The Popularity of Golf

by Phoenix A. Desertsong, Staff Writer, Healer & Advocate

Photo by tyler hendy from Pexels

Over the past fifty years, the popularity of golf has grown dramatically. The game of golf has created legends like Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods. Golf is also responsible for the beautiful courses at Augusta, Pinehurst, and Doral’s Blue Monster. So, what has made golf become so popular?

One of the major benefits to playing golf is simply being outside. Playing golf allows you a full body workout, so it’s actually very good for your health. Of course, golf is also known for its slow pace, which is actually a plus when networking with business colleagues or good friends. The leisurely pace is actually a plus for lovers of the game.

Also, golf is a game that you can never quite perfect, so there’s always something new to get a little better at. Over time, you can watch the improvements on your scorecard. The drive to get a little better at each and every aspect of the game is what keeps golfers playing for decades.


I Don’t Know a Thing About Golf!

That’s OK! Here’s the basics of golf.

The game of golf is player on an 18-hole course. Each hole is assigned a number called a “par.” The par is the number of tee shots that it should take to put the golf ball in the hole by a professional golfer. This number is decided based on the difficulty and length of each hole. A typical par ranges from 3 to 6.

In golf, the fewer shots, the better. The object of the game is to at least “make par.” We’ll get into the specifics of scoring in a bit.


Types of Golf Shots

There are many different types of golf shots. There are tee shots, also known as drives, which happen at the beginning of the hole. There are fairway shots, which are shots made from the fairway towards the green, where the hole is.

As you approach the green, you make short shots known as chips. Finally, when you’re on the green, you make shorter shots known as putts. For each kind of shot, there are different golf clubs that you use. Knowing which clubs to use in certain situations, and making the right shots, is the entire challenge of the game of golf.


Golf Course Hazards

Each hole on a golf course has its own unique hazards. Golf course hazards can include sand traps, bodies of water, and trees. These hazards are all strategically placed by the golf course designers to serve as a challenge on each given hole. It’s recommended that beginner golfers choose courses to play that have fewer hazards.


How to Score in Golf

On the scorecard, you actually want as low a score as possible. That means if you get the ball into the hole in six shots on a par six course, you’ve been successful on that hole. If you get the ball in one less shot than par, such as five shots on a par six hole, you get a birdie, which is a plus one on your score card.

But, if you get the ball in the hole in seven shots on a par six hole, you get what’s called a “bogie” or a +1 on the scorecard. That’s right. Golf is a game where you actually want a low score.

Most amateur golfers get plenty of “bogies,” but that’s OK. After all, most golf courses are created with experienced golfers in mind. But pro golfers are known to score a good number of birdies on many courses. Some golfers even get “eagles” or two shots below par, on some holes. The rarest scores are known as the “albatross,” which is three shots below par, and the legendary hole-in-one. The albatross is extremely rare and a hole-in-one is far, far rarer.

In golf, each player keeps their own score. It’s as simple as marking down the number of total number of shots taken at each hole. At the end of the course, each player adds up their scores from each hole. The lowest number among the players is the winner....


It’s OK to Fail Badly as a Beginner Golfer

If you want to take up golf, it’s very important that you don’t take yourself too seriously as a beginner golfer. It’s a very difficult game to pick up and play well. While the pro golfers make it look extremely easy, it’s really not. The game of golf is different for each person, and it’s discovering what makes you feel comfortable and fairly successful at the game that makes golf such a popular sport.

Taking beginner golf lessons is a good idea. These lessons will help you develop your golf swing, which is a little different for everyone. While no one ever truly perfects a golf swing, getting into a good swing early on certainly a plus for your future success at playing golf.

Of course, remember that golf is just a game. It can get extremely competitive for a sport with such a leisurely pace, though. Just remember to enjoy the outdoors and the company of your fellow golfers.