| Golf is a game of inches, you might have heard that | | | | green on a par four hole in two strokes, one from the |
| term before but there is the theory of golf that is | | | | tee called the drive and another stroke to the green |
| equally as important as the mechanics of the game. I | | | | called the approach. Once on the green the player rolls |
| will start with some history followed by golf terms and | | | | the ball into the hole with two putts. Traditionally, a golf |
| meanings. | | | | hole is a par-three, four or five. Par-six holes exist, but |
| The first game of golf for which records survive was | | | | usually are not found in traditional golf courses. |
| played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The | | | | In many countries, courses are classified, in addition to |
| word golf was first mentioned in writing in 1457 on a | | | | the course par, with a course classification describing |
| Scottish statute on forbidden games as gouf, possibly | | | | the play difficulty of a course and may be used to |
| derived from the Scots word goulf meaning to strike | | | | calculate a player handicap for that given course. The |
| or cuff. | | | | par scoring system can be seen as a way to facilitate |
| But there is an even earlier reference to the game of | | | | the comparison of a golfer and his progress around |
| golf and it is believed to have happened in 1452 when | | | | the course in stroke play by providing a common |
| King James II banned the game because it kept his | | | | reference score. |
| subjects from their archery practice. The origin of golf | | | | The two basic forms of playing golf are match play |
| is open to debate as to being Chinese, Dutch or | | | | and stroke play. There are many variations of these |
| Scottish. However, the most accepted golf history | | | | basic principles, some of which are explicitly described |
| theory is that this sport originated from Scotland in the | | | | in the rules of golf and are therefore regarded official. |
| 1100s. | | | | One must pay certain fees to play on a golf course. |
| The word golf derives from the Dutch kolf meaning | | | | There is the cart fee, which is for the use of a golf |
| stick, club or bat. The oldest playing golf course in the | | | | cart, and the greens fee, which allows play on the |
| world is The Old Links at Musselburgh Racecourse. As | | | | course itself. |
| early as the 15th century, golfers at St Andrews, in | | | | A handicap is a numerical measure of amateur golfers |
| Fife, established a customary route through the | | | | and their ability to play golf over 18 holes. Legislations |
| undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations | | | | regarding the calculation of handicaps differ among |
| were dictated by topography. | | | | countries and sometimes become so complicated that |
| In 2005 Golf Digest calculated that there were nearly | | | | a handicap might not always mirror the real level of |
| 32,000 golf courses in the world, approximately half of | | | | play. Professional golfers typically score several |
| them in the United States. A typical golf course | | | | strokes below par for a round with a handicap of 0 |
| consists of eighteen holes, but many only have nine. | | | | subtracting 0 from their round score. |
| Every game of golf is based on playing a number of | | | | The rules of golf are internationally standardized and |
| holes in a given order. | | | | are jointly governed by the Royal and Ancient Golf |
| A hole of golf consists of hitting a ball from a tee on | | | | Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf |
| the teeing box, a marked area designated for the first | | | | Association. In addition to the officially printed rules, |
| shot of a hole called a tee shot, and once the ball | | | | golfers also abide by a set of guidelines called Golf |
| comes to rest, striking it again. A hole is classified by its | | | | Etiquette. Though there are no penalties for breach of |
| par, the number of strokes a skilled golfer should | | | | etiquette rules, players generally follow the rules of golf |
| require to complete play to the hole. | | | | etiquette in an effort to improve the playing |
| For example, a skilled golfer expects to reach the | | | | experience. |