question

ok here's the thing. i got suckered into a charity tournament by my boss. i've never played before and he said they are going to want to know what my handicap is....what do i tell them?

36... this means you would average about a double bogey per hole. It is basically the highest one there is. Yes there are those that actually have a higher one, but the USGA really only recognizes a 36 as the highest.

If this is the first time playing, be careful. Play fast enough that you do not slow the group up. This means that you are always aware of when it is your turn, and you don't go into a nervous routine that takes 3 minutes for you to finally hit that ball, talking to yourself, fumbling around for a club, letting prople know this is your first time playing, finally hitting the ball only to completly miss it, then start over again with the 3 minute drill. You want to be relaxed, and ready to hit your shot. After about 1/2 the day, you will find that you will get twice as good as you were on the first hole (your expierience of playing the game will grow with your confidance) so expect this to happen.

Bring lots of balls that are the cheepest you can find...like second-hand balls you buy in a bag of 40 that are clean, white but are of all different types. This way you can hit it into the woods, water, ob, and leave it there without worrying about the cost.

Know the basic rules. There are some "Golf 4 dummies" books out there at the book stores. Get through it and at least have the simple rules understood.

Don't get cought up in your score. Have fun playing the game. Try to at least get out to the driving range once and make contact with the ball on a tee. Start with your 7 iron. Use it all day if you have to. There is no shame in that. As long as you make contact and the ball flys up in the air, your partners will be happy. If it is a company outing, you are probably playing a "scramble" format. This means you will all hit from the same "best drive" location and everyone has fun talking business.

Good luck out there! Welcome to the most addictive, expensive, rewarding and frustrating sport you can play.

__________________
I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

yeah it's scramble and i've been out on the range a couple of times and used almost everything but my driver. i read on another thread that beginners should not use it.

That's the nice thing about a scramble - they only take the best shots. So you're under no pressure.

Explain that you're new, and ask your team when you should hit. They may offer to let you hit first - you never know, you may be the safety shot.

And be agressive with your putting - you never know, you could drop a long one!