THEY make it look so easy, don't they. If you've ever seen Tiger split the fairway with a booming drive or Monty fire an iron shot within inches of the pin, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Perhaps, like me, your only experience of the game of golf has been watching on television as the big names battle it out in the major tournaments. Maybe you've thought: "What a great way to make a living - a gentle stroll through the countryside, stopping only to wallop a little white ball towards a hole in the ground. Maybe I could do that, given the chance."

But, of course, when I did get the opportunity to have a go, by kind invitation of Bedale Golf Club, I soon discovered that it isn't quite that simple.

With my first two attempts to tee off, I missed the ball completely. To my great relief, I connected with my third swing, although the ball only travelled a few yards along the ground.

With the help of a few tips from my patient playing partner, John Walker, I did improve slightly and a couple of times even managed to hit the ball in the air in a reasonably straight line.

Those moments were sweet, because most of the time the ball scuttled from one side of the fairway to the other, putting the odd rabbit (the animal, not the golfing variety) in fear of its life. Putting offered no relief as I fizzed the ball from one side of the green to the other.

After I had taken around 30 shots to play three holes, we decided to call it a day and head back to the clubhouse.

John, who is vice-president at Bedale and a member since 1973, was reassuring. He told me he had been similarly inept when he first took up the sport, but had learned the basics at night school.

He also said that some people, irritatingly, immediately hit the ball miles when they pick up a club for the first time. But for most beginners, a few lessons will be essential if they want to play the game with a semblance of competency.

At Bedale, which currently has around 520 playing members, including 90 women and 35 juniors, a complete beginner like me must have at least one lesson from the club's PGA professional, Tony Johnson, before being given a handicap and allowed to become a member.

Billed as the Golfing Gateway to the Dales, the 18-hole, par 72 parkland course certainly looked in pristine condition on the day I visited and is obviously a source of great pride and pleasure to members and employees.

Both John and current club captain Gordon Bainbridge, who has been a member for a similar length of time, were adamant that the popular perception of golf clubs as bastions of snobbery was undeserved.

Gordon said: "Bedale has always been a very friendly club, with a good social side."

They also insisted that the game is now accessible to most people, not just those with money to burn. A set of golf clubs can cost up to £3,000, but good second hand sets can easily be obtained for as little as £60. One half hour lesson costs £10.

At Bedale, the joining fee for males is £395, £357 for females and £299 for intermediates (21-23 years). Yearly subscriptions are set at the same amounts, with pro-rata reductions in subscription rates available from July 1 onwards.

Youths (18-20 years), juniors (16-17) and juniors under 16 pay no joining fee, with subs set at £168, £98 and £58 respectively.

This compares quite favourably with the amount it now costs to regularly watch Premiership football. For instance, the price of an adult season ticket at Middlesbrough ranges from £313 to £470 if you renewed before July 7. After that, it's between £342.50 and £510.

For those under 16, the price ranges from £186 (or £205.50 after July 7) to the same as adults for the best seats.

Obviously, it's not as easy as it looks, but golf is certainly a pleasant way to spend time enjoying the countryside and getting some fresh air. It's also a challenge which rewards those blessed with plenty of patience and determination to learn the techniques needed to play the game properly.

As for me, I think I'll stick to playing football for now. The ball's a bit bigger.