All About Golf
Sunny laid back Sunday morning, extended weekends or a vacation,
discussion on none of these is complete without a mention of
golf. What exactly is Golf? Well it is an outdoor ball game
wherein the aim is to hit the ball into a series of holes in the
minimum possible strokes. A round of golf consists of 18 holes.
Now the number of strokes you need to hit one hole is your Par.
Each hole has a teeing area around it, which includes a fairway,
a rough sideway and a green well-mown area around the hole. Then
there are the "not so wanted" barriers like sand
traps, water etc that are called the bunkers.
It is believed to have originated from an ancient game called
chole, supposedly meaning, "ball". Most of the people
believe that Scotland is where Golf was born, probably out of a
banned 15th century game called 'gowf'. However many folklore
relate it as an acronym for Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.
The modern Golf came into being again in Scotland in the later
half of the 19th century. Later on over the 20th century golf
saw a facelift with a variety of golf equipments and techniques
being invented.
Golf has woven itself in the social fabric as the game of the
elite and high-end businessmen. Would you believe if we tell you
that many US business school add golf to their management
curriculum? It is a game of social status. After all one has to
shell out huge sums on latest equipment, the right clothing and
the green fees of the golf course. This has still kept golf away
from the reach of common man. Nevertheless, the massive
popularity of the game can be judged by the very fact that there
are over 32,000 golf courses in the world!
Players move around the golf course with their caddies who
manage the equipments of the players. The player whose ball is
farthest from the hole gets a chance to play first when each
individual player has had his chance of playing the ball once.
The game is won by the person or the team that scores the
maximum holes. It can be played by teams in foursome or by
individuals. A very interesting term taking rounds in the
golfing community is "Golf handicap." This is the
score of proficiency of different players, which affect their
net score, thus allowing players of different capacities to play
against each other.
People say golf is not played by rules but by etiquettes.
However, there are a few laid down rules. The most basic are
"play the ball as it lies", "play the course as
you find it", and "if you cannot do either, do what is
fair". A Golfer can play several types of shots such as tee
shot, fairway shot, bunker shot, puts, pitch, flop, chip and a
golf swing. A golf swing is the most complex shot that involves
perfect coordination of the complete anatomy of the player.
Over the years golf equipment has grown in term of
sophistication and technique. From golf balls, tees and clubs to
golf carts, bags shoes, etc; it is a whole big market out there.
The British officers first started professional golf. Now there
are several Golf tournaments like PGA tour, Ryder Cup, U.S. Open
etc. In this time and age when pollution is a big problem, the
vast golf courses prove to be the breathing lungs of cities and
towns where they are located. They nurture the local flora and
fauna and provide a welcome respite from the concrete jungle.
About the Author
Enjoy golf information on http://www.fitzgolf.com
with the all time expert, Sintilia Miecevole. You'll have
resources at your fingertips from tips, driving ranges, clubs,
golf equipment to tournament coverage, instruction resources,
recent news, travel information and more. Be sure to visit http://www.fitzgolf.com
and enjoy!
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