How do you try golf without joining a club?

Golf has an image problem for newcomers: blazers, waiting lists, rules about socks. Some clubs still live up to that; many don't. More to the point, you don't need a club at all to find out whether you like the game. Golf is perfectly happy to be tried casually, on a Tuesday evening, in trainers.

The driving range

This is where almost everyone starts, and for good reason:

• No booking, no membership, no course. You turn up, buy a basket or a token's worth of balls, and take a bay.
• Clubs to borrow or hire, usually at the desk.
• Covered bays at many ranges, so you can play in the rain or after dark.
• Nobody watching. Everyone is absorbed in their own swing.

Start with a mid iron, such as a 7-iron, which coaches commonly hand to beginners. Swing gently, aim to make clean contact rather than to send it a long way, and enjoy the satisfaction of the first sweet strike. Many ranges also have a putting green and a chipping area; spend half your time there, because that is where most of the strokes in a real round happen.

Pitch and putt, and short courses

Pitch-and-putt courses are golf in miniature: short holes that need only a couple of clubs. Par-3 courses and short nine-hole courses are slightly longer. They are:

• Pay-and-play, with clubs to hire.
• Quick, so a round fits into an evening.
• Relaxed, often full of beginners, families and people who just like a walk with a purpose.

This is where you learn the shape of a round: tee off, approach, putt out, move on. It is also where you find out whether you like golf as a game rather than just as a swing.

Taster and group lessons

Golf is a technical sport, and a few lessons early save years of ingrained bad habits. Look for:

• Taster sessions or beginner courses, often run by golf professionals at ranges or clubs, sometimes for a modest fee.
• Group lessons, which are cheaper and more sociable than private ones.
• A short series of lessons rather than a single one, so you can practise between them.

A good teacher will start with grip, stance and a simple swing, and won't overload you.

Borrowing and hiring clubs

Don't buy a full set until you know you are staying. Hire clubs at ranges and courses, borrow from friends, or ask the professional about second-hand starter sets. A beginner needs only a handful: a putter, a couple of irons, a wedge and perhaps a hybrid or fairway wood. A half set in a light bag is plenty.

Course etiquette in brief

Before your first round on a full course, a few points make you a welcome presence:

• Book a tee time and arrive early.
• Check the dress code. Many courses are relaxed; some still expect collared shirts and golf or soft-soled shoes. Ask when booking.
• Keep up the pace. If a quicker group is behind you, let them play through.
• Stand still and quiet while others are playing their shot, and stay out of their line.
• Shout "fore" if your ball is heading towards anyone.
• Repair your marks: replace divots, rake bunkers, repair pitch marks on the green.
• Pick up your ball if you are having a hole that is going nowhere. Nobody minds.

Many courses offer off-peak or twilight rates and are quieter in those times, which suits beginners.