Female? New to golf? Here's what you need to know...

PGA Professional Katie Dawkins helps to get you started in the game with these five tips.

Taking up a new sport can be very intimidating and golf can be no different. From the outside it can look like it's full of rules and dress codes but golf really is what you make it.

It's good for you health, both physical and mental, and it can give you a huge sense of achievement and a new circle of friends.

Dawkins has broken down some of the myths about this wonderful game. Golf shouldn’t be intimidating, nobody should feel like that they shouldn’t be there and anyone can play golf.

1. Golf can be anything that you like

Golf doesn’t have to be all about 18 holes and handicaps. It should be whatever you want it to be. It comes in so many varying formats; you can try and get your handicap down or you could pop to your local range and spend 40 minutes doing it, it’s still golf. Work out what golf you want in your life and be realistic what you can fit in without putting pressure on yourself. 

2. You don’t need brand new clubs

The perception is that golf can be so expensive but, again, it doesn't have to be. Have some lessons with a PGA Professional and they will be able to give you a good steer on what will work for you. But you definitely don't need a full set immediately or at all; you can play with three clubs and a putter and still play as well and it teaches you lots in the process about how your clubs work for you. A woman might be 6”1 and need men's length clubs or 4”9 and be suited to junior clubs so not everyone is the same. The bottom line is not to expect to shed out loads of money immediately.

3. Find a teacher who fits you

A good coach is like finding a good hairdresser. You want to get on with them and have a good rapport and they need to understand how you best learn, a busy mum can’t expect to practise three times a week. Ask other people's opinions and get their advice on who is a good coach. There are lots of amazing Facebook groups where you can easily leave a comment and get a good steer on a great local coach. 

4. Try and buddy up

If you are starting out then having a friend to share lessons with is a brilliant way to integrate yourself into the game. It makes everything so much less intimidating and you can practise together and it will get you out of the house when you might not feel like it. With my group lessons we will always finish with a coffee and a chat and that part of it adds a huge chunk of enjoyment to the experience. If you want to make some quicker progress then book in some individual lessons but a great way to get going and build up some initial confidence is to find a new-to-golf friend.

5. Golfing attire has moved on

If your perception about golf is that it's still all about dress codes then don't worry. Things have moved on and clubs have become a lot more forward thinking. You don’t have to dress a particular way just because you’re playing golf - you can go to the gym or a class and then go straight to golf and nobody would bat an eyelid these days at most clubs. Trainers are now more of a crossover to golf shoes and you can now buy golf gear and use it for other things as it's so much more lifestyle based.