So, you want to be the next Michelle Wie or Tiger Woods? Well, what lover of the game of golf doesn’t? Golf is a great sport, and those who play love it, and, at times hate it! For while the joy of sinking the ball at par is one you will want to repeat, there are times when you wonder why you took up the sport at all. ? If you are just starting to play, you will want to know the basics of the game and some recommendations on how to get off on the right foot.

The game of golf is played on a very large, well maintained grassy area known as a golf course. The course is a playing field with either nine or eighteen holes. Each player uses equipment which consists of a set of playing clubs, balls, shoes, tees, and a golf bag to contain the equipment. Using one of the clubs, each player attempts to hit a golf ball into successive holes which are located on the course, by using a club called a wood, an iron, or a putter.

Each player starts at an area called a tee. He or she places a wooden peg, also called a tee, straight into the ground and then places a golf ball on top of it. The player swings the club and hits the ball. Each player’s goal is to get the ball into the first hole on the course. After the first player’s turn, the rest of the players take their turn. The player who had the lowest score on the last hole (or, took the least number of strokes to get their ball into the hole) usually starts playing the next hole first. Your score is kept by counting how many strokes it takes to hit the ball into every hole. The least number of strokes wins the game.

It’s hard enough to hit a small white ball into a faraway hole, but there are also things called hazards along the way. There are bodies of water, trees, bushes, sand traps, and roughs. When your ball is in a hazard, you may not touch the ground or the water with your club. You can choose not to play your golf ball, but you must add a penalty stroke to your total score, if so. Then, you move the ball back to the place from where you originally shot it.

There is one basic type of stance for hitting the ball. Standing with their feet slightly apart and their knees slightly bent, the player holds their club with both hands, one above the other. Turning their body at the waist, the player swings the club back and then forward toward the ball. A good shot travels the greatest distance and toward the hole!

In golf, practice makes perfect, and lessons are highly recommended for those just starting out. Golf lessons from a professional instructor can build the fundamentals of your game and get you started right. Welcome to the game of golf, and have fun!