GET READY FOR THE MOST LEGIT ANSWER.
I'm also 17 and, four months ago, I was exactly in your position - awkward virgin af - so I decided I was going to put the effort in and make myself attractive in the ways I can. I got a stylish haircut and became well dressed and, suddenly, girls began to find me attractive. Not "hot" thanks to my average face and weird hairline, but people talked about my transformation quite positively. I started talking with a few girls I got asked on a date by a friend I'd fancied for months (but that didn't work out).
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Ignore people who say you have plenty of time. There are ****boys getting shags right now who are at least a year younger than you.
HOW TO HAVE SEX
At our age, boys can get laid in 3 ways:
Pre/during relationships
Friends with benefits
Drunk at parties
Chances are, you're not good looking enough for an FWB - even average girls who just want to bang are gonna choose the most attractive guy possible, and what hot guy's gonna give up free sex? We're not all ****boys!
This means you're left with either relationship or drunk sex - so what do you do?
I started off believing a casual hookup would be the best way to do it. But after meeting a delightful girl (who's now my girlfriend), I'm glad I did it with her, before we started our relationship. She's way prettier than any one night stand I could've had - girls who date put my looks on the backbench, unlike girls who have casual sex - and the sex means something to me. I wasn't her first, but she showed me respect in the way nobody else could have. She probably isn't the "one" or anything, but that's not an issue because I still have a connection with her. We had sex after a few weeks of talking, the third time we hung out so it didn't even take that long.
Therefore, get into a relationship. It's easier, as long as you find someone who shares your interests. Sex is guaranteed. You don't need to have ****boy-level good looks.
Also, something to think about: IMO, sex outside a relationship is just ******* with a girl's vagina - there's no meaning; it just feels good. All it does is increase your "number", something which only impresses guys. Would your future wife be happier with a guy who's had 50 casual partners and 1 relationship or the odd one night stand and 8 commited relationships?
Think about it.