Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Succeeding At Golf
Succeeding At Golf
The game of golf is a beautiful game and like in any other game succeeding at golf demands certain things of the golfer.
Determination
Any successful golfer will tell you that one of the secrets of success is to be fiercely determined. Determination is crucial to success in any endeavor in life and golf is no exception. For the first time golfer or the beginner who has a dream of being of the best in the game, there are so many obstacles to over come. The obstacles of learning the basics, improving his game and mastering the game etc. He or she will be able to overcome these obstacles easily if he or she is strongly determined. Determination helps you not to accept initial failure as an excuse to stop doing what you are doing but rather determination pushes you to go on and keep working at it until you get it right. Do you think Tiger Woods got to where he is right now without a strong or fierce determination?
Practice
It has been said that, Practice makes perfect. It will be impossible for you to perfect your game if you don’t have a strong practice regime. The world top golfers all agree on one thing, there is no substitute for practice. The more you practice how to improve your game, the more your game actually improves. So if you are really interested in succeeding at golf you must have a very strong and disciplined practice regime. Don’t you know that those beautiful shots the masters of the game make during the game were perfected during their personal practice time?
Discipline
All great golfers are disciplined? Golf is a game for patient and disciplined people. If you don’t really understand the game, watching a golf game may appear boring to you but when you really understand the game you realize that it’s a really very interesting game. It’s a game that really requires a lot of discipline and patience. What great golfers do during the major competitions are a result of the discipline they had cultivated during their seemingly minor practice time. Being disciplined helps you to build a strong practice regime and keep to it. Being disciplined helps you to stay focused and succeed at golf.
Learning From Better Players
To really succeed at golf you can’t afford to just practice alone or just play with players you are better than so that you can always feel good about yourself. This won’t improve your game. To really be a great player you must learn from and play with those better than you. This helps you to realize what necessary improvements you need to make on your game. Learning from better players will undoubtedly make you a better player. So learn to ask people who you know are good at the game for tips about how to improve your game, you will be surprised at how eager they will be to help you.
To be a success at golf you need to know what the game is about, improve on your game, be determined ,disciplined , practice well and learn from others. If you get these things right you will really be amazed at how much success you will have in the game of golf.
SUMMARY
Golf is a beautiful game and success in it depends on how determined and disciplined you are, how much practice you put into the game and your willingness to learn from better players.
The game of golf is a beautiful game and like in any other game succeeding at golf demands certain things of the golfer.
Determination
Any successful golfer will tell you that one of the secrets of success is to be fiercely determined. Determination is crucial to success in any endeavor in life and golf is no exception. For the first time golfer or the beginner who has a dream of being of the best in the game, there are so many obstacles to over come. The obstacles of learning the basics, improving his game and mastering the game etc. He or she will be able to overcome these obstacles easily if he or she is strongly determined. Determination helps you not to accept initial failure as an excuse to stop doing what you are doing but rather determination pushes you to go on and keep working at it until you get it right. Do you think Tiger Woods got to where he is right now without a strong or fierce determination?
Practice
It has been said that, Practice makes perfect. It will be impossible for you to perfect your game if you don’t have a strong practice regime. The world top golfers all agree on one thing, there is no substitute for practice. The more you practice how to improve your game, the more your game actually improves. So if you are really interested in succeeding at golf you must have a very strong and disciplined practice regime. Don’t you know that those beautiful shots the masters of the game make during the game were perfected during their personal practice time?
Discipline
All great golfers are disciplined? Golf is a game for patient and disciplined people. If you don’t really understand the game, watching a golf game may appear boring to you but when you really understand the game you realize that it’s a really very interesting game. It’s a game that really requires a lot of discipline and patience. What great golfers do during the major competitions are a result of the discipline they had cultivated during their seemingly minor practice time. Being disciplined helps you to build a strong practice regime and keep to it. Being disciplined helps you to stay focused and succeed at golf.
Learning From Better Players
To really succeed at golf you can’t afford to just practice alone or just play with players you are better than so that you can always feel good about yourself. This won’t improve your game. To really be a great player you must learn from and play with those better than you. This helps you to realize what necessary improvements you need to make on your game. Learning from better players will undoubtedly make you a better player. So learn to ask people who you know are good at the game for tips about how to improve your game, you will be surprised at how eager they will be to help you.
To be a success at golf you need to know what the game is about, improve on your game, be determined ,disciplined , practice well and learn from others. If you get these things right you will really be amazed at how much success you will have in the game of golf.
SUMMARY
Golf is a beautiful game and success in it depends on how determined and disciplined you are, how much practice you put into the game and your willingness to learn from better players.
Important Things You Need To Know In Golf
Important Things You Need To Know In Golf
Every sport has its important stuff that must be understood to be able to perform well in it. Golf is no exception. There are certain important things in golf that you need to familiarize yourself well with and understand to be able to understand the game and be a great player.
Fitness
It is wrongly perceived that because golf is not really a very physical sport or a contact sport like basketball, football etc that good fitness is not required. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Fitness is very important in golf. You need to be mentally and physically fit to be at your best. Fitness is not really about strength it’s about preparing your body and mind to be able to handle things. Good fitness will mean you are well exercised and that your muscles, joints, hands and your whole body and mind are prepared for the challenge ahead.
Good Etiquette
If there ever is a gentleman’s game, it’s golf. Because of this, there are certain things that should be observed in the course of the game. Good golf etiquette means you don’t hold other players up, you are conscious of other players, you don’t make too much noise in the cause of the game distracting others, you make sure when you are swinging that nobody is in harm’s way, you play with the spirit of good sportsmanship etc.
Golf Clubs
Generally there are 3 types of gold. These are woods, irons and putters. Long distances require woods as they are very good for such distances. Intermediate distances are well covered with irons. Putters are good for short distances.
In using golf clubs you need to understand what the numbers and what the clubs are best used for.
1 wood is good for making the ball go like a distance of 170 yards or more.
5 iron is useful in projecting the ball to a distance of about 100 yards
9 iron is good for getting the ball to a distance of about 60 yards
The thing about golf club is that even apart from their general uses you need to make the decision of which pone works best for you. So you need to know the golf club that is right for you.
The Right Swing
The game of golf really hinges on how good your swing is. Since the purpose of the game is to get the ball in the hole, getting your swing right is what determines how well the ball is controlled. The correct posture must be assumed to get your swing right.. You are expected to stand at address, and the term ‘address’ is really used to imply standing near and ready to hit. Assuming the correct posture, your heels are supposed to be about shoulder width apart. It is also important that you hit the ball in the right place to get it really moving. So the ball should be hit in the middle of the face of the club just above bottom part of the ball.
The Rules
Familiarize yourself with rules. The rules determine who wins. For you to win you must follow the rules, it’s not just about getting the ball into the hole. How many time is the ball supposed to be hit per par? 5 over par?
These are only few of the things you need to familiarize yourself with to get to enjoy the game and be a better player but it’s a good start..
SUMMARY
There are some important things you need to know to be able to understand and play golf well. These include, fitness, etiquette, the rules, the golf clubs, the swing and so on.
Every sport has its important stuff that must be understood to be able to perform well in it. Golf is no exception. There are certain important things in golf that you need to familiarize yourself well with and understand to be able to understand the game and be a great player.
Fitness
It is wrongly perceived that because golf is not really a very physical sport or a contact sport like basketball, football etc that good fitness is not required. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Fitness is very important in golf. You need to be mentally and physically fit to be at your best. Fitness is not really about strength it’s about preparing your body and mind to be able to handle things. Good fitness will mean you are well exercised and that your muscles, joints, hands and your whole body and mind are prepared for the challenge ahead.
Good Etiquette
If there ever is a gentleman’s game, it’s golf. Because of this, there are certain things that should be observed in the course of the game. Good golf etiquette means you don’t hold other players up, you are conscious of other players, you don’t make too much noise in the cause of the game distracting others, you make sure when you are swinging that nobody is in harm’s way, you play with the spirit of good sportsmanship etc.
Golf Clubs
Generally there are 3 types of gold. These are woods, irons and putters. Long distances require woods as they are very good for such distances. Intermediate distances are well covered with irons. Putters are good for short distances.
In using golf clubs you need to understand what the numbers and what the clubs are best used for.
1 wood is good for making the ball go like a distance of 170 yards or more.
5 iron is useful in projecting the ball to a distance of about 100 yards
9 iron is good for getting the ball to a distance of about 60 yards
The thing about golf club is that even apart from their general uses you need to make the decision of which pone works best for you. So you need to know the golf club that is right for you.
The Right Swing
The game of golf really hinges on how good your swing is. Since the purpose of the game is to get the ball in the hole, getting your swing right is what determines how well the ball is controlled. The correct posture must be assumed to get your swing right.. You are expected to stand at address, and the term ‘address’ is really used to imply standing near and ready to hit. Assuming the correct posture, your heels are supposed to be about shoulder width apart. It is also important that you hit the ball in the right place to get it really moving. So the ball should be hit in the middle of the face of the club just above bottom part of the ball.
The Rules
Familiarize yourself with rules. The rules determine who wins. For you to win you must follow the rules, it’s not just about getting the ball into the hole. How many time is the ball supposed to be hit per par? 5 over par?
These are only few of the things you need to familiarize yourself with to get to enjoy the game and be a better player but it’s a good start..
SUMMARY
There are some important things you need to know to be able to understand and play golf well. These include, fitness, etiquette, the rules, the golf clubs, the swing and so on.
Guide to golfing for seniors
Guide to golfing for seniors
Are you above 50 years old? Do you stop playing golf because you fear injury? If you still want to play, you may need to make some adjustments on how you grip your golf club. This is to ensure that you will not develop golfer’s wrist or hamate bone.
What is golfer’s wrist?
Golfer’s wrist is an injury in the wrist where you feel tenderness and pain. This injury may need surgery and takes time to heal. To help senior golfers, Johnny Miller has a revised his teaching to conform to the senior’s bone condition. Following his instructions will help you continue enjoying the game and avoiding injury.
Swing for seniors
The concepts of golf swing for seniors is just like the golf swing for younger players, your start from the backswing, then hit the ball on the downswing and make a follow-through. However, one minor revision that Johnny Miller teaches is to cock the hands on the backswing and keep the right elbow close to the hip.
While for younger players, back swing is done by stretching the arms fully to make a wide arc as you bring down the club towards the downswing. Cocking the club will come later, as compared to the senior where cocking comes earlier.
Still the swing needs power, but seniors are advised to be more strategic rather than exert greater power that may put them at risk. If you usually reach 300 yards when you are younger, hitting the ball after 50 can be 200 yards or less. You only need to make sure that the direction is still there.
Stretching is necessary
If you are more than 50 and you still want to enjoy golfing and other fun activities, it may help to prepare yourself for the physicality of the activities.
Do some stretching exercises on a regular basis. This will help you prepare for any game you want to enjoy including golf.
To help you continue improving your game even after age 50, you may need a mentor that knows golf and should be more than 50 as well. Why is this so, this is to make sure that your mentor or coach understands the risk and thus will be able to teach you techniques that will not lead to problems later on.
Golfer’s wrist is painful and even if it is detected early, it may need months to heal and surgery in inevitable.
Thus, to make sure you will not succumb to hamate bone or golfer’s wrist, ensure proper handling of the golf club. If you may need to change your golf club for a comfortable game, then do it.
You however do not need to purchase costly golf clubs; your comfort is the focus and you should try to look for your golf club intelligently.
Finally, walking is another form of exercise; avoid using the golf cart. However, if you must make sure it is what your coach has advised. Your doctor should also have a say, if you can continue golf. Thus, check him out first before you continue golfing.
As a senior citizen, you will need to look after your health. Exercise is good but please your doctor needs to know what activities you get yourself into. He will therefore give you the advice you need. If golfing is allowed, then, do it and enjoy playing.
Are you above 50 years old? Do you stop playing golf because you fear injury? If you still want to play, you may need to make some adjustments on how you grip your golf club. This is to ensure that you will not develop golfer’s wrist or hamate bone.
What is golfer’s wrist?
Golfer’s wrist is an injury in the wrist where you feel tenderness and pain. This injury may need surgery and takes time to heal. To help senior golfers, Johnny Miller has a revised his teaching to conform to the senior’s bone condition. Following his instructions will help you continue enjoying the game and avoiding injury.
Swing for seniors
The concepts of golf swing for seniors is just like the golf swing for younger players, your start from the backswing, then hit the ball on the downswing and make a follow-through. However, one minor revision that Johnny Miller teaches is to cock the hands on the backswing and keep the right elbow close to the hip.
While for younger players, back swing is done by stretching the arms fully to make a wide arc as you bring down the club towards the downswing. Cocking the club will come later, as compared to the senior where cocking comes earlier.
Still the swing needs power, but seniors are advised to be more strategic rather than exert greater power that may put them at risk. If you usually reach 300 yards when you are younger, hitting the ball after 50 can be 200 yards or less. You only need to make sure that the direction is still there.
Stretching is necessary
If you are more than 50 and you still want to enjoy golfing and other fun activities, it may help to prepare yourself for the physicality of the activities.
Do some stretching exercises on a regular basis. This will help you prepare for any game you want to enjoy including golf.
To help you continue improving your game even after age 50, you may need a mentor that knows golf and should be more than 50 as well. Why is this so, this is to make sure that your mentor or coach understands the risk and thus will be able to teach you techniques that will not lead to problems later on.
Golfer’s wrist is painful and even if it is detected early, it may need months to heal and surgery in inevitable.
Thus, to make sure you will not succumb to hamate bone or golfer’s wrist, ensure proper handling of the golf club. If you may need to change your golf club for a comfortable game, then do it.
You however do not need to purchase costly golf clubs; your comfort is the focus and you should try to look for your golf club intelligently.
Finally, walking is another form of exercise; avoid using the golf cart. However, if you must make sure it is what your coach has advised. Your doctor should also have a say, if you can continue golf. Thus, check him out first before you continue golfing.
As a senior citizen, you will need to look after your health. Exercise is good but please your doctor needs to know what activities you get yourself into. He will therefore give you the advice you need. If golfing is allowed, then, do it and enjoy playing.
Guide to golf green
Guide to golf green
Do you want to play golf? Do you wonder how it feels to walk on the beautifully green golf course while playing? If so, then you surely will enjoy the experience. You however, need to understand the golf courses and their individual characteristics to give you an understanding of the game and how you will help take care of the green. Understanding the golf green will help you navigate your golf ball around the green correctly and learn the famous golf swing along the way.
What the types of courses or golf green?
Links courses, this is the traditional type of golf course, much like the golf course in the British Isles. These courses are mostly located in coastal areas, on sandy soil and with artificial water and sand hazards.
Parkland courses, they resemble British parks, with lawn-like fairways and many trees.
Heathland courses, they are less wooded as compared to parkland courses. It has space that is more open and may even have tall grasses in them.
Desert courses are popular in Australia and some parts of the United States. These courses as you know may not be as green as you think it to be. It may be quite difficult to navigate the ball around this course because of the flat space.
Executive courses, these courses are generally smaller than the usual 18-hole golf course. They are however well manicured that assists players to ensure that they will enjoy their time.
The above are only a few of the types of golf courses players enjoy. There are other types of courses but these are the most common courses and the United States Golf Association (USGA) and R&A, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews accept them.
In playing on the gold green, you need to exhibit golf etiquette and respect for the environment. Some of the golf etiquette players need to keep in mind include the following:
- Do not talk or laugh too loudly that other players may loose concentration.
- Never get in the way of other players, especially when they are trying to make a shot.
- Do not walk too fast or too slow that you may not be able to keep at pace with your plight partner.
- Play the ball right where it rested after a stroke
- Avoid causing damage to the green. You may need to remove all traces before living the green.
The above are some of the golf etiquette that needs to be exhibited on the green. They show respect for other players and respect to the green as well.
Knowing the golf ethics is one thing; the rules and regulation that are being enforced by the golf associations should also be followed while playing. You therefore need to keep in mind the rules and regulation in combination with respect while playing. Let me tell you that fairness and respect is the main contention of the rules of golf. There are a number of rules and regulations being enforced but the main contention is fairness.
Finally, golfers need to carry with him the proper equipment especially the golf club. This is to ensure that you will be comfortable executing your strokes.
It takes time executing a good swing, no overnight success. Thus, patience and following the rules will ensure you will have a great time playing this game leisurely.
Do you want to play golf? Do you wonder how it feels to walk on the beautifully green golf course while playing? If so, then you surely will enjoy the experience. You however, need to understand the golf courses and their individual characteristics to give you an understanding of the game and how you will help take care of the green. Understanding the golf green will help you navigate your golf ball around the green correctly and learn the famous golf swing along the way.
What the types of courses or golf green?
Links courses, this is the traditional type of golf course, much like the golf course in the British Isles. These courses are mostly located in coastal areas, on sandy soil and with artificial water and sand hazards.
Parkland courses, they resemble British parks, with lawn-like fairways and many trees.
Heathland courses, they are less wooded as compared to parkland courses. It has space that is more open and may even have tall grasses in them.
Desert courses are popular in Australia and some parts of the United States. These courses as you know may not be as green as you think it to be. It may be quite difficult to navigate the ball around this course because of the flat space.
Executive courses, these courses are generally smaller than the usual 18-hole golf course. They are however well manicured that assists players to ensure that they will enjoy their time.
The above are only a few of the types of golf courses players enjoy. There are other types of courses but these are the most common courses and the United States Golf Association (USGA) and R&A, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews accept them.
In playing on the gold green, you need to exhibit golf etiquette and respect for the environment. Some of the golf etiquette players need to keep in mind include the following:
- Do not talk or laugh too loudly that other players may loose concentration.
- Never get in the way of other players, especially when they are trying to make a shot.
- Do not walk too fast or too slow that you may not be able to keep at pace with your plight partner.
- Play the ball right where it rested after a stroke
- Avoid causing damage to the green. You may need to remove all traces before living the green.
The above are some of the golf etiquette that needs to be exhibited on the green. They show respect for other players and respect to the green as well.
Knowing the golf ethics is one thing; the rules and regulation that are being enforced by the golf associations should also be followed while playing. You therefore need to keep in mind the rules and regulation in combination with respect while playing. Let me tell you that fairness and respect is the main contention of the rules of golf. There are a number of rules and regulations being enforced but the main contention is fairness.
Finally, golfers need to carry with him the proper equipment especially the golf club. This is to ensure that you will be comfortable executing your strokes.
It takes time executing a good swing, no overnight success. Thus, patience and following the rules will ensure you will have a great time playing this game leisurely.
Guide to golf clubs
Guide to golf clubs
Golf started as early as 1297 in Netherlands. The players use a stick and a leather ball to play during that time. As time goes by different golf clubs emerged. Different sizes and different shapes of club head. If you are serious, you want to improve your golf game, knowing the right golf club is the best way to start.
Let me help you understand golf by understanding what golf club you need and how you can develop your swing with the use of your golf club.
I am telling you this early that you do not need to pay thousands of dollars for a golf club. Well, not until you are sure that your thousand-dollar golf club is what fits you.
So, how do you know what golf club fits you? Let us discuss first the characteristics of golf clubs before you decide which golf club you need.
What are the types of gold club?
Putter
Iron
Wood
Wedge
Driver
Putter
The putter’s job is merely to send the ball rolling. You do not need to employ as much strength here. Simple hit the ball to have it roll perpendicular to the hole. Simply put, the job of a putter is to roll the ball at a short distance.
Iron
The weight is an issue here, although the iron has the same function as the wood with respect to reach but because of the different characteristics of players, the iron has more diversity of use as compared to the wood. The iron can bring the ball as far as the wood but the iron likewise has the function of arcing the plight of the ball.
Wood
As mentioned the function of the wood is to bring the ball as far as possible. Thus, the club head of the wood is the biggest. Its main function is to bring the ball far, but the swing or the stroke may determine the direction of the ball.
Wedge
Mostly wedges are made of iron; one of its major functions is to play the ball in water or sand hazard. Again, there are many shapes of the wedge head; this is because each head may have a different function than the other.
Driver
The driver is mostly made of wood; the popular use of the driver is on the tee. You may find it difficult to use the driver on the tee but you may practice your swing and later on, you will be comfortable.
Of course, because different players have their different comfortable clubs, you may therefore need to recognize which one is yours and practice that particular club as much as you can.
The golf club may help you improve your game. It is therefore important that you are comfortable with your golf club and thus practice as much as you can. This is the only way to improve your game and your enjoyment in this strategic game.
Finally, yes, the choice of club is important but if you do not practice your swing on and off the green, it may be hard for you to lower your score and improve your handicap.
This game is not physically draining but it is strategic, it may help therefore that you find a mentor and your mentor will be able to guide you well into playing this game.
Golf started as early as 1297 in Netherlands. The players use a stick and a leather ball to play during that time. As time goes by different golf clubs emerged. Different sizes and different shapes of club head. If you are serious, you want to improve your golf game, knowing the right golf club is the best way to start.
Let me help you understand golf by understanding what golf club you need and how you can develop your swing with the use of your golf club.
I am telling you this early that you do not need to pay thousands of dollars for a golf club. Well, not until you are sure that your thousand-dollar golf club is what fits you.
So, how do you know what golf club fits you? Let us discuss first the characteristics of golf clubs before you decide which golf club you need.
What are the types of gold club?
Putter
Iron
Wood
Wedge
Driver
Putter
The putter’s job is merely to send the ball rolling. You do not need to employ as much strength here. Simple hit the ball to have it roll perpendicular to the hole. Simply put, the job of a putter is to roll the ball at a short distance.
Iron
The weight is an issue here, although the iron has the same function as the wood with respect to reach but because of the different characteristics of players, the iron has more diversity of use as compared to the wood. The iron can bring the ball as far as the wood but the iron likewise has the function of arcing the plight of the ball.
Wood
As mentioned the function of the wood is to bring the ball as far as possible. Thus, the club head of the wood is the biggest. Its main function is to bring the ball far, but the swing or the stroke may determine the direction of the ball.
Wedge
Mostly wedges are made of iron; one of its major functions is to play the ball in water or sand hazard. Again, there are many shapes of the wedge head; this is because each head may have a different function than the other.
Driver
The driver is mostly made of wood; the popular use of the driver is on the tee. You may find it difficult to use the driver on the tee but you may practice your swing and later on, you will be comfortable.
Of course, because different players have their different comfortable clubs, you may therefore need to recognize which one is yours and practice that particular club as much as you can.
The golf club may help you improve your game. It is therefore important that you are comfortable with your golf club and thus practice as much as you can. This is the only way to improve your game and your enjoyment in this strategic game.
Finally, yes, the choice of club is important but if you do not practice your swing on and off the green, it may be hard for you to lower your score and improve your handicap.
This game is not physically draining but it is strategic, it may help therefore that you find a mentor and your mentor will be able to guide you well into playing this game.
Just a Little Golf History
Just a Little Golf History
The origin of golf is hard to place exactly. Several countries are claiming that they started the now popular game, but the most believed is the Netherlands. According to history, the Netherlands had the ideas of hitting balls into holes with a golf club in the 17th century. In addition to this, it is said that the word golf comes from the Dutch was kolf which means stick, club and bat. It does NOT come from the acronym "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." Despite this early introduction of golf, it did not come around in the United States until the 1880s.
The oldest course in the world dates back to St. Andrews Trails, located in the Royal Burgh of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This course is known as the "home of golf".
Even though it is commonly known that golf courses have eighteen holes, according to history, this has not always been so. Golfers at St. Andrews played on a route that was determined by the topography of the area. An eleven-hole course came about and players would play all eleven, turn around and play them again - twenty-two holes. Some thought that the holes were to short in 1764, so were combined with other holes. The number was reduced from eleven to nine, leaving a total of eighteen holes.
The size of the golf hole even goes back in history. The standard golf hole size is 4.25 inches in diameter. It was the St. Andrews Trails that were the founders of this standard size, with some assistance from the links at Musselburgh. This size was decided upon because the folks at Musselburgh had invented the first known hole cutter in 1829. This cutter utilized a tool that was 4.25 inches in diameter. St. Andrews simply liked that size and adopted it for the games standard hole size.
The common used phrases in the game of golf are birdie, eagle and par. The word bird was a slang term in the 19th century that referred to anything considered remotely cool. So the term was used then for a great shot in a game of golf - one that led to a score under par - and was eventually turned into birdie. The word eagle followed along those lines in keeping with the bird mentality. Par was used long before it became associated with the game of golf and basically meant something that was acceptable or average. The word simply became associated over time with the game of golf to indicate an ideal score among golfers.
Where did these rules come from? Well, you honestly cannot play a game, any game, without rules. So from the very beginning there had to have been understood rules to play along with. No one knows what those rules were as the rules were never officially written until they were specifically written in 1744 for the Annual Challenge for the Edinburgh Silver Club.
SUMMARY: Golf didn’t just come around yesterday. It has a history. And to fully enjoy and understand the game, you need to know where it came from. Learn a little!
The origin of golf is hard to place exactly. Several countries are claiming that they started the now popular game, but the most believed is the Netherlands. According to history, the Netherlands had the ideas of hitting balls into holes with a golf club in the 17th century. In addition to this, it is said that the word golf comes from the Dutch was kolf which means stick, club and bat. It does NOT come from the acronym "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." Despite this early introduction of golf, it did not come around in the United States until the 1880s.
The oldest course in the world dates back to St. Andrews Trails, located in the Royal Burgh of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. This course is known as the "home of golf".
Even though it is commonly known that golf courses have eighteen holes, according to history, this has not always been so. Golfers at St. Andrews played on a route that was determined by the topography of the area. An eleven-hole course came about and players would play all eleven, turn around and play them again - twenty-two holes. Some thought that the holes were to short in 1764, so were combined with other holes. The number was reduced from eleven to nine, leaving a total of eighteen holes.
The size of the golf hole even goes back in history. The standard golf hole size is 4.25 inches in diameter. It was the St. Andrews Trails that were the founders of this standard size, with some assistance from the links at Musselburgh. This size was decided upon because the folks at Musselburgh had invented the first known hole cutter in 1829. This cutter utilized a tool that was 4.25 inches in diameter. St. Andrews simply liked that size and adopted it for the games standard hole size.
The common used phrases in the game of golf are birdie, eagle and par. The word bird was a slang term in the 19th century that referred to anything considered remotely cool. So the term was used then for a great shot in a game of golf - one that led to a score under par - and was eventually turned into birdie. The word eagle followed along those lines in keeping with the bird mentality. Par was used long before it became associated with the game of golf and basically meant something that was acceptable or average. The word simply became associated over time with the game of golf to indicate an ideal score among golfers.
Where did these rules come from? Well, you honestly cannot play a game, any game, without rules. So from the very beginning there had to have been understood rules to play along with. No one knows what those rules were as the rules were never officially written until they were specifically written in 1744 for the Annual Challenge for the Edinburgh Silver Club.
SUMMARY: Golf didn’t just come around yesterday. It has a history. And to fully enjoy and understand the game, you need to know where it came from. Learn a little!
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