Go to the driving range as often as possible. Use your driver 8 iron and 5 iron more than the rest. Keep your head down and your eye on the ball. If you look up before contact, you aren't going to like what you see anyway. Putt often. When you go to a course go to their practice green to give you an idea of how fast or slow their course greens are. Also use their bunker with your wedge. Gage the sand quality. NEVER play 18 holes your first time out unless you're some kind of a prodigy. You'll burn yourself out and hate the game ESPECIALLY if your carrying your clubs. Trust me.
The beginner is all about that one shot off the tee box. Goes straight and far............... it's in your blood. Don't give up, once you start shooting 100 to upper ninety's it becomes apparent that each shot you make is salvageable. You'll start to enjoy it.
Golf etiquette: keep your cart/bag away from the ball. You'd be surprised in how close folks get and have to move. Don't leave anything on the course. Covers, putters, irons. Most people take two clubs when they're off the green and forget either the putter or the iron. It happens when you are a beginner cause you become infused with your game. I know this for fact. Somebody "told" me about it.
Most importantly.......don't let anyone force you into a swing. Yours will come with time and it'll work for you. Watch the pros...........they all have a different variation of the basic.