How to Play Golf

Golf Courses
One of the most appealing things about the game of golf is where it is played. Golf courses are wide open spaces covered with grass, water and sand. The water and sand are obstacles that you should try to avoid. There are either nine or eighteen holes on a golf course. Players start in the teeing area and hit the ball toward the hole. The grassy area between the teeing area and the hole is called the fairway. It is usually bordered by trees that are considered out of bounds. The area around the hole where the grass is cut down low is called the green. The hole is marked by a flag that can be removed when the player gets close enough to see the hole.

The Beauty of Golf

Golf Equipment
Golf can be a very expensive sport. Fees must be paid to play. The game requires a lot of equipment. Golfers need an array of golf clubs, a bag to carry them in, special shoes, gloves and lots of golf balls. Golfers also need tees when hitting their first shot on each hole. These are little wooden platforms that allow the golfer to hit underneath the ball to gain more height and distance. If a golfer wants a caddie to carry his golf clubs or a golf cart to get around, they must pay extra.

Types of Golf Clubs
There are three basic types of golf clubs. They are woods (also called drivers), irons and putters. Each is used for different types of golf shots from different distances and on different surfaces.


Woods and Drivers
Woods get their name from the old days when they were made out of a chunk of wood. The wood behind the face of the golf club added weight to drive the ball farther off of a the tee. These days, drivers are made from high tech composite materials that are light weight yet incredibly strong. They can drive a golf ball farther than could be imagined a generation ago. Woods and drivers are often the first golf clubs used on a hole. Golfers drive the ball as far as they can down the fairway to get as close to the green as possible.


Swinging a Driver

Irons
Irons get their name from the iron they were originally made out of. Like drivers, they are made out of composite materials these days. Irons come in a set. Each club is designated by a number. As the numbers increase, the irons get shorter and the face of the club has a sharper and sharper angle. The higher the number of the iron, the more loft it puts on the ball. Lower number irons hit the ball farther. Golfers choose an iron based on how far they need to hit the golf ball. If they are very close to the green, they will choose a higher numbered iron. Most iron sets come with a number 3 through a number 9. 1 irons and 2 irons are usually purchased separately because they are only used by advanced players. They provide almost no loft on the golf ball so are rather difficult to use.


Wedges
Most iron sets also include a pitching wedge. It looks like an iron but it is shorter, has an even steeper angle to its face and is marked with a "P." The pitching wedge is used for short distances around the green when the golfer needs to lift the ball up and over an obstacle like a sand trap or a tree. There are two other types of wedges that are even shorter and steeper. The sand wedge is marked with an "S" and is used to dig out of sand traps. The lob wedge is marked with an "L" and is used to loft the ball quickly in a tight space.


Putters
Putters are the shortest and flattest of the golf clubs. They are used exclusively on greens to hit the ball along the ground and into the hole. The putter is the last club that is used on a hole.


Putter

Golf Balls
Golf balls are scientifically designed to fly farther. They are made with hundreds of dimples on them. These little indentations make the ball more aerodynamic. This causes less turbulence in the air and the ball experiences less drag. The dimples also create lift when there is a backspin on the ball. The cost of golf balls can add up as balls are lost and damaged by poor strikes. There is a booming business in used and recycled golf balls.


Playing Golf
Each hole starts in the teeing area. Each player places their golf ball on a tee and hits their ball toward the hole. A driver or a low numbered iron is usually used for the first shot. When all the players have hit their balls, everyone moves down the fairway to find their balls. Second shots are usually taken with irons or wedges unless it is a particularly long hole and another driver shot is needed. When a player gets his ball on the green he putts the ball with a putter. The number of strokes taken to get the ball from the tee to the hole is recorded on the score card. Once all the players have finished, everyone moves onto the next hole. The player who scored lowest on the previous hole usually hits first. Once 9 or 18 holes are completed, the scores are added up. The lowest scoring player wins.


Golf Hazards
There are very specific rules regarding golf hazards. These are sand traps, water traps, trees, bushes and tall grass. A golfer with a ball in a hazard is not allowed to touch the hazard with the club until they swing at the ball. They also cannot move any part of the hazard to make the shot easier. The player has the option to decline taking the shot. They must then take a penalty stroke to their score then hit the ball over from the original spot.


Losing Golf Balls
A player has five minutes to look for their lost golf ball. If they can't find it, they must take a penalty stroke and hit another ball from the original spot. If a ball is hit over a fence, out of bounds or in the water, the player usually wont bother trying to recover it.


Mulligans and Gimmes
Golf can be a cutthroat or a friendly game. Those playing for money or pride adhere to the strict rules of golf. Recreational players often give each other breaks for the sake of keeping it fun. A Mulligan is a do-over. Allowing a player to take a Mulligan lets him take the shot again without penalty. A gimme is when you assume that the ball went in the hole even though it didn't. This is usually employed when the ball is within a golf club handle length of the hole.



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