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