Learning To Play Golf At 60 or 70 – It’s Not As Hard As You Think

Updated February 22, 2026

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I know it sounds hard, but learning to play golf at 60, 50 or even 70 isn’t nearly as difficult as you might think.

The beauty of golf is that it is a game that can be played for a lifetime. You may have friends who have been playing for years, or know someone who enjoyed the game well into their 90’s. I will never forget when a neighbor of mine came home from a round of golf beaming, and excitedly told me that he had made his first ever hole in one that day. He was 89! It is never too late to learn golf!

You’re probably reading this because you have finally decided to give in and try the game that everyone seems to be diving into right now, and I’m happy you’re here. I have a love and passion for golf, and I am grateful that you would give me the chance to help you get your journey started. So without further ado, let’s get started.

How Do I Get Started Playing Golf?

I’m going to oversimplify this for a moment. All you have to do to start playing golf is to find an old club or 2 and go to a local course or driving range!

In truth, the hardest step is the first one. If you aren’t sure how you are supposed to conduct yourself or what to expect, there is no reason to stress. All of that is normal! Even if your first club is a putter from the local thrift store, that’s perfect. Take that putter and a couple of golf balls and head out to the practice green. Once you’ve done that, you have officially started playing golf, congratulations!

After you have taken that first step, there are a few things you should know, and a few golf essentials that every beginner should learn about.

You will also need a set of beginner clubs at some point. Golf Gear Advisor has compiled a list of affordable clubs for people in your situation.

The last thing to consider when you’re starting to play golf is to take a couple of lessons. I’ll talk more about this below, but learning from a professional is a great way to get a definite starting point that will help you improve more quickly than you could on your own!

Do I Need Golf Lessons?

The short answer is yes, you need golf lessons. PGA Professionals are trained in golf instruction, so they not only have the knowledge needed to get you going, but usually also an agreeable way of communicating their knowledge in a way anyone can understand.

Seeking out your local golf professional will be a sound investment. He will help you with many things, including fundamentals and swing mechanics.

Of course, there are ways that you can get better at golf without taking lessons. If you try to do this with no previous experience, you have a good chance of developing some bad habits that will come back to haunt you.

Learning The Fundamentals

The fundamentals of golf are the foundation on which your entire game will be built. Mastering these three components of the game will set you up to rapidly improve your game and have a whole lot of fun while you’re at it.

Two telltale signs that your fundamentals are off are a hook and a slice. Learn the difference between them and how to fix each on and you will be well on your way!

Here are some golf tips to get you started enjoying your golf game.

Grip

There are a few different styles of golf grips. The main 3 are interlock, overlap, and the baseball grip. All 3 have been used by golfers at the highest level of the game, so which one you choose is really up to you.

That said, there are a few components that make up the proper golf grip which should be studied and made an integral part of whichever grip style you use. This will ensure that your hands and wrists can work properly with the rest of your body to produce the highest level of consistency possible.

Stance

Stance is a word we use in golf to describe the way you set up to the golf ball. This includes everything from the way your knees and hips bend to the width of your feet to the position of the ball relative to your body.

Since everyone is built differently, there are an infinite number of variations to the stance. A common error new golfers make is to stand too close to the golf ball. Another one I see a lot is for a golfer’s feet to be too close together.

There are a few basic checkpoints you can use to make sure that your stance is working with you and not against you:

Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. This will allow you to be balanced and still able to move and rotate.
You want your shoulder blades, the butt of the club, your knees, and the balls of your feet to all be stacked on top of one another (see the image above). By getting set up like this, you are enabling your body to maximize range of motion, giving you more speed and consistency while minimizing injury risk.
Your arms should hang straight down from your shoulders. That way, there is no extra motion required to move the weight of the golf club in the back swing.

While these checkpoints will help you get started, having a second set of eyes by taking a lesson is a more refined way of ensuring you are doing things the right way.

Alignment

Alignment refers to the orientation of your body relative to your target. This is determined by drawing lines down the path of your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders. In an ideal world, all four of these lines are parallel and pointed straight at your target.

Start On The Green

This is how Tiger Woods learned to play golf. His dad had him learn how to putt when he was a young child, and would move him back from there. In my mind, if it was good enough for Tiger, it’ll most likely work for you, too.

Learn To Putt

Putting is the smallest swing and the shortest shot type in golf. If you learn it properly, it is your greatest asset. If you skip over it for the more glamorous parts of the game, it will be your worst enemy. The old adage “drive for show, putt for dough” is more applicable than you could possibly imagine.

There are a few aspects of putting that are important to keep in mind when you are first learning that will put you on the fast track to breaking 90. Let’s talk about them.

Choose a Putting Grip

As with full shots, there are a number of different putting grip styles you can choose from. These are purely a matter of personal preference, and will only impact your performance to the degree that you are able to trust the one you choose. I recommend testing all or most of them to find the one that feels best to you. Which grip style you use will determine the right putter grip. Once you determine that, stick with it and you will see your feel on the greens improve with time and practice.