What is Golf?
Today, golf is synonymous with Tiger Woods. Whatever his misdemeanors, Woods has certainly brought golf to the consciousness of more people. Now, many are wondering what the real deal is with individuals walking all over a huge expanse of green trying to shoot a ball in a tiny hole from far away. If you want to get to know some golf basics, read on.
Considered a precision sport, the whole object of golf is to hit the ball into each hole on a golf course with the least number of strokes. Golf courses can either have 9 or 18 holes and are so designed that certain obstacles make the game a bit more challenging. There obstacles can be in the form of water hazards like lakes and rivers, man-made hazards like bunkers (sand-filled shallow pits) and other hazards like dense vegetation. How the grass is cut also affects the difficulty of the game. Those in the fairways (the expanse between the tee box and the green) are even and makes for good hitting. Those in the rough (areas between the fairway and the out-of-bounds markers and the fairways and the greens) are high and uneven and makes hitting a bit of a challenge. The grass is cut very short in the putting green, such that it almost has a carpet-like quality. This makes the ball roll long distances and can work for or against the player depending on how far he or she is from the hole.
A round of golf is played based on the holes in a particular order as determined by the layout of the golf course. There are 18 holes in one round in a standard golf course. Where a nine-hole course is used, one standard round is comprised of two consecutive nine-hole rounds. A golf game starts when a golf ball (usually a white pockmarked ball) is hit with a golf club on the tee box. In long shots, golfers usually put the ball on a tee or a small peg used to elevate the ball slightly above the ground.
An initial shot to drive the ball to the fairway is usually a long distance shot and is commonly known as a “drive.” Once there, the golfer strikes it as many times as needed using such shots as a lay-up, an approach or a pitch. The aim of the golfer is to bring the ball to the putting green, where he or she then attempts to “sink the putt.” In golf, the player aims to putt the ball into hole in as few strokes as possible.
Because of the vast expanse of a golf course, players may use golf carts or motorized mobiles to get from one hole to another. Others may choose to walk not only to exercise but to enjoy the scenic and relaxing view of the course. Caddies (assistants who take care of the golfer’s clubs and other equipment) may accompany individuals. They may also give advice (if they are able) to the golfer they’re working for, not to the competing player.