Competition doesn’t matter

Particularly when you’re starting out in golf, the most important thing is that you enjoy yourself.

Bend some rules

Certain rules are unavoidable, like teeing off from the tee box and repairing your divots. But if you don’t want to play from the rough or bunker or over water, drop a ball in the fairway. If you want to tee it up on the fairway, do it. Do anything to make your experience more enjoyable.

Take a sleeve of golf balls, a short iron and your putter and play 18 holes of approach shots. Use the walk between tee box and approach to simply enjoy being outdoors. Better yet, bring a friend along.