If you’ve ever picked up a golf club and immediately thought, “Wow… I’m either going to be a natural or I just invented a whole new sport,” then we might be kindred spirits. When I decided to get serious about golf, I quickly realized something: there’s no single “right” way to learn this game. Sure, there are swing coaches, training aids, YouTube videos, and a mountain of advice from anyone who’s ever held a 7-iron, but at the end of the day, I needed to figure out what worked for me.

I’ve got my own challenges to work with, and my body doesn’t always agree with traditional golf instruction. Instead of trying to copy the pros down to the last detail, I focus on movements that feel comfortable and repeatable, choosing gear that suits my style rather than what everyone else is using, and keeping a pace of learning that actually makes golf fun. If I try to force myself into someone else’s mold, the “fun” aspect of the game disappears, because all I can focus on is what’s going wrong.

In the beginning, I thought improvement meant completely overhauling my swing. It turns out it’s much less intimidating to break things down into smaller goals. Right now, I just want to make clean contact more often, figure out how far each club really goes instead of relying on what the internet says, and play smarter rather than harder. Laying up, for example, isn’t always the sexy move, but oftentimes, it’s the smart move. When you celebrate little victories like a pure 7-iron or a perfectly lagged putt, the big improvements have a way of sneaking up on you.

Some days, “what works” is a full 18 holes. Other days, it’s 30 minutes at the range or chipping in the backyard. I’m okay with that. My golf journey isn’t a race; it’s more like a long walk… with a few detours in the woods and an occasional dip in the water. I try to learn from different sources.  Sometimes that can be watching YouTube golf creators who keep things simple, testing gear at my own pace, and asking other everyday golfers what’s worked for them. Golf is a game of endless tinkering, and I’m learning to enjoy the experiment.

If you’ve ever felt like you have to play a certain way, remember that the game doesn’t care how you swing as long as you move the ball forward. Whether you’re chasing a single-digit handicap or just trying to beat your best friend, there’s room for your own version of golf. My plan is to play in a way that feels good, keep learning, and always remember why I started in the first place, because I love it.