History of

• The game of golf was invented in Scotland sometime around the middle of the 15th century. The idea was simple: Take a club and swing it at a ball and drive it toward a hole. Count the number of strokes it took to get in the hole and then pick up the ball and move on to the next hole. The game grew in fits and start for its first 300 years. Scots continued to play it, but the ruling royalty issued several bans along the way because the game took away much of the vital area that was needed by Scot archers. Those bans were difficult to enforce since there were so many that seemed to enjoy it. Finally, in 1744, the first rules of the game were written in Edinburgh and the game eventually expanded across Europe and then around the world.
  The name golf tells us that while the Scots were the ones who popularized the game, they may have gotten help in the invention of the game from the Dutch. The two were trading partners in the 15th century and the Dutch played many games involving sticks and balls. They had a game called "kolf" which translates into club, the instrument used to propel the ball. The Dutch game was all about hitting the ball from one point on an open field to another; the Scots clearly improved matters by digging a hole and making sure the ball went in it.
  
  

Benefits

• Whether golf is truly a sport or whether it is merely a game can be up for debate, but it has many benefits. Some of them are physical because a player who walks a 6,500 to 7,000-yard course is getting exercise that he wouldn't be getting elsewhere. The golfer is also out in nature and enjoying several hours of play. This should have a soothing effect on most participants. The game also brings out the competitive instincts in many individuals who otherwise wouldn't have a chance to complete. This applies to many golfers who may have been competitive athletes in their teens and early 20s but no longer have the opportunity to compete athletically in sports like football, basketball, baseball or soccer. Many find the game mentally challenging as well. It's one thing to hit a golf ball from the tee to the fairway to the green and then sink a putt. That's a fairly simple premise that most golfers would like to follow on a hole-by-hole basis. But what happens when a golfer hits a shot that grows askew? The golfer needs to get creative and perhaps inventive about the kind of shot he will hit to get out of trouble. This type of creativity shows that a golfer can think on his feet and this can translate to other areas of his life as well.
  
  

Misconceptions

• The biggest misconception about golf is that it is a game for the very rich and elite among us. There is no question that there are many well-to-do people willing to pay large amounts of money to country clubs that offer them fine dining, great lounging facilities, a social life and a beautiful venue to play golf. But it's also true that there are many "public" golf courses that require nothing more than a fee to play a round of golf. Some of these public courses are among the most challenging and picturesque in the nation. Playing a round at a public course can cost between $15 and $150 per round, depending on where the course is located and its popularity. Typically, a round of golf will cost a golfer about $30 for greens fees (the cost of play) and a cart to negotiate the 18 holes. In the United States, there are more than 16,000 golf courses and more than two-thirds of them are open to the public.
  
  

Time Frame

• Golf is a game that requires a serious time commitment over the course of a day, a year and perhaps a lifetime. A full 18-hole round of golf can take 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours of time. That is clearly a large portion of any day. However, it is not enough. If a golfer wants to improve as she plays the game, she must commit time to practice and then play additional rounds. Most golfers believe that at least 2 to 3 rounds of golf per week in addition to practice are needed in order to make significant improvement. Some golfers may not be interested in shooting even par--considered a great score for amateurs--and are merely satisfied to be outside on a beautiful day. Those players don't have to play three times a week. But if a golfer wants to get better at her chosen sport, she needs to practice and play regularly.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Golf is played with a variety of clubs that are designed to hit the ball varying distances with many different styles. A golfer will use a driver (also known as a No. 1 wood) off the tee of a par 4 or par 5 hole to get the most distance. However, that club ensures the least accuracy, so another golfer might choose another club that provides less distance but more accuracy (perhaps a 5 wood). Learning and understanding the nuances of each club is each player's responsibility as he plays more golf. Learning these differences makes almost any regular player an expert. Experience is a great teacher. Many players want to get out on the course and rip long drives off the tee so they swing as hard as they can to manufacture a tremendous shot. However, the harder one swings the more likely a mistake will be made. Expert golfers know that the key to hitting the ball well is a consistent swing that is reasonably paced. You don't have to hit it hard to make it go far. The key to distance is clubhead speed at impact with the ball and tensing up one's muscles in order to hit the ball a long way will often create the opposite result. Relax and employ a smooth swing to get better distance. No matter how well any golfer hits the ball, the key to scoring is the play around the green. A player uses shorter clubs like a 9-iron or a pitching wedge to put the ball close to the hole when off the green and then a putter to put the ball in the hole when on the green. Pitches and putts are often delicate strokes that are quite difficult to master. However, spending time at the driving range and the practice putting green can turn any average golfer into a good one.