SPORT IS A FEAST!

1. GOLF BY CHARLES HILLS

1.1 A few important golf players

Ernie Els
Gary Player

1.2 The history of golf

Golf is one of the oldest sports. The Romans, who ruled the world before Jesus was born,
played golf. Another type of golf was played, because they did not have modern clubs
and balls. The golf that people play today, has its origin in Scotland. 400 Years ago the
first rules were drawn up. Later, all the countries started to use the same rules.

1.3 How do we play golf?

Putt-putt is a bit like golf. A golf course has 18 holes that are very far apart. Just like
putt-putt, it's not easy to hit the ball straight into the hole. On the golf course, there is long
grass, trees, water holes and bunkers in your way. The only stretch of grass that is even
and smoothly cut, is around the holes. This is called the green. On the green a special
club, a putter, is used to hit the ball into the hole.

1.4 A special ball

The small dents on a golf ball allows the ball to go straight and further when you hit the
ball. The inside of a golf ball consists of thin elastic that is turned into a tight ball. This
makes the ball light and gives it spring.

1.5 Which club?

Besides the putter, there are 13 different kinds of clubs that you can use. With some clubs
a golfer hits the ball much further and with some clubs you hit the ball quite high into the
air. Other clubs assist in hitting a ball from a bunker.

1.6 Cute golf carts

If you do not want to walk far, a golf cart can be used to drive from from hole to hole.
You can also make use of a golf jockey who will carry your golf clubs for you. They carry
the different clubs in a golf bag.

1.7 Everyone plays golf

People play golf in most of the countries around the world. One of the reasons for this is
that it is good exercise to walk and hit the ball so many times. The golf courses are also
very beautiful, and the players enjoy nature while they walk around to play. Another
reason is that any one, old or young, can play golf.

1.7.1 With a handicap I can (maybe) beat Ernie!

A weak player can play against a good player and win because they play with a handicap.
How does it work? If a big brother wants to race against his little sister, he will say to her:
“Sister, you can start 10 steps before me.” He gives her a handicap of 10 steps. In golf, it
is also true. If I had a handicap of 20 strokes and I play against Ernie Els, I can play 20
more strokes than he can, to complete a round. If I play 19 more strokes than him, then I
am the winner!

1.7.2 Children and golf

Children can play golf from a very young age. There are clubs made especially for
children and other people who can not play with the heavier clubs.

1.7.3 Play it yourself

You can even enjoy playing golf on the lawn at home. You do not need to punch holes
into the lawn to make a course. Take five or six empty cans, write numbers on them and
place them around the lawn. Then see who can hit the can with the least strokes. At the
end you simply add up each player’s strokes to see who won. You can even give your
siblings a handicap. You should not use a ball that can break the windows of the house
though!

2. HOCKEY BY CHARLES HILLS

You have probably seen how hockey is played. It looks a lot like football, except that the
ball is small and hard, almost like a cricket ball. There are eleven players on each side.
They must kick the ball between their opponents’ goalposts to get a point. We call it a
goal.

The players may only hit the ball with their hockey sticks. They may not kick or touch it.
Ten of the players can run around on the field. They are aggressors or defenders. The
eleventh player is the goalkeeper who must prevent the opponents from scoring a goal.

2.1 History of hockey

Hockey is one of the oldest types of sport in which teams play against each other. We call
it a team sport. It is said that as long ago as 4000 years ago, people played games with
sticks and a ball which looks very like our hockey of today. And this was in Egypt! Who
knows, maybe even Moses played hockey when he was in Pharaoh's palace!

Hockey as we now know it, started 200 years ago in England. From there on it spread
throughout the world.
Hockey is one of the sports that is played at the Olympic Games. There is also a hockey
World Cup every four years, like football, cricket and rugby.

2.2 Who plays hockey?

It's a game that both boys and girls play. In America alone, about 100,000 girls play
hockey. In the old days, boys did not like to play hockey. Today, boys enjoy it just as
much.

2.3 Our best

Jonty Rhodes was one of our most famous cricketers, but did you know that he was a very
good hockey player? Cricket players are often just as good hockey players.

Pietie Coetsee was one of our best women players. She was only sixteen years old when
she first played for South Africa. She played a total of 210 tests before she retired.

2.4 Equipment

One cannot play hockey with just any old stick. Hockey sticks are light but very hard.
The stick is bent down, so it's easy to slide over grass. A hockey stick is flat at the front,
but round at the back. You may only hit the ball flat side on. If you use the rounded side,
the referee will penalise you.

A player can stand still to pass the ball to another player, or a player may run or dribble the
ball. Because the ball is small, and the hockey stick is fairly narrow, it is difficult to
dribble the ball on the grass. You easily miss the ball!

Players wear shin pads that are similar to those of football players, because the stick and
the ball can cause injuries. Players also wear special hockey shoes. It is quite dangerous
to play goalkeeper, because fast balls are used for goals. Therefore goalies wear a helmut,
shin pads, big gloves and a face shield.

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