The Basics

    For those of you who aren't familiar with the game, I want to go over some of the basics of golf.  A typical game of golf consists of 18 individual holes.  However, on a nine hole course each hole can be played twice.   Every player begins each hole by placing their ball on the tee box and hitting it with a club.  The player is allowed to place the ball on a tee for the first shot of each hole.  After the initial shot, the player continues to hit the ball until it lands in the hole.  The objective is to get the ball into the hole in the least amount of strokes. 
   The first shot from the tee box is called a 'drive' and is usually performed with a driver.  This is a long-shafted club with a low degree of loft, which causes the ball to travel a longer distance.  Additional shots are then performed using higher degree woods or irons.  This website describes the various types of clubs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_equipment.  The different types make it possible for golfers to surpass obstacles such as bunkers (sand traps), water hazards, and longer grass called 'rough'. 
    'Stroke play' is the most popular type of game and adheres to the strictest guidelines.  Golfers take turns hitting their ball until each player successfully places it in the hole.  Each player records their score and the lowest score at the end of the round is the winner.  Another popular game is 'best ball' (my personal favorite).  Players are assigned to teams and each player on the team hits from the tee box.  The team then chooses the ball that will give them the best chance at reaching the hole in the fewest shots.  Each player hits from that position and this continues until the team makes a ball into the hole. 

The Game of Golf

     Golf has been around for centuries and is played by a wide range of individuals.  The game is easily accessible for all ages and provides people with a rewarding pastime.  Courses are spread throughout the entire world, with locations in almost every country.  This provides players with a unique experience during every round.  Although the game itself seems simple, competition is quite intense.  Professional golf is very popular and tournament payouts are in the millions of dollars. 
      Because the game does not demand a great deal of conditioning or physical strength, people of all ages and backgrounds can take part in it.  Golf can be played from almost birth until death.  Although the game is more popular in certain parts of the world, it can be viewed to a certain extent all over.  Most professional tournaments take place in the United States and Great Britain.  The website of the Professional Golfers Association is www.pga.com.
    The equipment for the game has greatly changed over the past years.  Clubs were originally made of wood.  Now most clubs are constructed using steel and graphite.  This makes for a lighter, stronger club, which allows players to swing much harder and hit the ball a greater distance.  Golf balls also began as wood and have now been developed using synthetic metals.  The ball itself has hundreds of dimples formed into it to allow for greater stability and speed.  Players can carry a maximum of 14 clubs which includes a putter.  The redesign of the clubs has made the game much more competitive.