The aim of golf is simple: hit a small ball into a hole with the fewest
possible shots, 18 times.
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Unlike other sports, a golfer's real enemy is never his or her opponent but
him/herself and more importantly, his or her surroundings.
That is one reason why the game has managed to keep a sense of sportsmanship
at its heart - because even at the highest level golfers are united in their
battle against the course as much as each other.
If you're new to the sport, either as a player or spectator, our guide to the
basics will provide an insight into what it's all about.
THE COURSE
A standard golf course is made up of 18 holes.
That is just about the only thing all golf courses have in common.
The first shot on each hole is played from a teeing area (known as a tee)
with the ball usually being placed on a plastic or wooden peg (also known as a
tee).
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The rest of the hole consists of a mixture of long grass called rough or a
closely-mown stretch of grass known as the fairway which leads to the green,
where the hole is.
As well as rough, there may be other hazards to contend with such as bunkers
and streams.
A flagstick sits in the hole to show the target - usually with yellow flags
on the first nine holes and red on the second nine.
Most courses are around 6,000 yards long and take between three and four
hours to play 18 holes, which involves walking about five miles.
SCORING
In basic terms your score on a golf course is made up of the number of shots
you take, plus any penalties you may incur.
So if you take 90 shots to go around a course and your friend takes 92, you
are the winner.
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Scoring centres around the "par" for the course.
This is the number of shots that it takes a top golfer to go around, usually
between 70 and 72.
And each hole has a par according to its length and difficulty. A par-three
hole lets you have three shots.
Let's say you score 92 on a par 72 course. Your score will be 20 over par.
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Similarly if you score five on a par-four hole, you will be one over par for
the hole.
In addition golf allows you to play against better players by giving you
extra shots, almost like a head start.
This is called handicapping.
RULES
There are many rules that apply to golf but unlike many other sports, unless
it is a tournament, there is no need for a referee or umpire.
Players must know the rules themselves, be honest about the number of shots
they take and play the ball as it lies.
Moving or interfering with the ball is a big no-no, although there are some
exceptions.
If you lose your ball or hit it in a lake then you will have to add strokes
to your score before you can play on.
But generally common sense prevails.
ETIQUETTE
The great American golfer Bobby Jones said: "In golf, the customs and
etiquette and decorum are as important as the rules of play."
The host of dos and don'ts can seem petty, especially at the more elitist
clubs.
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But this code of conduct has allowed golf to retain its sporting values
despite becoming a multi-million pound global industry.
At its heart are two principles - respect for the course and respect for
fellow golfers.
Examples include not talking during a player's swing, not walking on the line
of their putt on the green, raking bunkers, repairing pitch marks and replacing
divots.
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