GOLF STUDY GUIDE            

GOLF:

Golf is a game in which all individuals can play regardless of size, strength, age or gender.   Golf as we play it today on a golf course with 9 or 18 holes had its origin in St. Andrew’s, Scotland.  The game of golf was introduced to the United States around 1880 by Robert Reid.

OBJECT OF GOLF:  

The objective of golf is to MOVE from the Tee Box to the Green, and into the hole in the fewest number of strokes. The total number of strokes taken on a hole is recorded as a score.  At the end of 9 or 18 holes, the scores on each hole are added for a total score for the golf course.  The player with the lowest score wins.

GOLF HOLES:

Each hole has a designated par which is the established stroke standard for the given length of the hole in yards.  The designated pars are 3 (shorter length holes), 4 (medium length holes) and 5 (longer length holes).

PARTS OF A GOLF HOLE  

A.  Tee Area: the designated area for beginning each hole.
B.  Fairway: the short grass between the tee area and the green.
C.  Rough: the long grass parallel to the fairway.

D.  Green: the putting surface (closely mowed grass).
E.  Hazard: sand traps and water on the course.
F.  Out-of-Bounds: area that is not part of the golf course.

SCORING

A.  Par: standard score set for a hole.
B.  Birdie: one stroke less than par.
C.  Eagle: two strokes less than par.

D.  Bogie: one stroke more than par.
E.  Double Bogie: two strokes more than par.
F.  Triple Bogie: three strokes more than par.

ETIQUETTE AND SAFETY

A. “Honors” -player with the lowest score on the previous hole hits first on the next tee.
B.  On the fairway, the player whose ball is farthest from the green hits first.
C.  When a player is hitting, other players should stand quietly.  They should stand to one side of the player hitting,
      not in front.

D.  The warning cry “fore” should be yelled if a ball is in the air and other players are in danger of being hit.
E.  A player should be sure no one is in front of or behind them when swinging a club or hitting a ball.
F.  Players should always replace divots and repair ball marks on the green.

"PLAY IT AS IT LIES"

What this means is simple - don't move or touch the ball, PLAY IT AS IT LIES!

WATER HAZARDS

Water hazards take a 1-stroke penalty and drop a ball at any point behind the spot where your original ball crossed into the water hazard.

HAZARD MARKERS

A.  White Markers - are usually found along the edge of the golf course and mean out of bounds.  If a player hits a
      shot out of bounds they must play another ball from the exact same spot and take a stroke penalty.

B.  Yellow Markers - are usually found along a body of water that crosses over the fairway.  If a player finds that their
      ball has gone into the water they must drop another ball no nearer the hole and take a stroke penalty.  

C.  Red Markers -  again are found alongside a pond or lake or other body of water.  If a player finds that their ball
      has gone into the water they must drop another ball 1 club length from where the ball enter into the water. 
      They will also take a 1 stroke penalty.

CLUB SELECTION

Club selection varies with with age, and ability of the player.  What you need to keep in mind is that irons are designed to hit shots about 10 yards shorter as the clubs goes UP (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) in number.  The greater the distances needed the less lofted clubs are selected (smaller numbered clubs).

For instance - a 3 Iron might be hit by a player 190 yards - when the ball is hit with the 3 iron, it travels farther with a lower trajectory, than a 9 iron. 

The same player might hit a  9 iron 130 yards.  The flight of the ball will be a shorter distance (130 yards) with a higher flight trajectory.  This allows the ball to come to rest quicker when it lands on the green.