Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Golf for Newbies

By Dan Easterling

Golf has become a very popular game over the last forty or so years. Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods are all champions that have landed in the public consciousness. Courses like Pinehurst, Augusta National and the Blue Monster at Doral are all familiar to us.

The popularity of golf has increased for several reasons. It's fun to be outside, you get a good whole body workout, networking with friends or business colleagues at a leisurely pace is an option, and the challenge of the game never goes away.

You should keep up with your score over time. That way you can track improvements. This provides incentive to come back to the game.

Below is a very basic lesson in golf for the person who wonders where to start.

Game play is on an eighteen-hole course; there is a "par" for each hole,which is the number of tee shots (drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you approach the green), and putts.

Par is based on the hole length and hole hazards Pars be from 3 to 6 strokes. If you make the hole in five shots on a par five hole, you "made par." If the ball was hit six times, it's called a bogie, if you made the cup in four shots, it's a birdie.

Hazards exist. These include Bodies of water, sand traps, and trees. They are strategically placed to make the hole more challenging. Beginners should seek to find easier courses that have fewer hazards.

Players keep their own score, writing down the number of total number of shots for each hole. After the last hole,each person adds their scores-he who has the fewest shots wins.

Taking the game seriously at first is a serious hazard. It takes a long time to acquire game skills; even though the professionals make it look so easy.

Lesson taking at the beginning is a good idea. It will help you create a proper swing and a good start.

Remember, that it's just a game. The point is to have fun. Keep your perspective--the worst day of golf is better than the best day of work!

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