For all its addictive power, golf is an easy game to quit – or to not pick up at all.
In the U.S., a regulation 18-hole round takes a minimum of four hours, not including getting to and from the course, warming up, and perhaps hitting the 19th hole for a drink or two. Add the expense of green and cart fees to the cost of equipment and you’ve got a considerable cash investment, too.
In other words, golf requires spending lots of time and money – two things most folks are short on these days.
The language of golf must seem awfully confusing to beginners. Gimmes? Mulligans? Yips?
What in the name of Daniel Webster are these people talking about?
Indeed, golf’s slang terms could nearly fill their own dictionary. We’ll stick with a compact glossary, assuming readers know basic terms like birdie, par and bogey.
Following is a handy guide to the lingo you’re likely to hear next time – or the first time – you venture onto the golf course.
When international golf legends go to play the Ryder Cup, it has to be fairly obvious that they are not in it for the money. They will be playing with their normal competitors but now in a situation of group effort. It is quite something to behold your mortal rival on the other side of your camp when you have to discuss strategy. You may even have to reveal some of your weaker spots which they will exploit when they next go against you in a competitive situation. The whole dynamic will have to change and you will have to have the trust and confidence to cope with the altered circumstances.
Many sports create a distinction between individual game and group game. In fact even at the Olympic Games there is a provision to have different rules and regulations that govern each type of participant depending on whether they are competing as a group or they are competing as individuals. Each of these disciplines requires different skills and attitudes.
Golf is well known for its variety of competitions. The clubs have various scoring methods. Though the ultimate goal of this game is to drop the ball in the par, various scoring methods makes this game more interesting. Let’s look at some of the types and their scoring mechanisms.
Scoring is usually calculated based on the number of strikes a player takes to par the ball. There are two basic methods of golf play: Match play and Stroke play.