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Golf - Getting Started - Learn and Enjoy
Golf as we know it today has long been played in Scotland since the late 1400s.
Saint Andrews, Scotland is the home of the oldest and most famous golf course in
the world. In the late 18th century, the rules of play of the game of golf was
put together by the Company of Gentlemen Golfers – the first set of formal rules
governing the game set forth by the first organized golf club in the world. More
than a hundred years later, America’s first golf club was established in 1888 by
Peter Reid and the Apple Tree Gang and was appropriately called St. Andrews
Club.
With golf being played in two continents, the game has never been the
same. It has been exported to the four corners of the globe and has become a
multi-million dollar industry; golf is also the preferred game of today’s
businesspersons, bankers and industrialists.
The novice golfer interested in learning the game should therefore be aware that
golf has a rich legacy and tradition that goes back hundreds of years, full of
inspiration and lots of fun and excitement!
Golf does not only have a physical aspect it has an equally important mental
aspect as well. To really enjoy the game, the novice player has to be acquainted
with both to get the most out of playing the game of gentlemen.
● Do not go on a buying spree of equipment and
accessories.
● Do your homework. Find out where the nearest
public golf courses are near your residence. Membership to exclusive clubs is
expensive, and if you do not have deep pockets the excitement will easily get
lost because of the expense involved. Golf is a game you can play with your
spouse, children and friends but it is difficult if you just dive into the game
without knowing what you are getting into. Ask around.
● Talk to club pros and other players. Go to the
driving range and hit a bucket or two. Ask for advise and tips on how to hold
the club, what club to use, etc. This way, you can easily find out if you really
have an affinity for the game.
● Rent or borrow your equipment at first. When you
discover that you do like playing the game, then you can go ahead and buy.
However, remember to always ask for guidance, especially when buying your golf
equipment.
● Observe other players. Pay close attention to what
they do and how they do it. Relax, and have fun. Remember, you are not going to
beat others the first time out.
● Take lessons from the club pro and polish your
putting on your own when you have the time on weekends.
● The local club pro can teach you the correct way
of holding the club, positioning your feet and making that all important swing.
Most especially, he can also teach you the different properties of the various
clubs and when to use them.
Only then should you buy your own set of golf equipment and accessories! Tips:
GOLF CLUBS Golf clubs have different types: woods, irons, and putters.
Woods are used to hit the farthest whereas irons are used for intermediate
distances while putters are used to push the ball at close distances. There are
other types of clubs that are sharply angled for chipping the ball up steep
hills or out of sand traps. Get clubs with grips that are neither so small the
club twists in your hands on impact, nor so large you can't wrap your fingers
easily around it.
GRIP Remember to get clubs with grips that are just right for your hands
– neither too small nor too big. The starting grip is very vital. The most
common is the one in which the index finger of the one hand hooks the pinky of
the other hand. Check the V’s (the angle between your thumb and forefinger on
each hand). When looking down, make sure you can see the first two knuckles of
your left hand and a "V" formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing
towards your right shoulder; the "V" should point towards the right shoulder.
SWING Heels about shoulder width apart, practice a few swings. You should
hit the ball squarely in the middle of the club left to right and slightly
higher from the bottom. Hold the club firmly (not tightly) and balance your self
on your feet. As much as possible, keep the swing in one plane; follow through
after making contact with the ball and watch the ball as it goes up in flight.
RULES There are several golf rules but there is one cardinal rule: tee
up, hit the ball towards the flag and try to get the ball into the hole where
the flag is in. The lesser the number of strokes it takes you to get the ball
into all of the holes assures you of victory. Remember, you should only hit your
own ball and record every stroke you make.
ETIQUETTE Do not be a danger to other players by standing too close to
them when you or he makes their swing. Keep quiet when someone is preparing to
hit his ball. Do not make other players wait for you – if you lose your ball,
let them 'play through'. Replace 'divots' and fix other damage you accidentally
made on the green. Be courteous to people around you. Golf is a gentleman’s
game!
BEFORE YOU BEGIN PLAYING Learn, study and ask questions from others who
have been playing the game for some time. Do your own researches on the game but
never forget the primary purpose of the game: HAVE FUN with your family and
friends.
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