Golf InstructionsGolf Instructions
The game of golf as we know it today began in Scotland in the 1400s, although its roots can be traced back to the first century B.C. King James II of Scotland forbade golf in 1457 as an undesirable distraction, and many golf widows and widowers no doubt wish it had remained that way.
The Old Course at St Andrews, known as the “Home of Golf,” was founded in 1552. Although Musselburgh Links is officially recognised as the world’s oldest course, dating from “just” 1672, there is no denying that golf is a sport steeped in history and governed by a set of rules that can be intimidating.
The Goal of the Game
The goal of the game is to get your ball from the tee (the beginning point of any hole) to the green and finally into the hole in the fewest number of shots possible. The phrase “the hole” refers to both the physical hole designated by a flag into which the ball must be sunk and the entire region between the tee and the green. With a conventional course consisting of 18 different holes played in turn, this might be regarded one unit of the course.
Players and their gear
Golf is normally played in groups of three or four players, with a professional tournament typically comprising of roughly 80-160 players competing against each other. There are additional team competitions, the most famous of which being the Ryder Cup, which pits Europe against the United States. In this style, 12 players from each team compete in a mix of one-on-one singles matches and two-on-two doubles matches.
Golf equipment is highly regulated, with precise specifications for almost everything, from the exact make and model of clubs that are permitted, to the size and shape of the grooves on their face (the surface with which the ball is struck), to the precise weight and aerodynamic capabilities of the ball. Because of the rapid advancement of technology, the governing agency, the R & A, has found it impossible to regulate this field.
In addition to the clubs and ball, players typically wear a glove on their left hand (for right-handed players) and utilise tees, small pegs, to elevate the ball for the first shot on any given hole.
The part of the course where the first shot is taken is also known as the tee, and golf is unique among ball games in that it does not have a standardised pitch or playing area. Although all courses will contain the same elements, such as tees, greens, fairways, and hazards, the layout and size of each course will vary, making each course unique, which is a big part of the game’s appeal.