| Golf is a genteel sport that has become a global | | | | Scottish invention, and has been played in British Isles |
| passion, especially in the business world. Golf trophies | | | | for centuries. It has also its origins in the Netherlands |
| carry the reward of instant fame and fortune. Golf | | | | in the seventeenth century, where golf clubs were |
| tours of certain regions are avidly followed by fans | | | | used to play balls into holes. The term golf is evolved |
| worldwide, and toughly contested for. Legends like | | | | from the Germanic word for club. The oldest course |
| Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have captured | | | | in the world is the Old Links at Musselburgh, where |
| international attention.Golf is a game where individuals | | | | the game has been played since 1672. The links at St. |
| or teams hit a ball into a hole using several clubs. It | | | | Andrews occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. |
| involves manipulating the ball with a club from the | | | | Golfers on that course established a customary route |
| teeing ground to the hole with a series of strokes, | | | | through that terrain playing holes suited to the |
| according to certain rules. Golf is played on a tract of | | | | topography.Golf is viewed as an elite pastime but is |
| land called a course, which consists of a series of | | | | attracting more players from all backgrounds. In the |
| holes. A hole represents the distance between the | | | | U.S., golf is the unofficial game of the business world, |
| tee (the starting point) and the green (where the | | | | so much so that business schools train students in |
| actual hole is). Most golf courses have 9 or 18 holes. | | | | golf. In 2005, Golf Digest found that there were |
| Experienced players take fewer strokes to | | | | nearly 32,000 golf courses in the world, with half of |
| manipulate balls into the holes. Courses also have | | | | them in the U.S.A. Some other golf-loving countries |
| impediments like bunkers, sand traps and water | | | | include Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, |
| hazards (like rivers or streams).Par is the theoretical | | | | Canada and Sweden. Japan and South Korea are |
| number of strokes which an expert golfer needs to | | | | catching up.Golf is a major professional sport with |
| get his ball into any particular hole. Every game of | | | | many coveted tours and trophies. There are at least |
| golf is based on playing a number of holes in a given | | | | 20 professional tours, each run by a PGA or an |
| order. The two major forms of playing golf are | | | | independent tour organization responsible for |
| match play and stroke play.Golf is regarded as a | | | | organizing the tournament. |