better than anyone. Before your round, stop in and ask about the hardest holes, the common trouble areas, and any local rules you should know. They can give you the kind of insider information that a scorecard alone can't provide. They'll also have range balls and any accessories you might need before you tee off.

Be Conservative on Holes You Don't Know

On a new course, information is your most valuable asset. On unfamiliar holes, play to the safe part of the fairway rather than attacking pins you haven't seen before. Give yourself room to find the green without risking the worst possible outcome. Your first time on a course is a learning round. Let it be that without adding unnecessary pressure.

Take Notes for Next Time

Experienced golfers know that every course rewards repeat visits. After your round, jot down what you learned: which holes played harder than expected, where the pin positions create risk, which clubs you should have used. You'll play the course better every time you return, and those notes give you a head start on your next visit.

Stop by the Redlands Mesa Pro Shop before your next round and pick up everything you need to be prepared. When you're ready to play, book a tee time and come experience a course that rewards every visit with something new.