GOLF

Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not utilize a standardized playing area, and coping with the varied terrains encountered on different courses is a key part of the game. The game at the usual level is played on a course with an arranged progression of 18 holes, though recreational courses can be smaller, often having nine holes. Each hole on the course must contain a teeing ground to start from, and a putting green containing the actual hole or cup 4+1⁄4 inches (11 cm) in diameter. There are other standard forms of terrain in between, such as the fairway, rough (long grass), bunkers (or "sand traps"), and various hazards (water, rocks) but each hole on a course is unique in its specific layout and arrangement. Each golf course is made up of a number of golf holes. Usually 18 holes, but some courses only have 9 holes. On each hole the golfer first hits the ball from a tee area towards the hole. The hole is on a smooth area of short grass called the green. Typically it will take the golfer a number of shots to get to the green. Once the golf ball is on the green, the golfer will use a putter to roll or "putt" the ball into the hole. The number of strokes are counted up for the hole and recorded on a score card. At the end of the course all the strokes are totaled and the golfer with the fewest number of strokes wins. Each golfer can carry up to 14 golf clubs in their bag. Many of the clubs are numbered. The number refers to the angle or loft of the club. The lower the number of the club the lower the angle or loft. So a 1 iron will have very little angle or loft allowing the ball to go further on a lower trajectory while a 9 iron will have a lot of loft and will cause the golf ball to be hit high into the air.

The origin of golf has long been debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, which involved using a bent stick to hit a wool- or feather-stuffed leather ball. According to one view, paganica spread throughout several countries as the Romans conquered much of Europe during the 1st century BC and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others cite chuiwan (ch’ui-wan) as the progenitor, a game played in China during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and earlier and described as “a game in which you hit a ball with a stick while walking.” Chuiwan is thought to have been introduced into Europe by traders during the Middle Ages. However, upon close examination, neither theory is convincing. Golf was invented and first played in Scotland in the 15th century. Golf quickly spread to England and from there throughout the world. The first Golf Club, The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, was formed in Scotland in 1744. The first official rule guides were published not much later. In United States, the PGA was formed in 1916 ushering professional golf. Today golf is a very popular sport with major golf tournaments drawing huge crowds both live and on television. 토토사이트웹