Mariska Hargitay Gets in the Game!

Mariska Hargitay does not give up easily. "As an actress, there were so many months, years even, when I didn't get work, when I wanted to quit," says Hargitay, 41. Last January, her perseverance paid off: She won the Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series for her role as tough-to-rattle Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. "It was a surprise," she says. "I didn't think I was going to win. I just thought, ?What an honor to be invited to the party.'"

But there was one area where Hargitay had uncharacteristically thrown in the towel: golf. A child of Hollywood (her father is Hungarian bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay, her mother, the late Jayne Mansfield), she is a natural athlete who swam on the varsity team in high school. She was inspired to try golf 20 years ago after passing Pebble Beach Golf Links on frequent trips to the Bay area. "I thought, you can't be up here and not play golf, because it's so gorgeous," she says. "So I went out and tried to hit some balls."

It did not go well. "I had no connection or natural ability," she recalls. "Usually you have beginner's luck and it hooks you, but I had none. I got intimidated and frustrated by the swing. Golf made me feel like a loser. So I dismissed it."
Earlier this year, motivated by the entreaties of her golfer friends ("They have been pleading with me to learn"), Hargitay decided to give the game another go. Golf For Women enlisted Katherine Marren, who is a lead instructor at Pebble Beach Golf Academy and one of the magazine's Top 50 Teachers, to show her the basics.

"Mariska was like a lot of people who try the game," explains Marren. "She wasn't set up to succeed. You can't go out with people who already play and expect to hit the ball well. I don't even give a student a golf ball until they can hit it. I helped her get a better understanding of the swing and taught her the importance of a good setup. In no time, she was well on her way to hitting great shots."

The second time was the charm: Hargitay can't wait to play again. "I think about how bad I was when I started acting, and how much I enjoy and appreciate it now," she says.

"I imagine it's like that with golf. I'm so excited that I have something to look forward to."

So are we.

Know someone who'd make a great golfer? Give her this tip sheet before her first lesson.

As Mariska Hargitay's story demonstrates, it's nearly impossible to become a proficient golfer by going out on the course alone and hitting random balls. Taking lessons with a qualified teaching pro is the best way to pick up the game. Here are some tips to maximize the benefits you will get from that first session.

• Don't worry about bringing clubs—the pro will lend you everything you need.
• Golf shoes aren't required. Wear comfortable, sturdy sneakers with good traction.
• Blisters are common, so invest in a golf glove or wrap your fingers with surgical tape.
• Arrive early and do some warm-up stretches before the lesson.
• If you're confused, ask questions. The pro will happily explain things in a different way.
• Don't expect to hit a ball. You'll focus on the proper grip, setup and swing motion.
• Ask the pro to write down key points you can reference when practicing on your own.
• Relax and don't feel overwhelmed. No one becomes a great golfer in 30 minutes.

Your hands are your connection to the club, so the way they're positioned is crucial to swinging correctly. Your grip should be secure but not too tight, your wrists and arms relaxed. Though Mariska felt the grip was uncomfortable at first, she stuck with it, knowing it was important to get this first fundamental right.