Golf is a Popular Game for People of all Ages. Part 2.

In the beginning of the game of golf, players would play with cut branches from trees, however through time golf club has been changed completely. Under the rules of golf maximum of 14 clubs is allowed. The actual length of each club depends on the distance the club will shoot the ball. Woods, the longest clubs, are used for long-distance fairway or tee strikes. The biggest wood is called the driver.

Next shorter in length are the irons, the most universal class, designed for a wide diversity of shots. They are used during the middle of each hole off the roughs, fairways or sand traps. Wedges are used for a various short-distance high accurate strokes, so-called "lay-up" shots. Last but not least, putters are designed directly to roll the ball across the green into the cup.

Each participant endeavors to reach the green and strike the ball into the cup using as few strokes as possible. After finishing 18 holes, the player with the lowest number of strokes becomes the winner.

Only recently the countries with most golf courses were: England, Scotland, Australia, Canada, the United States and Sweden. But nowadays there are fast expanding the game in new territories. The most obvious example is China, where the first golf course was set up in 1984, but by the end of 2009 there were above 600 in the country.

The sport that has so many millions of devoted participants and over 30 000 courses worldwide, must have something attractive. So, why golf is such a popular sport around the world?

Golf is a great activity for people of all ages as it joins fitness, skill, fun, being outdoors and the social aspects of the game as well.

Whether you are a kid, or if you have just retired and want something to fill your leisure, then golf may be the sport for you. Golf is unique game that gives an opportunity for older players. There are some senior tours for men above 50. Also, there is a special "executive" golf course designed for beginner or older participants. Golf is available to people of all levels of fitness. In fact, golf in itself will aid you to keep fit, particularly in later years.

Golf assists you to escape from routine of modern urban life providing you a temporary return to rural surroundings with fresh air and pleasant scenery.

Finally, golf is a very social sport as it allows conversation among the participants with different backgrounds. Also, you can relax with friends while playing. What is more, the game becomes popular in business circles, where negotiations often are conducted in more relaxed surroundings.

Golf is a Popular Game for People of all Ages. Part 1.

The golf was known in England and in France in the Middle Ages. Despite no being the origin of the sport, Scotland is called the "home of golf", where the official first club golf course, St. Andrews, was open four centuries ago. Afterwards, in 1744, the rules of golf were officially documented and the game started to get wide popularity.

Nowadays golf is very popular outdoor game in which players hit a small hard ball with specially designed clubs which gave the name of the game as club in German means "kolbe". The aim of the game is to hit a ball with a club so that the ball goes into a cup that is sunk in the ground and marked with a flag. By using many types of clubs players attempt to hit balls into each hole on a golf course with the lowest number of strokes.

Golf is one of few games that do not require a standardized playing area. The game is played on golf courses, each of which characterizes a unique design. A standard golf course consists of 18 holes, each with teeing ground, grass fairway, rough and other hazards, and a putting green, a smooth grass surface with a flagstick (pin) and cup, all designed for golf. A hole is classified by its par; the number of strokes a golfer should require striking ball in the hole.

The teeing ground or tee-box is the area at the beginning of a hole from which the player's first stroke is made. After the first shot from the tee (teeing off), the player hits the ball from where it came to rest toward the green.

The area between the tee box and the putting green where the grass is cut short is called the fairway and is the most advantageous area to hit. The area between the fairway and the out-of-bounds markers and also between the fairway and green is the rough, the grass of which is cut higher than that of the fairway.

Putting green is an area of closely mown grass at the end of a fairway where the hole is located. The grass of the putting green is cut very short so that a ball can roll long distances. The quality of grass impacts the roll of the ball. The different levels of grass are varied to increase difficulty, or to allow for putting on the green. Obstacles or hazards such as water, tall grass called rough, or traps filled with sand may be located near green or fairway.