Have you ever told your boss or colleagues a fib that you can play golf and then found yourself signed up to the corporate golf day? Not to be the voice of doom, but you are in for a world of pain! There are many things in life you might be able to blag your way through, but being able to play golf is not one of them. Here’s why…
Golf Is Hard
Proper hard, truly difficult, and incredibly frustrating. Stand a fraction too far from the ball = bad shot, stand too close = bad shot, stand up or squat down during the swing = bad shot, grip slightly out = bad shot. This list could go on until the end of time. Even the most experienced golfers mess up regularly, but you will definitely struggle to hit the ball on the course as a complete beginner.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
How Many Rules?
There are 25 Rules of Golf to be exact and under each rule are many sub points that make them read like a legal document. Golf is a game of integrity and with the exception of professional tournaments there are no referees, you are trusted and expected to follow the rules. Golf is one of the few sports where if you feel you have broken a rule you should self declare it.
It’s a lot to take in, but knowing the basics can make all the difference to ensure you play fairly, demonstrating respect to your playing partners and most importantly of all, respect for the game.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly – Kevin Murray)
Etiquette
The definition of the word etiquette in the Oxford dictionary is: the customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group. The rules are to be followed, etiquette is the code of behaviour to be adhered to while playing.
There is no bigger give away that someone doesn’t have a clue what they are doing when they don’t know their golfing etiquette. There are so many discreet behaviours that are learned in the early days: being quiet and standing still when someone else is hitting, not standing too close, replacing divots, repairing pitch marks, pace of play, behaviour on the green…It’s not something that can be learned in a book, you have to have played, then when you know, you know.
The Lingo
Like most sports, golf has its own language and names for things. A golf course may just look like grass, but with its differing lengths, each part has a unique name. The scoring is not just numbers, and if you don’t know how to score properly, prepare for some strange looks. Hit a bad shot, that particular bad shot will…
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