Golf – the game

Preparation

Arrive early enough to warm up properly and work your way through the short-, mid- and long irons and ending with the woods. Hit a few soft wedge shots, head for the practice green and do some putting but never hit so many balls that your game is left on the practice tee.

Read the local rules, which only apply on the specific course you’re playing on, on the scorecard.

Are you playing a match? Ensure all-round comfort with the stakes. Also mark your ball and inform all involved about the type/number ball you are playing. Ensure your group is keeping up with the group ahead of you. Walk fast enough between shots and plan ahead on your following shot keeping in mind the lie of your ball and the wind strength/direction.

Visualize your swing plus shot before playing. Select your club and hit within 40 seconds. Or let another player play until you feel ready.

Caddies
Young people can earn money and learn a great sport by becoming caddies. Support them and get one! Experienced caddies ca also benefit you as they can give score-lowering hints, give advice on club selection and yardage, reading the course layout and the greens.

The Course
The course needs every player to be considerate, so replace your divots. If this is difficult, kick the turf around the divot’s edges or, where possible, fill it with provided soil mix. See South African courses...

Always enter a bunker from the low side nearest your ball and bring a rake into the bunker to remove footprints and hitting marks. Leave the rake near/in the bunker.

On the green you should never step on other players putting lines and if your ball is in on such a line, mark the ball. Stand only where you won’t be a distraction to other players, don’t move and don’t make off-putting noises. If you’re asked to hold the flagstick, do so at arm’s length and stand so that your shadow falls away from the hold/line. Remove the stick directly after the hit.

Original and Provisional balls.
So your crazy tee shot got your ball in the woods and you suspect you’ll never see it again? You have five minutes to find the ball after which you have to declare it lost and play your provisional ball with a 1-stroke penalty.

If the original ball is found after this provisional play, you have to play the original ball again. In-bounds.

Types of Shots
All shots will differ but most shots fall, due to purpose and distance, into the following categories:

Drives are long-distance shots which you will play form the fairway or tee towards the green.
Approach shots are made with the plan of putting the ball on the green as a 2nd or 3rd shot played with a shorter-range iron club.

Putts are for rolling the ball on the ground by means of a putter. Lags are long putts intended to move the ball across the putting green for easier short putts towards the cup.

Chip Shots are short lofted shots, usually with abbreviated swings, to get the ball out of sand for example or reposition the ball on the fairway. A run or bump is a variation of the chip shot.

Punches or Knockdown Shots are low-loft shots for different distances for hitting into wind that raises the ball’s climb for example.

Lay-up Shots are similar to drive shots but are intended for greater accuracy and are meant to be ‘safe’ shots.

Flop Shots are high shots for getting balls over obstacles or to stop balls almost instantly when hitting the ground.

Draws shape/curve shots from right to left.

Fades are for curving shots from left to right.

Topped shots result due to the club head striking the all too high and the ball flies very low.

Shanks result due to the club striking the ball close to the join between the shaft of the club and club head. The ball then flies sharply to the left or right.

Duffed shots occur when the club head strikes the ground behind the ball instead of the ball.

Bladed Shots occur due to lifting ones head and hitting the ball in the centre, resulting in undesired lift/spin.

Safety
Never hit when there’s a chance you may be near enough for your ball to cause harm to anyone or anything. If unsure, yell before hitting and/or apologise if your ball lands near the group ahead.

Get informed on Rules of Golf. For information on the Official Rules, see www.usga.org/home/index.html

Rage on the golf course is NOT acceptable.

Etiquette
Always offer to pay for refreshments at the turn – and buy drinks for all including the caddies.

End the game by shaking hands with your co-players and congratulate the winners. The idea behind golf is to have great enjoyment out of a great sport and sharing this enjoyment with friends.

Major Championships:

Men’s Most Prestigious Tournaments include The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (or as known in N America, the British Open) and PGA Championship.
Women’s Most Prestigious Tournaments include Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the U.S Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open.
The Senior Most Prestigious Tournaments include Senior PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open, the Senior British Open, The Tradition and the Senior Players Championship.

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