- Renelle Piñero

I've lived in Tahoe all 24 years of my life and have tried many of the activities here -- skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, and stand-up paddle boarding --but I had never tried golfing. 

My dad started golfing about a year and a half ago and goes out to the driving range at Lake Tahoe Golf Course nearly every day. I never had any interest in golf, but since this has been the year of trying new things, I asked if I could join him.

Lake Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe was perfect for me because I could hang around the putting green and get a feel for the clubs while my dad focused on distance. 

Actually, I don't know if you could call what I was doing "golfing" per se, but it was fun and addictive.

I also learned three important tips for first-time golfers:

1. Take your time.
   Golf is not a marathon. Each swing at the ball needs to count. It’s not all about how many balls you can hit, but the quality of each one. Did you hit it hard enough? Did you focus on getting it in the right direction?
2. Dress appropriately. 
   It’s hot on the course. Wearing a hat helps when that Tahoe sun is beaming down in the afternoon. Don't forget the sunscreen.
3. Seek help.
   Go with someone who knows what they're doing. My dad's not an expert, but he's golfed enough to know the right posture and basics. Go with a friend with experience or sign up for a lesson!

Renelle Pinero is a journalism student at the University of Nevada, Reno but spends weekends and downtime in her hometown, South Lake Tahoe. She enjoys stopping in at local happy hours, hiking, biking, and her new favorite activity, stand-up paddle boarding. Renelle is also Executive Director for the Growing Worldwide Opportunity Foundation, a locally run grant-making foundation. You can read more about her experiences on her personal blog.