My First Steps in Golf - Working Towards Platzreife
From my very first golf lessons to working towards the German Platzreife - how I am learning the game, making mistakes, and slowly improving.
This year I decided to start something new alongside my triathlon training: learning golf.
The goal right now is clear - to complete the German Platzreife, the license every beginner needs before being allowed to play on proper courses.
👉 For anyone outside of Germany: the Platzreife is basically a beginner’s license for golf. It proves that you know the basic rules, etiquette, and can play the game safely without slowing down others. In the US or many other countries this doesn’t exist – you can usually just pay a green fee and play. In Germany though, it’s a mandatory step before you’re allowed on most courses.
Starting Lessons
I have started taking golf lessons and while progress is there, it’s limited. The main reason: it’s a long drive to the golf course, which makes regular practice a bit harder. Still, I’m motivated and try to make the most out of each session.
My First Set of Clubs
Since I didn’t want to rely on rental clubs forever, I bought my own set. After reading online reviews I decided to go with a 6-club set from Decathlon. Supposedly the best value for money for beginners.
The set even includes a driver, which I was able to hit straight about 3 out of 50 times (not exactly pro stats, but at least the ball moved).
At 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) I also feel the clubs might be a little small for me. Luckily, I found this Golf Club Length Calculator which should give me a better idea if my clubs really are the right size.
What I’ve Learned So Far
Golf is great for clearing my head. It’s more exhausting than I thought, especially with all the focus and repetition. Definitely very different from swinging the Wiimote back in the days of Wii Sports or more recently playing golf on the Nintendo Switch.
I’ve also been watching tournaments for over a year now. What started as a great way to get a nap in on Sunday afternoons somehow turned into me being hooked at 3 am, watching Rory win the Masters.
Looking Ahead
The next big milestone is clear: once I achieve the Platzreife, I’ll start with the basic handicap of 54. (For anyone curious, here’s a Golf Handicap Calculator that shows how it works.)
From there, it will be about getting better step by step, learning consistency, and hopefully spending more time on the course without having to think too much about rules or technique.
For now, I’ll keep grinding through lessons, one swing at a time.