Know Your Course: Hazardous Areas

Golf can be a pretty demanding game. This is because anyone who wants to be an expert golfer or at least be considered as a golfer should first educate himself or herself about the concept of this particular sport, the rules of the games, and the conditions of the environment where the game is played.

For this reason, experts say that it is extremely important for every golfer wannabe to familiarize himself with the different aspects of golf, one of which is the golf course.

Golf course, basically, refers to a piece of land where the game will be played. Usually, golf courses have a chain of holes. These holes primarily refer to the physical hole in the ground, where the ball is placed and hit. It can also refer to the full vastness from the tee or the first hole where the primary shot is played, up to the green, or the area around the physical hole in the ground.

Normally, golf courses have nine holes up to a maximum of 18. Aside from these holes, golf courses are divided into different parts where each player must learn to play their best in spite of the disadvantages of each area and the trouble that awaits them.

The area where the grass is cut almost near to the ground that provides every ball a good playing area is known as the fairway.

On the other hand, the rough is that part of the golf course wherein the grass stands slightly taller than those at the fairway, or the area in which the grass is maintained uncut.

The last part of the golf course is the so-called hazards or those that are considered as hazardous areas in the course. These hazardous areas are the most feared part of the golfers because it is assumed that if a golfer's ball had fallen into one of the hazards, he may or may not win the game.

Therefore, for people who want to know more about the different hazardous areas in the golf course, here is a list of some facts that could be used.

1. Bunkers

Bunkers, also known as "sand traps," are one of the hazardous areas on the golf course. As its other name suggests, bunkers are burrows that are usually full of sand.

Here, the player will have a difficult time playing his best shot in the game. This is because golf balls are hard to control and manipulate when in the sand.

As a rule, players are not allowed to touch the ground, which is still a part of a hazard, using a club. Hence, beginners must know this rule by heart or else they might not be able to finish the game.

2. Water hazards

Water hazards are typically small bodies of water that are incorporated in the golf course like ponds, lakes, etc. Usually, water hazards are placed between the hole and the "tee-off".

These water hazards, like the bunkers, are also considered one of the hazardous areas in the golf course. This is because once the ball has landed on the water hazards, there is a possibility that the overall performance of the player's game will be affected.

Basically, even if the ball has landed on the water hazard, the player can still opt to play the next stroke provided that the player must hit the ball as it is.

If in the event that the ball is considered lost, in which this particular issue is a subject of numerous debates in the course, the player may hit another ball that can either be played from the area where the ball was previously hit before it hit the water hazard or by dropping another ball from behind the water hazard.

In reality, there are many rules that govern the cases of water hazards. However, the rules mentioned here are the basic rules in water hazards, so it can be very useful especially to those who are planning to start their career in golf.

Indeed, the performance of a player that refers to his stroke and style can be curbed with many obstacles like the water hazards and the bunkers. Hence, it can be concluded that golf players should try with all his might to avoid these hazardous areas as much as possible.