| st game of golf for which records survive was | | | | is also used and when on the green, the ball may |
| played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland. | | | | be picked up to be cleaned or if it is in the way |
| In 2005 Golf Digest calculated that there were | | | | of an opponent's putting line; its position must |
| nearly 32,000 golf courses in the world, | | | | then be marked using a ball marker (usually a flat, |
| approximately half of them in the United States. | | | | round piece of plastic or a coin). In addition to the |
| Golf is one of those games which is unique in | | | | officially printed rules, golfers also abide by a set |
| having lucrative competition for older players. | | | | of guidelines called Golf etiquette. |
| When playing Golf at any given point, if the lead is | | | | Woods are also used and played for long shots |
| equal to the number of holes remaining, the | | | | from the tee or fairway, and occasionally rough, |
| match is said to be "dormie", and is continued until | | | | while irons are for precision shots from fairways |
| the leader increases the lead by one hole, thereby | | | | as well as from the rough. Golf shafts are used |
| winning the match, or until the match ends in a tie. | | | | between the grip and the club head. |
| When the game is tied after the predetermined | | | | Golf is one of the few ball games that doesn't |
| number of holes have been played, it may be | | | | use a standardized playing area; rather, the game |
| continued until one side takes a one-hole lead. | | | | is played on golf "courses," each one of which has |
| In the case that one team or player has taken a | | | | a unique design and typically consists of either 9 |
| lead that cannot be overcome in the number of | | | | or 18 separate holes. A course consists of a |
| holes remaining to be played, the match is | | | | series of holes, each consisting of a teeing area, |
| deemed to be won by the party in the lead, and | | | | fairway, rough and other hazards, and the green |
| the remainder of the holes are not played. The | | | | with the pin and cup. |
| two basic forms of playing golf are Match Play | | | | Golf Techniques |
| and Stroke Play/Stableford Points scoring. For | | | | A hole of golf consists of hitting a ball from a tee |
| example, if one party already has a lead of six | | | | on the teeing box (a marked area designated for |
| holes, and only five holes remain to be played on | | | | the first shot of a hole, a tee shot), and once the |
| the course, the match is over. | | | | ball comes to rest, striking it again. |
| There have been alternative ways to play golf | | | | For a right-handed player, a subtle curve to the |
| have also been introduced, such as miniature golf, | | | | left is called a draw. At any given point, if the lead |
| sholf and disc golf. Penalty strokes are not | | | | is equal to the number of holes remaining, the |
| actually strokes but penalty points that are added | | | | match is said to be "dormie", and is continued until |
| to the score for violations of rules or utilizing relief | | | | the leader increases the lead by one hole, thereby |
| procedures. A game of putting a small ball into a | | | | winning the match, or until the match ends in a tie. |
| hole in the ground using clubs was played in 17th | | | | Sidespin makes the ball curve left or right, and |
| century Netherlands. | | | | can be used intentionally or occur unintentionally. A |
| Golf Equipment | | | | golfer who plays right-handed, but holds the club |
| Golfers wear special shoes with exchangeable | | | | left-hand-below-right is said to be "cack-handed" or |
| spikes (or small plastic claws termed soft spikes) | | | | "cross-handed". A shot which fades too much, or |
| attached to the soles, designed to increase grip | | | | unintentionally and thus uncontrolled, is called a |
| on greens or in general wet conditions. A golf ball | | | | "slice". |