The focus of this category is on golf, an outdoor game typically played on a large course with a small, hard ball and a set of clubs, the object being to hit the ball into each of a series of nine or eighteen holes in turn, using the fewest possible strokes.
The game of golf is steeped in tradition, history, and strategic finesse. Its appeal lies in a unique blend of physical skill, mental focus, and the tranquil beauty of its landscapes.
The origins of the game go back centuries, with its precise beginnings still debatable. While games involving hitting balls with sticks existed in ancient societies, modern golf is believed to have emerged in Scotland during the 15th century. The term "golf" is thought to be derived from the old Scots word gouf, meaning "club."
In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned golf, considering it a distraction from archery practice. Despite the prohibition, golf gained popularity among the Scots and evolved into the sport we know today. The establishment of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in 1754 was a turning point in codifying the rules and standards of the game. By the 19th century, golf had spread globally, becoming a symbol of leisure and prestige.
A typical golf course spans 18 holes, although 9-hole courses are common. Each hole is designed with a unique layout, incorporating natural and artificial elements. Courses usually consist of tee boxes, fairways, roughs, hazards, and greens. Golf course architecture is a sophisticated discipline, blending aesthetics with strategic challenges. Designers often integrate elevation changes, doglegs, and varying distances to create an engaging experience for players.
The rules of golf, governed primarily by the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), emphasize fairness and precision. Key regulations include playing the ball as it lies, avoiding interference with natural elements of the course, and penalty strokes for rule infractions like hitting into hazards or out-of-bounds. Etiquette is equally important in golf.
Golf is a leisurely pastime and a fiercely competitive sport. Recreational golf allows golfers to enjoy the game in a relaxed, informal setting. It prioritizes fun, camaraderie, and personal challenge over stringent adherence to rules or scoring, although serious golfers generally maintain these whether playing recreationally or competitively. However, many recreational golfers play in friendly groups, and the focus often includes taking in the serene environment of the course.
Competitive golf, on the other hand, demands strict compliance with rules, keen focus, and consistent performance. Whether amateur or professional, tournaments involve players striving to achieve their best scores under pressure. Competitive play requires mental resilience and strategic decision-making.
Professional golf operates at varying levels, catering to players of all skill sets. Major organizations include the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Champions Tour. Major tournaments, such as The Masters, The Open Championships, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship, represent the pinnacle of professional competition. Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup events add team-based excitement to the individualistic nature of the sport.
The essential equipment in golf includes clubs (drivers, irons, wedges, and putters), balls, and tees. Golfers will likely also have golf bags, gloves, and attire suited to the demands of the course or event.
Golf clubs have evolved significantly over the years. Modern clubs are likely to incorporate advanced materials like titanium and carbon fiber.
Golf is played by hitting a ball from the tee box into the hole on the green, using the fewest strokes possible. Scoring is based on the number of strokes, with terms like "par," "birdie," "bogey," and "eagle" indicating performance relative to the expected number of strokes for each hole.
Golf includes a handicap system that allows players of various skill levels to compete equitably. A handicap index reflects a player's average performance, enabling adjustments to scoring based on the course's difficulty.
Topics related to golf or golfing are appropriate resources for this category.
Recommended Resources
Bay Point Golf Club is a renowned golf destination located in Panama City Beach, Florida. Situated within a 1,100-acre wildlife sanctuary, it features the only Nicklaus Design golf course in Northwest Florida. The championship course offers over 7,100 yards of lush fairways, unique elevation changes, and stunning views of the Grand Lagoon and St. Andrews Bay. The address, a map showing its location, a telephone number, and online bookings of tee times are available.
https://www.baypointgolfclub.com/
The premier golfing destination in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, spans 290 acres and features natural wetlands, wooded areas, river frontage, and lakes. Its course offers 18 challenging holes designed by Jerry Matthews, with sculpted tee boxes, fairways, and sand bunkers. The club also includes the Quarry Grill for dining, a pro shop, and overnight accommodations. Its golfing facilities, stay and play packages, upcoming events, and accommodations are highlighted.
https://www.bucksrun.com/
Created in 1995, Cybergolf provides technology solutions designed specifically for the golf industry. Their services include a comprehensive point-of-sale (POS) system, responsive website design for golf courses, email marketing, search engine optimization, e-commerce solutions, and other services, which are featured here, including a portfolio of web design samples. Prospective customers may schedule a demo through the site, as well as contact the company or pay bills.
https://www.cybergolf.com/
Eastlyn Golf Course & The Greenview Inn
Eastlyn Golf Course & The Greenview, located in Vineland, New Jersey, blends a unique golf and event venue with nature. Its meticulously manicured fairways and greens are interspersed amid 119 acres of rich nature preserve. While playing from its 3,500-yard back tees or 3,100-yard red tees, you can catch a glimpse of the local wildlife, including birds, fish, deer, and even snapping turtles. Golf memberships and fees are highlighted, with information on hosting a tournament.
https://eastlyngolf.com/
Branded as Golf Canada, the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada. Founded in 1895, shortly after the first golfing associations were formed in Ireland and Britain, the organization is headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. The website features game formats, leagues, and established courses, along with membership information and resources, competitions, rules and handicapping, participation, and high-performance play..
https://www.golfcanada.ca/
Published by Warner Brothers Discovery through its TNT Sports Unit, Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. The magazine also produces a biennial ranking of the world's best golf courses. Readers can subscribe to print or digital versions of the publication, which includes instructional information, commentary, reviews of golf equipment, courses, information about instructor certifications, and videos.
https://www.golfdigest.com/
Run by avid golfers, the name Golf Geeks tells you everything you need to know. We sell premium second hand golf clubs, perfect for amateur golfers and semi professionals alike, you're guaranteed to find the perfect used golf clubs for you. Our aim is to drive your passion for golf, and having the right clubs for your game is vital. We pride ourselves on our honest and transparent pricing, it's the only fairway! Buy high quality secondhand golf clubs today from the sport's leading brands.
https://golfgeeks.co.uk/
Provides the latest news and useful information to golfers of all abilities. Since 1995, this database has contained golf tips and videos, instruction articles, travel information, and reviews of golfing products and equipment. The website also provides the most comprehensive coverage of golf courses and golf resorts. Golfers can find and book tee times in the United States, and they may be filtered by location, date, number of golfers, number of holes, price range, and start time range.
http://www.golflink.com
First published in 1959, the monthly golf magazine was one of the first special interest magazines of its kind. Currently owned by EB Golf Media (8AM Golf), the magazine is intended for golfers of all skill levels. Among its features are instruction from the top 100 teachers in America, interviews with famous golfers, tips on the best values for golf courses to go to on vacation, an annual club test, and a shopping page. Its membership program, benefits, features, and costs are defined.
https://golf.com/
For more than twenty years, Golf Tips Magazine has been online, offering resources for golfers of all ages and ability levels. Its goal is to empower readers to improve their game. Resources include a buyer's guide, editor's picks and reviews, equipment, golf apparel, golf news, golf instruction, strategy and troubleshooting, technology, and information about golf tours, competitions, and other events. Premium subscribers are offered additional resources, with three levels.
https://golftipsmag.com/
Part of the GRV Media Group, the Golfing Gazette is part of an independent network of sports websites. The platform provides golf news, updates, and opinions, covering various aspects of golf, including PGA, LPGA, and LIV players, major tournaments like the Masters and the Open Championships, and innovative leagues like TGL. Its features, PGA players, LIV players, LPGA players, and golf tips are included, along with links to YouTube podcasts by prominent golfers.
https://www.thegolfinggazette.com/
GolfWRX is a popular online community and resource for golf enthusiasts. It offers forums, equipment reviews, instructional content, and news about golfing. Whether someone is looking for advice on improving their swing, insights into the latest golf gear, or to connect with fellow golfers, GolfWRX has something for them. Several golf-related forums are available; access is free, but registration is required to participate in discussions. A classified section is also available.
https://www.golfwrx.com/
Ladies Professional Golf Association
The LPGA is an American organization for female golfers. Headquartered at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, the LPGA is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers from around the world. Leaderboard schedules, athletes, statistics, news and video, the Race to CME Globe, and other programs of the LPGA are set forth, and an online shopping area includes branded apparel and other merchandise.
https://www.lpga.com/
Covering golf in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, the publication offers coverage of golf in the Midwestern United States. It features articles on golf news, profiles of personalities, tournament coverage, destination features, and the latest equipment updates. The magazine is published quarterly and distributed at Midwest golf shows, courses, resorts, and other venues, and a digital version is available for online readers.
https://www.midwestgolfingmagazine.com/
Stylized PGA TOUR, the organization conducts professional golf tours in North America, the majority of them on the flagship annual series of tournaments known as the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, the Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour Americas. Initially established by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, it was spun off as an independent organization in 1968. Schedules, signature events, players, statistics, a sponsored fantasy game, and online viewing are set forth.
https://www.pgatour.com/
Professional Golfers' Association of America
The PGA of America is an American organization of golf professionals founded in 1916. The organization initially sponsored the PGA Tour, although it was spun off from the PGA of America as a separate organization to administer professional golf tours in 1968, although the PGA of America still directly conducts several tournaments, including the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, and the Women's PGA Championship, which are featured here, along with its other programs.
https://www.pga.com/
United States Golf Association
The USGA is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs, and facilities, as well as the governing body of golf for the United States and Mexico. Together with the R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules of golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system for golfers, conducts fourteen national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open, and tests golf equipment for conformity with regulations. Ticket sales are available.
https://www.usga.org/
USGA Golf Handicap Information Network
The GHIN website can be used to access the USGA's Golf Handicap Information Network, which offers tools for managing golf handicaps and posting scores. In addition to score posting and maintaining a Handicap Index, the GHIN application offers statistics tracking, GPS and course maps for thousands of courses worldwide. By upgrading to Enhanced GPS, users can access additional features, including putt break maps, approach shot heat maps, shot tracking, and others.
https://www.ghin.com/
