@ Synch
Here's my basic guide to golf... by no means definitive but it should get you past it...
When playing a shot, you only need to flick the left stick down to start the back swing. You don't need to hold it down. The flick forward should be firm and straight up.
Learn to use spin and shot correction. After you play your shot, you can control the ball slightly in the air and then use spin once it lands for better accuracy by tapping A (Xbox) and moving the left stick. If you think your shot is going too far, pull the stick down and tap like a mofo which helps stop the ball overshooting or push forward if you are falling short. Topspin will give you an extra 20 odd yards when driving as well.
The wind is the only variable that you have to worry about. A wind speed of +5 or +6 is going to fuck with your shit so you have to compensate quite a lot. You will get used to the angles required.
When you are able to hit the green using a 5I or higher, use an Approach shot and aim the marker 15-20 yards before the hole. Adjust for the wind and use spin to get the ball to spin towards the hole or stop the shot.
With some exceptions, you should only need 2 putts maximum per hole. For the first putt, play the shot exactly as the game gives you, unless there is a very obvious slope. But then you don't need to compensate too much. When taking the shot, err on the side of caution and play the shot at the top of the yellow shot marker, unless it's very obviously uphill. I have missed tons of putts by hitting it slightly too hard or even right in the middle of the yellow box. The second shot should be close enough to putt easily.
You can use the Driver on every hole except Hole 3. There is one hole that starts you with a 7I but use the driver and aim through the left side of trees. Hold the targeting button down and move the left stick until you can see the end of the pointer, and not just trees.
For all drives, use the Power shot type except on Hole 6, which is a par 3. Use Normal and backspin to stop the ball on the green.
Hopefully that helps...
If you haven't already done it...