Golf courses are not just for experts, nor for the rich and famous; Golf is a fun and competitive sport that anyone can play. In most metropolitan areas, you have several options for the type of venue you play, the difficulty, and even the number of holes.

Public courses are open to everyone. You do not need to be a member to play, although you do have to pay the green fee for the day. Most public facilities will recommend a reservation for your tee time, especially if it’s a busy time of year. You might get lucky and be able to just walk around if it’s not too busy.

Private facilities, on the other hand, are only available to members and their guests. They may require reservations to ensure their members don’t have to wait unnecessarily. There are usually other benefits such as a lounge, instructors, tennis courts, swimming pool, among other amenities.

Some private facilities are also available to the public, so they could be said to be “semi-private”. Many small town clubs are set up this way, as are resorts in heavily touristed areas. They will reserve certain tee times for members and guests, and allow other times for the public. Generally, the public will pay a higher green fee than members.

You may have thought that all golf courses had 18 holes. They have 9 holes that make up the front and 9 holes in the back. While the 18 holes are certainly the size of most golf courses, there are other options in some areas.

– 9 holes: A small town may not have a full size green. In this case, if you wanted to play a full round, you would simply go through the holes twice. The difficulty and duration of the course are usually very similar to that of a full course, just in a smaller general area.

– Executive: This modality only has 9 holes, but they are less difficult than the regulated facilities, so it does not take as long to go through them. This means that it can be ideal for someone who doesn’t have all morning or afternoon to play.

– Par 3: This is a 9-hole course that only has par 3 holes. Because it is not that difficult, it is a good option for beginners. It’s also great if you just want to get into a quick game.

The length of the holes and the objects around them, as well as the face value, determine the difficulty of the course. Most 18-hole facilities have a combination of par 3, 4 and 5 holes. For example, the Executive course has few par 4 and 5 holes, so it doesn’t take as long to play. If you’re just starting out, pick a spot with as many per 3 holes as possible.

From the beginner to the experienced, take a look around at nearby golf courses and pick one where you can have fun and play your best game!