| Golf is a game whereby you have to hit a small ball | | | | some smaller 9 hole courses. The holes vary in length |
| using a club into a hole set some distance away using | | | | between Par 3, 4 and 5 holes, and the most common |
| as few a number of strokes as you can. That is the | | | | par for a course is 72, though some are more and |
| basics of golf in a nutshell. It sounds very easy, | | | | some less. |
| although even average golf players can do this in as | | | | The fairway is the main part of the course, where the |
| few as four strokes, depending of the distance which | | | | grass is cut fairly short, the uncut part being called the |
| is normally between around 150 yards and over 600 | | | | rough. Some courses have a semi-rough, where the |
| yards. | | | | grass is cut, but not as short as the fairway. The |
| There are a number of different clubs graded as to | | | | green is the part of the course you putt from, to hit the |
| how far you can hit the ball with them. This allows you | | | | ball along ground to the hole. This is usually cut as short |
| to play with the same golf swing, and use the clubs to | | | | as possible to allow the golf ball to run as fast as |
| determine distance rather than the strength with which | | | | possible. Golf is a game that you can play against |
| you hit the ball. The clubs range from the 'driver' that | | | | somebody else, or against the course. The better you |
| provides you with the longest distance to the long | | | | get in competitions, the lower your 'handicap ' will get. |
| irons, then to the short irons that have high loft to them. | | | | That is the difference between what you normally |
| This means that most of the energy you expend on | | | | score and the par for the course. The best way to |
| the ball is used to lift it high into the air before dropping | | | | learn how to play golf is to practice and study. |
| down to its target. Finally, there is the putter than has | | | | You should take lessons in how play from a |
| little or no loft, and is used to run the ball along the | | | | professional golf instructor, and most golf courses |
| ground into the hole. | | | | have their resident 'pro' who is available to provide you |
| Each hole is started at what is called the 'tee', where | | | | with lessons, although at a price! It is important that a |
| you place the ball on a small cupped peg , again called | | | | beginner understands the basics of golf and its |
| the 'tee', that is used as a platform for the ball. That is | | | | etiquette, and for that you need professional tuition. |
| the only time that you use the tee: for the first shot to | | | | You will be taught how to hold a golf club properly, |
| each hole. The term 'par' refers to the number of | | | | how to stand correctly, or 'address the ball', and how |
| strokes you should need on average to hit the ball | | | | to swing your club and body so that you hit the ball |
| from the tee into the hole. If you play one over par, for | | | | accurately the same distance each time. |
| example if you use 5 strokes on a par 4 hole, it is | | | | Golf is a game that hooks you if you start to get good |
| called a 'bogey', and a one under par shot is called a | | | | at it, and that will also allow you to meet a lot of new |
| birdie. There are similar terms for other shorts that | | | | friends on the greens and in the clubhouse. For some, |
| vary from par. | | | | the nineteenth hole is the best part of the course, but |
| Courses are usually of 18 holes, though there are | | | | you will learn about that when you begin to play! |