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Golf is a very old game that, after many centuries, has turned from a simple pastime into a popular sport and leisure.
History of the game of golf
The first mention of a game resembling golf is February 26, 1297. The venue was Holland, where the locals used a club and a leather ball to play. The winner was the one who most often hit the target located a few hundred meters away.
Some sources, in turn, say that even before the emergence of golf in Scotland, in Holland in the 17th century, players were already trying to put the ball into the hole with clubs.
Another version, made public in the spring of 2005 by the Chinese professor Ling Hongling, says that in China, five hundred years before the first mention of the game in Scotland, they already played chuiwang, also similar to modern golf. In turn, answering this version, one of the representatives of the Royal St. Andrews Golf Club, which is the oldest in Scotland, says that for many centuries games were played with sticks and a ball, but modern 18-hole golf was invented in Scotland.
Whatever they say, it was the Scots who, according to official sources, were recognized as the invention of modern golf. After all, this game is mentioned in the acts of the Scottish Parliament as far back as the 15th century, which banned the game gowf (“goof”) because of “the constant waste of time on it.” And the modern interpretation of golf appeared in Scotland along with the first golf clubs. They also invented and approved the first rules, including the 18-hole rule.
It is also interesting that the oldest golf course is Old Links, which is located on the Musselburg Hippodrome. According to some reports, the first games on this field took place in 1672. Although there is an opinion that the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart played there as early as 1567.
Rules of the game
While playing golf, a player can use no less than two and no more than fourteen types of clubs. During the game, participants must complete a certain number of holes (usually 18) in consecutive order. A hole can be called both a hole in the ground and a playing area. Usually, it consists of: a teeing area (“target”) — the starting area, a fairway (“direct direction”) — the main area and a lawn, or green, — a special area with a cut hole. On any site, all sorts of obstacles are quite allowed — water, sand bunkers, trees, bushes and tall grass.
To start the game, the identified ball is placed on the tee. The best option for a player is considered if he hits the main fairway with his first hit, makes several hits on it, depending on its type, and hits the green — the site on which, due to perfect grass, the ball rolls without interference. To play on green golfers use a special type of club — a putter.
The game begins with a wood stick, which is characterized by a massive head and an angle of impact from seven to fifteen degrees, which allows it to send the ball three hundred meters.
An iron stick is used when an aimed strike is needed at shorter distances. It is lighter and has a lot-shaped head. The angle of inclination of the plane is calculated from fifteen to forty-five degrees. Each such club is given a number, and the larger the number, the greater the angle of inclination.
The wedge stick has an even greater angle to the horizon (from 45 to 64 degrees) and will be needed to send the ball with a canopy for a short distance. So Sad Wedge is used for sand, and Chipping Wedge for grass.
golf etiquette
Golf is considered an aristocratic game and has its own etiquette. It includes the rules of conduct on the field and care for its condition. Although etiquette is not an official set of rules, it is considered an important part of the game. Below are the points that are customary to observe while playing golf:
- do not stand near the player taking the kick and do not interfere with him with your movements or conversations;
- do not enter the game until the group in front has moved to a safe distance;
- do not prolong the game and release the putting green as soon as all the players in your group have completed the hole;
- skip forward the group playing faster than you;
- always restore the turf and level your footprints in the bunkers;
- do not stand in the “putting” line of other partners;
- do not carry clubs onto the putting green;
- place the flag carefully.
Golf Tournaments
The most important men’s professional tournaments include the Masters, the British and US Opens (The Open Champion and US Open respectively), and the Professional Golf Association Championship (PGA Championship).
Two years ago, in October 2009, at the 121st session of the IOC, golf was included in the program of the Olympic Games by a majority of votes (63 against 27), and the first medals in it will be played in 2016 at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
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