Understanding the Game of Golf
The game of golf is played with a
stick called golf club on a huge, grass covered area commonly known
as 'golf course'. It is a game where a player hits a ball into a
hole using golf club. Generally a golf course has nine or eighteen
holes. It is one of those few games that do not use a fixed
standard playing area.
Some
historians trace the origin of this game way back to first century
B.C. when it was played by Romans. Romans called it Paganica.
But most historians believe that golf originated in Scotland. It
was played by using a bent stick and a leather ball stuffed with
feathers called 'feathery'. Around 1848 a new solid ball called
'gutty' was introduced. It was made of rubber substance. The gutty
was then replaced by a rubber ball invented by a US golfer around
1898. The oldest golf club is the 'Gentlemen Golfers of Leith' now
known as 'Honorable company of Edinburgh Golfers'. The oldest golf
course in the world is Mussel burg in Scotland.
Golf is played on a huge, grass covered land designed as a golf
course. The course consists of series of holes. The holes include
both the number of holes into which payer plays the ball and the
total distance from the area from where first ball is hit to the
area surrounding actual hole. The hole in ground into which ball is
played is also called 'Cup' and the area from where the first ball
is hit is called 'Tee'. The ball is hit from tee to green. 'Green'
is the area around actual hole or cup. The first stroke is always
hit by player from tee. Mostly the aim of the player is to get the
ball in or around the first hole on the course. After teeing off,
the player hit the ball again from the position where it came to
rest. Here the aim of the player if to get the ball at putting
green. From here the ball is putt until it reaches the cup. The
game is made difficult by unleveled ground, water hazards and
bunkers.
Golf can be either played as a 'Match Play' or as a 'stroke
Play'. In match play every player plays single hole as a separate
game against each other. In stroke play, players count the total
number of shots played during the whole round of game or
tournament. Who so ever plays lesser number of shots to put ball in
cup wins the game.
Mostly golf courses are never alike. But still they can be
classified as one of the following:
- Links: These are the most traditional types of courses.
- Parkland: These are typical inland courses with lawns and
trees.
- Heath land: These are more open and less wooded courses.
- Desert Courses: These are a latest concept in the architecture
of golf courses.
- Browns: These courses are made by using layers of tar and
gravel below the sandy surface, to give firmness and support.
- Sand Courses: On these courses players play on sand with a
bright colored ball.
- Par3 Courses: Theses courses consist entirely of holes.
- Executive Courses: These courses are smaller then 18 hole
course but bigger than 9 hole course.
There are many rules in golf. Often these rules are called
'rules of etiquette' not because they involve more manners but
because many of them relate to safety of golfers and others
watching them. Some rules are listed below:
- A golfer should not swing club until he is sure that all others
are at a safe distance.
- A golfer should not hit the ball until he is sure that the
group ahead of him is out of range of the ball.
- A golfer shall always keep carts away from grass and
hazards.
- No one is allowed to talk during players swing.
- One should always watch for his shadow on putting green.
- Not much time should be spent looking for a lost
ball.
|