Golf, though once called a ‘gentleman’s game’, is now played by men and women alike. If you have started learning golf, it’s obvious for you to be curious about its interesting aspects. From golf history to equipment, rules, and etiquette, our post discusses a lot of things about this wonderful game.
This celebrated game traces its roots back to 100 BCE Rome where players used to hit a stuffed leather ball with a stick that was slightly bent. However, golf did not find international fame until the late 19th century when it spread to the United Kingdom, throughout the British Empire, and then to the United States.
The modern game has its roots in Scotland. Initially, it was banned by the Scottish Parliament as a distraction to military personnel, thereby hampering defense of the country, but the ban was lifted by 1500. Balls made of wood and leather were introduced, as were steel clubs. Royalty popularized the game all over Europe. Gradually it gained recognition throughout the rest of the world.
The main pieces of golf equipment are, of course, a club and a ball. As a beginner, try to find out everything you can about them before buying the right ones for you. These can influence your performance.
Though you’re allowed to carry 14 clubs in your bag, you might not need them all during your initial golf lessons in Oakville, Brampton, and other parts of the GTA. Instead, start with a driver, a sand wedge, and a putter. These clubs have an ‘S’ on the sole or a loft of 54 to 56 degrees.
Always try out new clubs before buying. Try 6-irons with both stiff-flex and regular-flex shafts as these are the easiest for beginners to handle. Once you have a grip on both the game and its tools, you can shift to more professional ones.
Wooden clubs have more loft which helps you to hit the ball further more easily.
Video Courtesy: youtube.com
Beginners to golf often lose many balls during the learning process. That’s why it is best to buy cheaper balls to start. Invest in better golf balls once you can assure yourself that you won’t lose them all.
Scoring
There are specific names for your performance on each hole:
Tee Markers
When you ‘tee off’, which is the term for starting a hole, do so behind tee markers. These denote the boundaries of the teeing ground and are drawn on the ground by brightly-coloured, oversized markers.
Shot Order on Green
Once you have reached the green, the person furthest from the hole should go first. This repeats until everyone has made their putts.
Out of Bounds
If you hit your ball into the water or out of bounds, you will get one stroke penalty. This means either you must drop a new ball where you had hit the ball or at the place where it went out of bounds. Then resume play.
There is a reason why this sport is known as a ‘gentleman’s game’, as there is a wide range of etiquette to be followed.
Do you have more questions? If so then get in touch and we will be happy to help you become a better golfer.