GOLF

Golf, game in which a player using

special clubs attempts to sink a
small ball with as few strokes as
possible into each of the 9 or 18
successive holes on an outdoor
course. Each hole has associated
with a par, or score standard,
usually from par 3 to par 5.
 HISTORY
Golf originated from a game played on the
eastern coast of Scotland, in an area
close to the royal capital of Edinburgh.
According to Lagle, there is still quite
a bit of debate among historians as
to the origins of golf, but there is no
doubt that the Scots cultivated the
foundations of the modern game.
The modern game of golf originated
in 15th century Scotland. The 18-hole
round was created at the Old Course at
St Andrews in 1764
FACTS ABOUT GOLF

Golf balls have a maximum weight of 1.62

ounces (45.93 grams) and a minimum
diameter of 1.68 inches (4.27 cm).

Standard 18-hole courses measure from

6,500 to 7,000 yards (5,900 to 6,400
metres); individual holes are from 100 to
600 yards (90 to 550 metres).
length and the pitch of its head, which
translates into the distance and height a
club will drive a ball.
Generally, the lower the number, the greater
the distance potential; distance decreases
and pitch (thus height) increases
progressively as club numbers go up
 TERMINOLOGIES
Golf Tee – The wooden peg you place your golf ball on at the start of the hole. 

Golf Tee Box – The area in which you first play the ball at the start of the hole. 

Fairway – The part of the golf course that leads to the green, usually where
putting takes place.

The green – The soft, plush ground surrounding the hole.

The rough – The wild area on either side of the fairway. This area is often filled
with trees and long grass. 

Bunker – A sand–filled ditch that usually surrounds the green. 

Hazard – Streams, ponds, bunkers, trees. Anything that comes between you
and successfully getting the golf ball in the hole. 
 EQUIPMENTS
Golf tee – the wooden peg you place your golf ball on at the start of the hole. 

Golf club – consisting of a shaft, a grip, and a clubhead, clubs are used to propel balls towards the
holes on a golf course. A typical set of golf clubs usually come in a bag of 14, with a variety of
woods, irons, wedges, and putters. Each type of golf club is designed specifically to provide
different degrees of trajectories and distances

Golf ball – fashioned from synthetic materials, golf balls usually have a dimple pattern on their
surface. This pattern promotes  better aerodynamics, helping to facilitate a ball’s spin and elevation
when it is hit.

Gloves – help players to achieve better grip and more controlled swings, as well as reduce
chances of skin abrasions. They are usually worn on the golfer’s non-dominant hand, though one
may wear them on both sides too.
 EQUIPMENTS
Ball markers – under various circumstances, golf balls may be lifted from their
positions on the green. However, their exact spots must be marked accurately in
order to ensure fairness. These markers are usually a thin, circular object made from
either metal or plastic. They may also be substituted by any other small object, such
as a coin.

Shoes – golf shoes often have spikes on their bottom surfaces. These are made
from either metal or plastic, and help with balance, especially when the ground is
wet. Some  courses prohibit the use of metal spikes, as they can cause serious
damage to the turf.
 SCORING
Ace – A hole in one.
Eagle – 2 strokes under par. 
Birdie – 1 stroke under par (sometimes called a
double eagle). 
Par – The standard number of strokes it should
take to get the golf ball from the tee to the hole. 
Bogey – 1 stroke above par. 
Double Bogey – 2 strokes above par. 
Triple Bogey – 3 strokes above par
 BASIC SKILLS
PRE-SWING FUNDAMENTALS - GRIP, AIM AND SETUP

Grip – Most golfers have never held a golf club properly.  To

get your grip right, hold the club in your fingers, not in your
palm. 
Aim – Most golfers don’t line up to their target so they try to
correct the ball path through their swing. 
Setup – Soften your knees and focus on hinging forward from
the hips with your weight on the balls of your feet to get a good
athletic position.  Most people act like they are sitting in a chair,
squatting down too much with their knees.  This keeps your
weight on your heels not on the ball of your feet. 
  CLUB FACE CONTROL

Accuracy is a combination of aim and clubface control.  But

even if your aim is correct, the ball will not hit the target if your
clubface is pointed in the wrong direction on impact.  Focus on
squaring up the clubface on impact to improve your accuracy.
STRIKE, DON’T SCOOP
Golfers must understand how to get the ball up in the air very
early in their game, but most don’t understand what impact
should look like.  Most golfers try to lift the ball up in the air. 
Their hands are behind the club head at impact and they
subconsciously think they have to help the ball get up in the air
by scooping it. 
Great players have their hands ahead of the club head at
impact, creating a striking blow.  The angle of the club is what
produces loft in the ball.
 SWING PLANE
Keeping the club on the same plane throughout the swing will
help you straighten out your shot.  It’s a tough concept to
write about so here’s a link to Mike Bender’s video on the
subject to help you visualize this.
 PIVOT
On the backswing the entire pivot happens above the waist as
you get your left shoulder behind the ball on your backswing. 
The lower body remains quiet.  On the downswing the opposite
happens as you engage your legs and hips to create a strong
impact and finish position.
EFFORTLESS POWER, NOT POWERLESS
EFFORT
To create powerful club head speed, the club head must swing
faster than the club end, like a pendulum, or Ginger Rogers
dancing with Fred Astaire.  Many people want to yank and kill
the ball, which makes the handle go faster than the club head. 
Think about this one much more like a dance.
 WIDTH IN YOUR GOLF SWING

Keep the same distance between your hands and your body
when you’re at the top of your swing that you have between your
hands and your sternum in your set up.  Don’t collapse your
arms toward your body at the top of your swing.  If you do, you’ll
have to zig-zag your way back down to the ball.
 HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLAYING GOLF

Good exercise – as you will have lots of walking and along with the amount of walking involved, the
golf swing in itself is great for providing a full-body workout. Each full swing exercises arms, legs,
back and abdomen, with numerous repetitions over the course of a round
 
Challenge Yourself – unlike many team sports, golf is personal. Most of the time, you play against
yourself to try to beat your own previous record. This makes it a lot of fun to work hard and try to do
better than the last time you played.
 
Mental Well-Being – the game of golf is wonderful for the psyche. It keeps the mind alert and
provides vital human contact, along with several other benefits to mental health.
 BENEFITS
Social Event – playing golf is great way of socializing since it is an outdoor sport.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety – just a good walk in the fresh air does wonders for endorphin
and serotonin levels, leading to improved mood and reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
Coupled with an escape from the hassles of day-to-day living the game can provide great
relaxation.

Low Impact – golf is a "low-impact" sport. As a result, joints are not subject to the stresses and
strains of more energetic activities like tennis and running, which can lead to long-term joint
damage. This makes golf an ideal activity for older players, who, perhaps unable to throw rugby
balls around as they did in their younger years, can still enjoy this wonderful sporting activity.

Maintaining Mental Alertness – weighing up the risk / reward elements of a particular shot,
totting up scores and the other various facets of the game all aid in keeping the mind sharp.
 COMMON GOLF ETTIQUTTE
• Don’t talk during someone’s backswing. 
• Don’t walk through someone else’s line (the line from their ball to the hole). 
• Don’t hit the ball into the group ahead of you. Wait for them to finish.
• If a group behind you is playing faster, consider letting them go first at the next hole. 
• Avoid angry outbursts.
• You must play the golf ball where it lies, unless there is a rule that allows you to move
it.
• The golf course may not be changed to gain an advantage, unless there is a rule that
allows for a specific change.
• If your ball is in a bunker or water hazard, your golf club cannot touch the ground or
water prior to your actual swing. If it does, you must take a penalty stroke.
• If you accidentally play the wrong golf ball (oops!), you get a two stroke penalty.
 COMMON GOLF ETTIQUTTE
• When putting the ball must not hit the flag. If the golf ball does hit the flag, it is a two
stroke penalty.
• If you loose the ball in a water hazard, you can drop the ball behind the hazard and in line
with the golf hole. You must take a penalty stroke.
• If you loose the ball out of bounds, you can take a penalty stroke and then replay the
shot.
• If your ball is unplayable, you may take a penalty stroke and then drop the golf ball
behind where the ball was and in line with the hole or drop the golf ball within two club
lengths.
• You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs in your golf bag.
• Golfers must tee off behind and between the tee markers. Never in front of the tee
markers.
THANKS!