Golf Study Guide

Golf Study Guide

History - Introduced in New York in 1880 by a Scot named Reid. Three million Americans have made it the nation’s favorite participating outdoor game. Limitations of size, strength, age or weight do not lessen the fun of the game nor the ability to play it well. Golf’s handicap system adjusts scores so that the average player can compete with the more advanced golfer.

Terminology - Golf has a language all its own. You need to learn the basics to understand the game better.

§  Ace – a hole in one shot.

§  Address – Position of one’s body taken just before the golfer hits the ball. “Addressing the ball” preparing to hit the ball.

§  Birdie – a score of 1 under par for a hole. (i.e. a score of 3 on a par 4 hole.)

§  Bogey – a score of 1 over par on a hole.

§  Bunker – sandtrap.

§  Cup – the hole you try to hit in, it holds the flag.

§  Divot – a piece of ground that is taken up by the club after hitting the ball. A good golfer ALWAYS replaces his divots and tamps them back down so they will grow back again.

§  Double Bogey – a score of two over par for a hole.

§  Double Eagle – three under par for a hole.

§  Drive – This is your tee shot. Long and high.

§  Driver – This club is known as the 1 wood. It is usually the club that hits the ball the fartherst.

§  Eagle – a score of 2 under par for a hole.

§  Fairway – this is the area of the golf course, which lies directly between the tee box and the green.

§  Fore – this is the term yelled when one hits a shot toward another player to alert them.

§  Green – this is the putting surface around the flag/hole/cup.

§  Hazard – any sand trap, lake, pond, bunker, etc. that may cause problems on the course.

§  Hole-in-one – same as Ace.

§  Par – the number of strokes that is recommended to take to complete a hole.

§  Playing through – the process of slower players letting faster players play past them.

Golf Rules

The fundamental rule of golf is that once you strike the ball from the tee, you do not touch it until you lift it out of the cup. Except to strike it with the club. If it is impossible to strike the ball, there are rules to govern the situation.

The elementary rules are not difficult. As you continue playing golf, you will learn more rules as situations of play arise.

1.  To start each hole, you tee your ball between the tee markers, or within an area two club lengths back of them.

2.  You play from the tee according to Honor. On the first tee you decide by lot who will play first. After the first tee, the person with the lowest score on the previous hole has the honor, that is, the privilege of playing first.

3.  After teeing off, the ball farthest from the cup is played first.

4.  You play the ball as it lies on the grass or in the sand, unless certain rules (winter rules) allow you to move the ball.

5.  If your ball lies near such obstructions as ball washers, sprinklers, and hoses you may move the ball without penalty.

6.  You may not press down the ground near your ball, or break or bend anything fixed or growing.

7.  If loose impediments, such as fallen leaves or twigs, interfere with your play, you move them, except in a hazard.

8.  When you play from a hazard, you cannot touch the surface of the hazard (sand trap) before you take your swing to hit the ball.

9.  If your ball goes into a water hazard and you cannot play it, you add a penalty stroke for the hole. You start again by dropping a ball any distance back of the hazard toward the tee.

10.  If your ball goes beyond the limits of the course, OUT OF BOUNDS, you must shoot another ball from the spot where you played the previous one, and add a penalty stroke for the hole (2 penalty strokes).

11.  The penalty for a lost ball and an unplayable ball is the same as the penalty for hitting a ball out of bounds.

12.  If your ball comes to rest on the wrong putting green, you must lift it from the green. Drop it off the green not nearer the cup you are playing for.

Golf Etiquette

Golf is usually played by four people called a foursome. There will be many foursomes on a golf course at one time. Playing is more enjoyable and safe, if all of these golfers follow rules of etiquette. Your observance of these rules simply shows consideration for other players on the course.

1.  Learn the rules of golf and abide by them.

2.  When a golfer is making a shot, stand quietly away and ahead of him/her. Golf requires concentration, so do nothing that will disturb the player.

3.  Wait until the players in front of you are out of range before playing your stroke. (They must hit their second shot and walk to it.)

4.  When you have finished playing a hole, replace the flag, in the cup and leave the green immediately. Mark your scores on the card at the next tee.

5.  If you dig any turf, a divot, replace it and press it down with your foot.

6.  Be careful how you walk on the putting green so as not to mar the surface in any way. Never walk or stand near the cup.

7.  After you have made a stroke in the sand trap, smooth out all marks made in the trap.

8.  If a member of your group is looking for a ball, help him in his search. If you are delaying the players behind you, signal them to pass. Wait until they are out of range before continuing with your play.

9.  Play without delay. If you are a beginner, and players behind play faster, invite them to play through.

Trajectory of ball hit with different clubs. The lower the (#) number, the farther the ball should travel; the higher the number, the higher and closer the ball should travel.