The game of golf is played with a stick called golf club on a huge, grass covered area commonly known as 'golf course'. It is a game where a player hits a ball into a hole using golf club. Generally a golf course has nine or eighteen holes. It is one of those few games that do not use a fixed standard playing area.

 

Golf is played on a huge, grass covered land designed as a golf course. The course consists of series of holes. The holes include both the number of holes into which the ball is played and the total distance from the area from where first ball is hit to the area surrounding actual hole. The hole in ground into which ball is played is also called 'Cup' and the area from where the first ball is hit is called 'Tee'. The ball is hit from tee to green. 'Green' is the area around actual hole or cup. The first stroke is always hit by player from tee. Mostly the aim of the player is to get the ball in or around the first hole on the course. After teeing off, the player hit the ball again from the position where it came to rest. Here the aim of the player if to get the ball at putting green. From here the ball is putt until it reaches the cup. The game is made difficult by unleveled ground, water hazards and bunkers.

 

Golf can be either played as a 'Match Play' or as a 'Stroke Play'. In match play every player plays single hole as a separate game against each other. In stroke play, players count the total number of shots played during the whole round of game or tournament. Who so ever plays lesser number of shots to put ball in cup wins the game.

 

Mostly golf courses are never alike. But still they can be classified as one of the following:

 

Links: These are the most traditional types of courses.

Parkland: These are typical inland courses with lawns and trees.

Heath land: These are more open and less wooded courses.

Desert Courses: These are a latest concept in the architecture of golf courses.

Browns: These courses are made by using layers of tar and gravel below the sandy surface, to give firmness and support.

Sand Courses: On these courses players play on sand with a bright colored ball.

Par3 Courses: Theses courses consist entirely of holes.

Executive Courses: These courses are smaller then 18 hole course but bigger than 9 hole course.

 

There are many rules in golf. Often these rules are called 'rules of etiquette' not because they involve more manners but because many of them relate to safety of golfers and others watching them. Some rules are listed below:

 

• A golfer should not swing club until he is sure that all others are at a safe distance.
• A golfer should not hit the ball until he is sure that the group ahead of him is out of range of the ball.
• A golfer shall always keep carts away from grass and hazards.
• No one is allowed to talk during players swing.
• One should always watch for his shadow on putting green.
• Not much time should be spent looking for a lost ball.

Related Articles about The Game of Golf

 

More on Match Play and Stroke Play in Golf

Play of The Game

Golf Instruction | Golf Improvement Articles

Golf History | Golf Etiquette | Golf Terms

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