Golf

Golf

Golf is played by over thirty million people world wide. Golf in one form or another has been played by men, women and children since the beginning of time. There is some debate as to the actual origins of the game of golf. Some believe that golf was played by the Romans, they played a game called paganica, and this game was played with a bent stick and a feather-stuffed leather ball. The traditional belief is that golf originated in Scotland around 1450 but historians say there is no empirical evidence to substantiate this view. In 1457 golf was banned along with football and other “useless games”, the government of the day wanted men to practice archery and sword play which would help defend the country in times of war.

What ever the origins, golf has evolved into a popular sport played professionally and by amateurs, in over 123 countries around the world. There are two main governing bodies that rule the game of golf; they are the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews commonly known as the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA). The R&A and The USGA organise golf tournaments known as opens as well as regulating the rules of play which include rules on Golf Clubs and golf balls.

Golf has a complex set of rules and even its own etiquette; failure to comply with this etiquette is frowned upon and any breach of the rules can result in penalty points, possible disqualification and or disbarment from a club and competitions.

The basics of golf are simple; there is an area call a tee and an area called a green. On the green there is a hole. In-between the tee and the green is an area of open ground some of which is roughly tended, this is called the rough. The rest of the land between the tee and the green is well kept and is called the fairway. The overall name given to the tee, green and land between is called a hole.  The purpose of golf is to get a golf ball from the tee into the hole on the green using a variety of Golf Clubs in the least amount of strokes. A game of golf is called a round and comprises of 18 holes.

There are obstacles and traps between the tee and the green to make the game more challenging. To get the golf ball from the tee into the hole on the green you use a golf club. There are many golf clubs in a set. There are golf clubs called Woods or Drivers and then there are golf clubs called irons. A combination of these clubs is used to get from the tee to the green. Once on the green you use a golf club called a putter to get the golf ball into the hole.

In order to play a round of golf you should wear golfing clothes and especially golf shoes. Golf shoes have spikes in the sole to stop you from slipping or churning up the golf course especially in damp wet conditions.