How, To Start Playing Golf.

Golf is a club and ball game played with meticulous accuracy. The contenders named golfers use various types of clubs to play a round of golf. The player is limited to fourteen selected clubs of different lengths and style for the complete round. The golf players then endeavor, to hit the balls down holes on a golf course in the lowest number of strokes.

To play a round of golf does not require a referee or umpire. The players should abide by the rules at all times; the game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration to the other players. It is customary behaviour of players to conduct themselves in a disciplined manner and show courtesy and sportsmanship towards each other at all times. This is the spirit of playing the game of golf.

Golf is one of the only ball games that are not played on a standard sized playing area. The playing area of golf courses can vary considerably from between 100 and 160 acres. Each having its own design and course character, most golf courses are now either nine or eighteen hole courses.

Golf rules are defined in general of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes. The player or caddie must not take action to exert influence on the position or movement of the ball in accordance with the rules.

A golf competition is usually played for by stroke play or match play. A stroke play competition consists of competitors completing each hole of stipulated round or rounds and for a gross score for each hole. The competitor with the lowest net score for the round is the winner. In a match play the game is played by holes, a match consists of one side playing against another over a stipulated round. The side that holes its balls in the fewest strokes wins the hole.

There are many hazards to be found on a golf course. These mostly fall into two categories, man made and natural hazards. Natural hazard can be water such as rivers and lakes or vegetation such as tress, undergrowth. Man made, a hazard can be sand bunkers. If a player encounters a hazard special rules can be applied in these circumstances. A typical example would be, if a golf players ball falls into the water and its not found he may be penalized one stroke.