The sport of golf has really boomed in public awareness over the last 45 years. It has produced fantastic world-champions such as Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods and world-renowned courses like St. Andrews, Sunningdale, Pinehurst ans Augusta.
Why should playing golf have taken off like that? I think it has to be because by playing golf you are being active outdoors with friends or colleagues competing in a leisurely game that you can never perfect.
Your achievements are tallied on your scorecard for all time and the desire to improve your game can encourage you to play again and again.
This is the first lesson for the novice golfer who doesn't know anything about golfing.
Golf is played on an eighteen-hole course. Each hole has its own "par" (value), which is the combined number of tee shots (drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you approach the green), and putts (on the green) you should need to take.
This 'par' value is based on the length and difficulty of the hole in question. Pars range from three to six, so if you get the ball into the hole in four shots on a 'par four' hole, you made 'par'. However, if you took three shots, it's called a 'birdie' or five shots a 'bogie'.
'Hazards' or obstructions are usually placed before all the holes. Ponds, sand bunkers and trees are positioned in such a way as to make it more difficult to reach the green. Novice golfers should try to find a course with fewer hazards, which is therefore easier to play.
Players keep their own score of the total number of shots taken for each hole. After the eighteenth hole, they add up their scores and the one with the lowest is the winner.
It is important for beginner golfers to not take themselves too seriously. It takes a long time to get good at this game; even though the professionals make it look so easy.
A good tip is to get the basics right from the start by taking a few lessons from the course 'pro', because then you will learn the correct posture and swing.
