thin king

This game called Golf

Simply, golf is a game of striking a ball over a distance into a hole. Anyone who is able to do this is a golfer. Golfers however have different levels of skill in doing this; yet they are able to compete with each other; or even in a tournament, on a handicapping system by which a handicapped player is conceded a number of strokes accordingly.

The skill of a golfer is determined on the basis of the least number of strikes, called strokes, to get the ball into a hole, or all the holes. It is obvious then that hitting the ball into the hole with one stroke, a hole-in-one, is the ultimate skill for that hole, unbeatable. But the distance from tee-to-green, from the teeing ground to the hole in a patch of special grass, called the putting green, varies. Their distances may require more than one strike, two or three, to possibly get the ball there, and then to putt it into the hole. Getting the ball onto the green with the regular minimum number of strokes and putting it into the hole within the average two putts is professional standard. One stroke more than that is a bogey, and bogey two or bogey three accordingly. One stroke less than that is a birdie, and an eagle and an albatross accordingly.

The golfer who is able to get the ball with the least number of strokes into a hole is the best player for that hole, and the best player in the competition is the one who scored the least number of strokes for the whole total of 18 holes. The different types of competition are known as stroke play, stableford, bogey, and others; each has its own basis for determining the winner. Generally for amateurs the tournament is based on 18 holes; for professionals it is based on 72 holes usually spread over 4 days or shorter due to inclement weather.

This game called golf is unique in some features. Golfers play against the golf course and it is their performance that competes with their fellow players or competitors. Golfers play in groups of a maximum of four, staggered at intervals, and they may not know their opponents until all the scores were in. Golfers use their own everything - clubs, balls, tees, and any other equipment; however each golfer has a caddy for assistance in carrying the bag of clubs or for consultation. Golfers abide by a booklet of rules; keeping peace while others play, may not offer nor receive advice, and self-own up to infringement; which failure may result in penalties or even disqualification.

Striking the ball off the tee is a drive; putting the ball into the hole is a putt. Some say drive for show and putt for dough, others say drive for dough and putt for show. A golfer who does not putt as well as drive or drive as well as putt usually ended up losing the dough.

Golf courses are specially contoured grounds topped with grass and lined with trees and bushes. Features called bunkers and ponds are strategically positioned along the fairways and beside the greens as traps. A well-struck ball is intended not to drop and run to avoid all these chicaneries; to the skillful player that is a certainty, to handicapped players that sometimes is a dream. Some play golf, some meet flog.