GOLF

Golf is truly a Royal and Ancient game played by young and old. Over the years, properly hundreds of years, it was played by Queens and Kings. It is assumed that it started in Scotland. Nowadays, it is played by millions and contrary to other sports, it is a game for life.

The clubs and balls are designed by computers and produced with the latest materials. The cost of building a golf course can run into millions. The architects are famous and rich. To build a golf course millions of tons of earth are being moved.

The professional’s golf players are famous and becoming heroes. There are events being held in every country possible. The prizes can reach into a million. The major championships which are held every year are - the British Open in the UK, The US Open and the USPGA in America. The Masters Golf tournament is held annually in Augusta, Georgia, USA.

The highest winner is Jack Nicklaus and has 18 times won in majors events.

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ST ANDREWS' 18TH GOLF GREEN AND CLUB HOUSE OF THE R&A

ST ANDREWS' GOLF COURSE

The world's oldest golf course you will find in St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. It is believed that Golf was played as far back as the 1300s. The clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club is just above the first tee. They and the US Golf Association rule over the game of golf.

The Old Course is on a narrow strip of land which is between the seashore and the farmland. All the humps and hollows are naturally made by fierce winds and crashing seas. Since it is severely restricted the golf course shares the greens with another. The famous 17th hole is a long par four. Daring golfers trying to master it by driven over the Hotel grounds. The problems is that the road is so closed by and those who over-hit get trapped. Then there is a bunker next to the 17th and many shots end up there because he slope is so steep.

The course host all the British Open and major tournaments. A golfer has to qualify to be able to play these tournaments.

JACK NICKLAUS

TIGER WOODS

RULES OF THE GAMES

A golf course consists of 18 holes with a par of threes, fours and fives. Par means the number of shots a top golfer should take to get the balls into each hole. If one less is scored it is a birdie, two less is an eagle and very rarely an albatross when you have three less. If you have one shot over the par you get a bogey, two a double bogey and so on. At the end the numbers are added up and the lowest number wins.

The system of 'handicap' which enables the golfers of different standards plays on an even game. When you are a beginner and have a handicap of 24 which means you have 24 shots over par in a round. If you were to play a top professional, who do not get a handicap, and he would have a 66 shots and you have 88, you would win because he would give you 24 and plus your 88 shots less 24 handicap which makes 64 shots and that is a winner. This is called a stroke play.

A match play is different. You achieve one-up if you have less shots on a hole. You are the winner if you have more points that there are holes to be played.

EQUIPMENT

The ball is place on a peg called tee for the first shot at a hole. The longest club which is called a driver and is the number wood smashes the first shot down the fairway. The fairway is a strip of mowed grass and between the first tee and putting green with the hole sunk into it. This hole is a 10.8cm diameter cup.

The clubs or called irons are from one to nine numbered. They are used for to start off the first shot or for the second toward the green on long holes. The sand-wedge is designed for playing out of bunkers. The piching-wedge used for up to 90m shots bringing the ball closed to the hole. The putter is to shoot on or just off the green. The balls are covered with dimpled synthetic covers to make them fly further. The clubs and balls are designed to suit every golfer but get professional advice, when you buy your equipment.

CONCLUSION

Golf is a sport was young and old can compete with or against each other. When started early, of course, you improve faster and longer. It is known that many top golfers took their first shot at the age of three or four. Courses are held in rugged ones by the sea, tree-lined inland and rolling parkland. The American-style layouts are famous with sculpted bunkers and vast lakes. Every golf course is unique and has a new challenge. Amateurs can join golf club which has its own golf course or on local public courses.

Amateurs are also allowed to play at the famous St Andrews. You don't hear Sunday footballers playing at Wembley but in golf anything is possible.

AMAZING

To round it off, so to speak, some amazing facts are to be found here.  A big hitter can achieve a speed of 280km/h. This, however, is not the safest thing for the surrounding. Even professional can have their accidents.

1934 W. J. Robinson killed a cow with his tee shot.

1975 a flying duck met its untimely end for coming into the path of an assassin Jim Tollan who shot it right out of the sky.

Brett Ogle didn't after breaking his own leg when his shot rebounded off a tree.