The History of Golf

Golf is a very old game of which the exact origins are unclear. Some say the Origin of Golf lies in the Roman game called 'paganica'. This game is played with a bent stick and a leather ball stuffed with feathers. Others trace Golf from the 'het kolven' of the Dutch, the French and Belgian game 'chole', the French game 'jeu de mail' and the English game 'cambuca'. However, the most accepted Golf History Theory is that Golf originated from Scotland in the 1100s. Scottish shepherds knocked stones into rabbit holes in the place where the famous St. Andrews Golf Club now sits.

In the early years, Golf was played with a leather-covered ball stuffed with feathers. It was only in 1848 that Golfers used the gutty, a solid ball made of gutta-percha - a rubbery substance. The gutty was then replaced by a rubber-cored ball invented by U.S. Golfer Coburn Haskell in 1898. And in 1951, the United Kingdom's Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews created the Rules and Standards for Golf.

Golf popularity spread from Scotland and England to the British Commonwealth, to India and the United States and other parts of the world. In 1829, India established the First Golf Club outside the United Kingdom called the Royal Calcutta. The Royal Montreal which was founded in 1873, was the first North American Golf Club.

In 1901, the world's oldest Professional Golf Association, the British Professional Golfers' Association was founded, followed by Professional Golfers' Association of Australia in 1911. In America, Professional Golf Tours began in early 1920's. Women's golf grew at the same rate as men's golf though interest in Professional Women's Golf only came in the late 1940's.

What is Golf?

Golf is commonly defined as a game played on a special outdoor course using a golf ball and a set of golf clubs with either wooden or metal heads. The Golfer hits the ball into each of a series of holes with the least number of strokes as possible. The clubs used in the game are designed for the various kinds of shots needed to take the golf ball from the golf tee into the hole situated at the end of the fairway of varying shapes and distances, avoiding the hazards and obstacles.

The game starts with a shot from the Tee using the golf club called the Driver. As you go on, you use different types of clubs: the Woods, the Irons and the Putter. The golf club you use depends on the part of the golf course and the circumstances you are in. For shots that requires distance, you may use the Woods or Long irons. For shots that requires accuracy, like hitting out of a golf hazard, it is best to use the Irons like the Pitching or the Sand Wedge. The Putter, on the other hand, is specifically designed to be used on the Green and it is used for finishing the hole by striking the golf ball into the hole.

Your score in golf is measured by means of Par . Par signifies the number of strokes you will need to get the golf ball from the tee into the hole. The average Par for an 18 hole round is 72. Striking the ball one below Par, or three shots in a par-four, means you have a Birdie. A Bogey is one above Par, for example is taking four shots on a par-three. The person or team with the least number of strokes at the end of playing all holes wins the game.

The Golf Course

Golf Courses typically have 18 holes numbered 1 to 18. Shorter Golf Courses might only have nine holes. Playing all 18 Holes makes a complete round of golf, in cases when there are only nine Holes, you play each hole twice.
Golf Courses for men are generally longer than courses for women, senior golfers and younger people. The length is adjusted by positioning the Tee closer or farther from the Hole. A complete golf course contains combinations of Par-three, Par-four, and Par-five Holes. A Par-three Hole measures up to 176 yards, a Par-four from 176-330 yards, and a Par-five 5 Hole measures at least 450 yards.

The Golf Course, whether Private or Public, is not just an amazingly beautiful landscape covered with grass and surrounded by trees. Do not be deceived by its looks. You may find the trees and the water in the Golf Course a nice view, but once your ball lands in them, you might wish them gone.
The Golf Course is divided into parts: the Tee, the Fairway and the Green which are surrounded by the trees, the rough, hazards and the fringe. Each of these parts, like everything else, is designed for a specific purpose. The Tee is the part of the Golf Course where you take your first shot, then your ball may either fly to the Fairway or the Hazards that surrounds it, then finally to the Green.
The distance from the Tee to the Green also differs depending on the Type of Hole you are playing in. The Golf Course is composed of a variation of Par-three, Par-four and Par-five holes: the Par-three having the shortest distance between the Tee and the Hole and the Par-five having the farthest distance.

Why Play Golf?

Golf is a combination of a mental and a physical game. On the mental side, golf is a game that poses problems that require a lot of creative problem solving. On the physical side, golf is a sport requiring good eye-hand coordination, technique and endurance. Golf involves a lot of walking; unless you intend to ride on a golf buggy every time. People have different reasons for playing golf. Some play golf for health reasons or just for fun.

Golf Tees

A golf tee is a peg that is used to elevate the golf ball from the ground at the start of each hole. On your first shot, where you will generally use the Driver, the Tee helps you to have a cleaner and fuller ball contact. Golf Tees come in different sizes and are mostly made out of wood or plastic. For a Par-Three hole you may use a very short Golf Tee that sets the ball barely off the ground. If you want your ball to be way up off the ground, you may buy a three-inch long Golf Tee

Golf Balls

You cannot Play Golf without the Golf Ball. The combination of using golf clubs to strike a Golf Ball is the very essence of the golf game. TheGolf Ball has evolved from a simple round object to a pretty sophisticated work of art. A regular Golf Ball is covered with over 400 dimples.
The dimples play a very important part in the aerodynamics of a Golf Ball. You could have a ball of the same material and of the same size and weight and strike it the exact same way that you strike a Golf Ball with dimples and to your astonishment you will see that the golf ball without dimples travels only about half as far as the balls with dimples! Golf Ball manufacturers are constantly testing and inventing new ways of making a Golf Ball fly farther and farther.
The average Golf Ball is about 1.68 inches in diameter and it weighs 1.62 ounces. The most important characteristic of a golf ball is the spin. The spin of your ball is largely based on its core and cover materials. Golf Balls may also come in different colours, some manufacturers even produce custom made Golf Balls for women. The Golf Ball may either be a wound ball or a two-piece ball

Golf Training and Practice Aids

Just like in any other game, you will need constant practice in order to improve your golfing skills. There are lots of Golf Training Aids in the market which aims to help you with all your golfing problems. There is golf equipment available to help you in improving your putting techniques, cutting your slices, estimating distances, and generally lessen the number on your score card. These Golf Training Aids can also be used anywhere you want to. Most can easily be installed in your house, office or garden.

Golf Books

Golf Books can be considered among your best guides in learning golf. Most golf books provide in depth instruction on the golf techniques, such as the Swing or Putting. Most Golf Books also come with pictures to serve as your guide when doing the techniques. Some cater to specific faults or problems like how you can cut your slice, how to deal with bunker shots, and a lot of other conditions that you may encounter while playing. You can also find Golf Books designed for Beginners which offers the basic things you need to know about golf and its different techniques and equipment, and the basic rules and etiquette or to reduce your score with all the different techniques and methods from Golf Books.

Golf DVDs

One of the ways to learn Golf is through audio-visual sources like DVDs. They provide detailed instruction with visual presentations for you get a full-picture of what a techniques is, how is it done and what it looks like. Through these instructional materials, you maybe able to learn the basics before hitting it on the green. Watching a DVD can also be enjoyable rather than just reading a golf book since it is closer to having an instructor beside you. Most DVDs, like golf books, cater to specific needs. There are golf DVDs for beginners, for improving your Putts, remedies for bad shots like Slice, and a lot more.

Golf Gadgets

Basically, you only need golf clubs and some target golf balls to play a Game of Golf. Those are the basic necessities. For better and more comfortable play you can add golf shoes, golf gloves and a golf bag to your collection of golf gear. There are however many, many other golf gadgets and pieces of golf equipment that each have their own use on the golf course.

Golf Accessories

Apart from the basics, there are also other gear and equipment that can add more fun and ease to your game. There are things like Golf Umbrellas and Golf Towels that can help you deal with the weather outdoors. There are also Cleaning and Repair Kits so you can clean and repair your golf equipment yourself. Pitch mark repairers are also very important since it is but ethical to repair the pitch marks that you create when making a shot. Cleaning Kits are also crucial for maintaining your clubs so you can use them for a longer time. Sunglasses are also helpful in protecting your eyes from the sun and have a clearer vision to make that perfect shot.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are commonly used for fashion or comfort but studies shows that it does more than that. Sunglasses can protect the eyes from being exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays which can lead to the development of cataracts. That is why it is ideal to wear Sunglasses when playing golf on bright sunny days.