Thinking about giving golf for beginners a go, but put off by the idea of expensive kit, stuffy clubhouses and everyone watching your first wild swing? You're not alone — and the good news is that none of that has to be part of it. There's now a genuinely low-pressure way to try golf for the very first time: an indoor simulator bay, where you can hit real shots in private, with clubs provided and zero experience needed.
At The Golf Cabin in Wick, we see complete beginners walk in nervous and leave grinning all the time. This guide is written for anyone who has never played and wants to start without the intimidation. We'll cover why golf feels harder to start than it really is, how to try it with no pressure, what to expect, and what you honestly do and don't need.
Why does golf feel so hard to start?
Golf has a reputation for being expensive, exclusive and a bit intimidating — and that reputation is what stops most beginners before they've hit a single ball. The idea of buying a full set of clubs, learning a rulebook, dressing the part and performing in front of experienced players is enough to put anyone off.
The reality is that almost none of that is necessary to simply try golf and see if you enjoy it. Most of the barriers are about the traditional outdoor game and its culture, not about swinging a club. Strip those away — which is exactly what an indoor simulator does — and golf becomes far more approachable than it looks from the outside.
What is the lowest-pressure way to try golf?
The lowest-pressure way to try golf is an indoor simulator, because it removes almost everything that makes beginners nervous. You get a private bay with no audience, free clubs to use, no dress code, and instant feedback that shows you what's happening on every swing. There's no first tee, no queue behind you and no etiquette to learn before you start.
It's also self-paced. You can hit as many balls as you like, mishit freely, laugh it off and try again — all without anyone watching. For a complete beginner, that combination of privacy and no commitment is exactly what takes the fear out of the first go. Our guide to whether indoor golf is good for beginners digs into why this works so well.
Do you need any kit or experience?
No — you need neither. Free club hire is included with every session at The Golf Cabin, the mats suit both left and right-handers, and there's no dress code, so trainers and comfy clothes are perfect. You can turn up owning nothing and having never played, and be swinging within minutes.
Here's the honest list of what a complete beginner needs:
- Clubs: not needed — a full set is waiting in your bay.
- Experience: not needed — the screen guides you and mini-games make it fun.
- Special shoes or clothes: not needed — just wear trainers.
- Rules knowledge: not needed — you'll pick it up as you play.
- What to bring: yourself, trainers, and maybe a few friends.
If the equipment question is the thing you're stuck on, we cover it fully in do you need your own clubs to play indoor golf.
What actually happens on your first go?
Your first go is simple and guided from start to finish. Here's roughly how it unfolds for a complete beginner:
- Arrive and settle in. Park for free right outside and head to your private bay — no busy hall, no queue.
- Get set up. The tracking is calibrated for you, left or right-handed, so there's nothing technical to do.
- Warm up. Hit a few balls on the virtual driving range with no scoring, just to get a feel for it.
- Play something fun. Try a mini-game like closest-to-the-pin, or play a few holes of a famous course.
- Watch your shots. The screen shows each shot in plain English, so you can see yourself getting the hang of it.
There's no test to pass and no right way to do it. The whole point is to have a relaxed go and see if you enjoy it — and most people do. For a full walk-through, see exactly what to expect on your first golf simulator visit.
How long and how much for a first try?
An hour is a perfect first try — long enough to warm up, play a game and get a proper feel for golf without any rush. Bays are booked by the hour, so you can add time if you're enjoying it, or keep it to a single relaxed hour to start.
A bay at The Golf Cabin starts from £25 an hour, and because you book the whole bay rather than per person, the cost splits if you bring friends. With up to four sharing, that's roughly from about £6 each — making a first try at golf one of the most affordable ways to test out a brand-new hobby.
Should you bring friends for your first golf try?
Yes — bringing friends is one of the best ways to take the pressure off. Golf feels far less serious when it's a group having a laugh, and the on-screen mini-games are built for mixed abilities, so complete beginners often out-score people who've played for years. A bay takes up to four, or you can book both bays for a group of up to around eight.
Coming with friends also means you're all beginners together, which makes it easier to relax and enjoy the mishits. Many people find their first group session turns into a regular thing — it's a great option for a low-key night out that happens to involve trying a new sport.
What if you've never even held a club?
That's genuinely fine — a huge share of first-timers are in exactly that position. You don't need to know how to grip the club, how to stand or how to swing before you arrive; you'll get the hang of the basics in the first few minutes, and the private bay means nobody's watching while you find your feet. There's no expectation that you'll be any good, because the whole point is simply to try it.
Because you can hit ball after ball without chasing them or holding anyone up, the awkward early swings pass quickly. Most complete newcomers are surprised how soon they're making solid contact and enjoying it — and even when a shot goes sideways, it stays safely in your bay and resets for the next go.
Where does golf go from here?
Once you've caught the bug, an indoor simulator is a brilliant place to keep going. You can practise a single club, play different world-famous courses, use the driving range to groove your swing, or simply come back for another social session. There's no pressure to "get serious" — you can enjoy it at whatever level suits you.
Plenty of complete beginners use the simulator as their whole introduction to golf, building confidence indoors before they ever set foot on a course. Others just keep it as a fun thing to do with friends. Either way, starting with zero pressure is exactly how a lifelong hobby often begins.
How to book your first, zero-pressure session
Trying golf for the first time takes about a minute to arrange. The Golf Cabin is in Wick, BS30 5QF, roughly ten minutes from Bristol, easy from the M4 (Junction 18) and the A420, with free on-site parking and doors open every day from 6am to midnight.
Free club hire, dual-handed mats and a private bay mean there's nothing to prepare and nobody watching — just pick a time, wear trainers and turn up. Under-18s are welcome with an adult. Book your first bay online and give golf a proper, pressure-free go in Wick.