SolveYourProblem Article Series: Golf
The Fundamentals of Playing Golf

A Newbies Guide To Golf

Is golf an invention of Tiger Woods? Of course not although one can say it might as well be his own invention considering his omnipotent presence in the world of golf.

So, if golf is not an invention of Tiger Woods, then is the golf club referred to as Wood invented by Tiger Woods? Well, Tiger Woods may be the ultimate icon of golf, but he did not invent the golf club named woods.

If you’re getting all cross-eyed already, or are starting to think that this writer is egging you on, then here is a short explanation about golf and about Tiger Woods, but not exactly in that order.

Tiger, who was born Eldrick Woods, started playing golf when he was still two years old. He has won golf championships as a child, but his victories did not end there, as he is still winning golf championships to this day.

His popularity as a golfer, evidenced by his presence in every sports product, was partly responsible for endearing the game of golf to the masses. In fact, the resurging interest in the sport, even among common people, came about because of Tiger Wood’s popularity.

So for those who want to learn the basic things about golf, in order to earn big bucks like Tiger Woods, or for the sake of being better in the game, here are relevant facts about golf.

No one is sure as to how the game of golf originated. Some say it came from man’s instinctive urge to strike an object with a stick. Others believe that golf is a royal game, originating from the Roman Empire. Legend has it that a game called Paganica, which involved the driving or hitting of a soft ball, was played by Roman Emperors during their spare time.

This game ultimately evolved to golfe, a popular Scottish game that is acknowledged today as the ancestor or origin of the game of golf. There are other games played by Europeans and which is said to be similar to golf like Het Kolven, which is played in Netherlands, Cambuca that is played in England and Jeu de Mail, which was played in France. Scotland became the first official ruling organization of golf.

The first fact that a newbie must know is that a golfer’s handicap is not in any way related to a person’s disability. A handicap is the term given to the strength of a golfer. Golfers usually start with a handicap of 36. It means that a golfer, who is in a competition, takes 36 strokes from his score at the end of the game. Do not be fooled by the common notion that the higher, the better because in golf, the lower your handicap is, the better. The ideal handicap is to keep it down to a single figure, which is usually nine or less than that. But don’t worry because a starting golfer will always have a higher handicap compared to seasoned golfers.

Most people are discouraged from playing golf because it is seen as an expensive sport. However, a beginner can start playing golf without buying expensive golf clubs. What is important is for you to take basic golf lessons from a professional coach. There are establishments that rent out golf clubs to beginners. If you have the money, then you can start with a half set, consisting of 5 irons, 2 woods and a putter.

Golf clubs do not automatically refer to the exclusive establishments frequented by golfers. Basically, a golf club is a very important tool in the game of golf, which is primarily used for striking a ball. Golfers are allowed to carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in their bags.

Woods golf clubs are used by golfers when they have to take long shots, especially when they are at least 175 yards away from the green. Woods are usually the longest clubs. It used to be made of wood but is now made or metal. Golfers use irons when they are not more than 200 yards from the green. A putter is a golf club used for the purpose of getting the golf ball into the hole.

When golfers say par, they refer to the minimum number of shots in which a player is expected to hole his ball. A par is usually 3, 4 or 5 but beginners can take as much as 15 shots before holing a ball.

A golf course is a landscaped area, with 18 holes, which must be played according to this order. The order of golf holes is 1 through 18 or 1 through 9 and then 10 through 18. The holes must be played in such order and everyone must abide by the rules. A golf course is usually designed with water, sand traps and trees, to make the game more difficult and challenging.

Now that you know some basic facts about the game of golf, then you would not be caught unawares next time. Perhaps, you may even share a thing or two with other newbies who have not done their research. Better yet, use these facts to start a career in golf.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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