The origin of golf is unclear and open to debate. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, in which participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. One theory asserts that paganica spread throughout Britain and Europe as the Romans conquered most of the continent, during the first century B.C., and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others cite chuiwan as the progenitor, a Chinese game played between the eighth and 14th centuries. The game is thought to have been introduced into Europe during the middle ages. Another early game that resembled modern golf was known as cambuca in England and chambot in France. This game was, in turn, exported to the Low Countries, Germany, and England. Some observers, however, believe that golf descended from the Persian game, chaugán. In addition, kolven was played annually in Loenen, Netherlands, beginning in 1297, to commemorate the capture of the assassin of Floris V, a year earlier.
According to the most widely accepted account, however, the modern game originated in Scotland around the 12th century, with shepherds knocking stones into rabbit holes on the current site of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Every round of golf is based on playing a number of holes in a given order. A round typically consists of 18 holes that are played in the order determined by the course layout. On a nine-hole course, a standard round consists of two consecutive nine-hole rounds. Playing a hole on a golf course is initiated by putting a ball into play by striking it with a club on the teeing area. When this initial shot is required to be a long one due to the length of the hole, it is usual for a golfer to suspend the ball on a tee prior to striking it, although it is not required. A tee in this last sense is a small peg which can be used to elevate the ball slightly above the ground up to a few centimetres high. This elevation is at the discretion of the golfer. Tee pegs are commonly made of wood but may be constructed of any material; the ball may even be placed on a mound of grass or dirt.
When the initial shot on a hole is a long-distance shot intended to move the ball a great distance down the fairway, this shot is commonly called a “drive.” Shorter holes generally are initiated with “shorter” clubs. Once the ball comes to rest, the golfer strikes it again as many times as necessary using shots that are variously known as a lay-up, an approach, a pitch or a chip, until the ball reaches the green, where he or she then putts the ball into the hole. The goal of getting the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible may be impeded by obstacles such as areas of long grass called rough which both impedes advancement and makes it harder to advance the golf ball, bunkers or sand traps and water hazards. In most forms of game play, each player plays his or her ball until it is holed.
Players can walk or drive in motorized carts over the course. Play can be done either singly or in groups and sometimes accompanied by caddies, who carry and manage the players’ equipment and who are allowed by the rules to give advice on the play of the course. A caddies’ advice can only be given to the player or players for whom the caddy is working, and not to competing players.
Golf is a precision club-and-ball sport, in which competing golfers, using many types of clubs, attempt to hit their ball employing the fewest number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area. Instead, the game is played on fairways, each of which features a unique design, although courses typically consist of either nine or 18 holes or “pastures” as we respectfully present them.
Golf is defined, in the rules of golf, as playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules. Golf competition is generally played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known simply as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes during a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play.
The rules of golf are internationally standardised and are jointly governed by The R&A, spun off in 2004 from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (founded 1754), and the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The underlying principle of the rules is fairness. As stated on the back cover of the official rule book: Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair.
There are strict regulations regarding the amateur status of golfers. Essentially, anybody who has ever received payment or compensation for giving instruction or played golf for money is not considered an amateur and may not participate in competitions limited solely to amateurs. However, amateur golfers may receive expenses which comply with strict guidelines and they may accept non-cash prizes within the limits established by the Rules of Amateur Status.
In addition to the officially printed rules, golfers also abide by a set of guidelines called golf etiquette. Etiquette guidelines cover matters such as safety, fairness, pace of play, and a player’s obligation to contribute to the care of the course. Though there are no penalties for breach of etiquette rules, players generally follow the rules of golf etiquette in an effort to improve everyone’s playing experience.
- -4 Condor four strokes under par
- -3 Albatross three strokes under par
- -2 Eagle two strokes under par
- -1 Birdie one stroke under par
- 0 Par equal to par
- +1 Bogey one stroke over par
- +2 Double Bogey two strokes over par
- +3 Triple Bogey three strokes over par
- +4 Quadruple Bogey four strokes over par
- +5 Remember your not good enough to get mad
