How Golf Works – Playing the Game

The First Shot

Golf. Just one word, but it can mean different things to different people, and summon up all sorts of thoughts and pictures.

Maybe to you, golf means a perfect summer’s day, with the greenest of green fairways rolled out in front of you. Trees on either side, to make things seem more intimate, but not close enough to be threatening, and somewhere in the distance, a small flag, fluttering joyfully on the lightest breeze.

Everything is just right, and our golfer has his latest driver, just purchased at discount prices from the pro shop, in his eager hands. The ball is teed up and ready to go. He looks the part too, with clothing that is immaculate and shoes that fit like a dream.

It’s time for the swing, time to prove that the extra time on the driving range and the chat with the professional has borne fruit. He knows what he has to do, and now, as the Spanish say when the matador and the bull stand face to face, it is the moment of truth.

The ball is sent on its way! Is it going right? No, not this time. But wait, it is, isn’t it? It’s going right, far right, and it’s not coming back either.

So naturally something must be blamed, his swing? Certainly not! The driver? The choice was naturally correct. The ball? No, same ones as that guy who’s just won the last tournament uses. It’s patently obvious where the fault lies - it’s that idiot who said something at the very instant that the ball was about to be hit, and the fact that he’s a long way away is neither here nor there.

But as his playing partners helpfully remind him, “It’s out of bounds over there, you know.”

Yes, he does know thank you very much, because he’s a golfer.

A Learner Golfer

Frustration and golf often go hand in hand, but then it was never meant to be easy. If it was easy, any idiot could do it.

Golf may be a simple enough game in theory, but then so is life. It’s just when golf is put into practice that things go wrong.

There are only three basic stances after all; closed, open, or square. But then there are three varieties of women as well: Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads; and every guy knows what trouble they can cause!

The closed stance (for right-handers) involves the left foot nearer to the desired line of flight than the right, and should draw or hook the ball.

The open stance is the opposite, here it’s the right foot that is in closest proximity to the line, and the ball will either fade or slice to the right.

Finally the square stance involves both feet equally apart from that theoretical line, and is best for all around play.

But it’s not as simple as that, because elbows come into it as well, and knees that must be bent the proper amount and at the proper angle. Then because of weight distribution there’s the placing of your heels to worry about. How much you should move your hips is also important, the shoulders mustn‘t be forgotten either, remember how high your club needs to move in the backswing; and the importance of hinging or `cocking’ your wrists to get that ball off on its’ proper trajectory cannot be denied.

Oh, and keep your head still.

Help

Luckily though, help is available. Lessons are everywhere; the golfer’s friends will have some advice, and golf can be watched on television, with commentators and the players’ interviews listened to. But extra help is also here from numerous books, websites, magazines, programs and video courses, as well as golf schools and the pros at the shop and driving range.

Whether all of this can be digested and put into effect is another matter, but never forget that the instructors know exactly what they’re talking about - which is why there are so many of them out there.

Two Kings of the Golfing Castle

Being able to hit a ball broadly where you want it to go is only the start of the enjoyment, and the complications, for now that play has begun, then the rules must be strictly adhered to.

The rules of golf are jointly decided by the USGA (United States Golf Association) who rule the roost in the United States and Mexico, and the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews) who say what’s what in over a hundred countries worldwide.

These two eminent governing bodies put their heads together every four years (the last time only recently in January 2004) and decide if any of the rules need to be altered at all. For most of the time they get on quite well, though this peaceful coexistence has not always been the case. Case in point is the fact that for the greater part of the last one hundred years, they were bickering over ball size. Not that such a subject should be joked about, and the wonderfully named `List of Conforming Golf Balls’ is now a more peaceful one.

And there are certainly an awful lot of rules to take in for any newcomer to the sport, dealing with everything from the use of acceptable equipment, to what to do in virtually every conceivable circumstance happening out on the course, short of a Martian invasion. For example; compasses are not allowed to be used during a round, but binoculars can be.

The breaking, or allegedly so, of these rules can be a serious affair indeed, even in local rounds between amateur members. It wasn’t that long ago, in England, that a court case erupted after an accusation of cheating on the golf course got overly heated.

Right and Proper

For golf is a game of gentlemen (and ladies) and before we take a glance at some rules, let us first consider what good manners and courtesy are expected out there on the course.

Because golf is evermore popular, more and more people want to play, which is good for the game overall, but not for those who dawdle and generally take an age to do the simplest of things. So thoughtful golfers should keep the play at a steady and reasonable pace and avoid `traffic jams’ of the disgruntled from building up behind them. `Playing through’ is a convenient option taken up on occasions when this looks like it's occurring. So that the speedsters can be merrily on their way, those of a more leisurely disposition often stand aside from their shots and let another group pass through without rancor.
Having said that, let those in front enjoy a fair time period to finish their shots before firing a few long irons off at them.
As already hinted at before, a golfer about to play a stroke tends to suddenly develop the hearing abilities that the average dog would be proud of, so no idle chit chat please as the cold sweat and furrows of concentration come out on the visage of the next to play.
Divots should be replaced, both out of consideration for other players, and because most greenkeepers (some of whom seem to object to any play on `their’ course as it is) should not be unnecessarily provoked.
Bunkers have rakes because they are to be used, not ignored.
A big no-no is to walk across the line of a fellow golfer’s putt. He or she will exhibit the memory of an elephant if you do for years to come, and tell everyone about it constantly. And quite rightly so, for attempted putting can almost send people mad as it is, without this poisonous faux pas making the effort even worse.
Also, when on the green, for the sake of all that’s holy - don’t fiddle around with your clubs and let one slip from your grasp. An ugly mark on this hallowed surface sticks out like a wart on the face of a supermodel, and you will not be forgiven.
After finishing, put that flagstick back with care and attention; holes are cut in a nicely rounded fashion, and do not enjoy being gouged at.

Rules and Regulations

There are far too many of these to go into detail here, even without worrying about the subsections, but now to a quick glance at just some of them, and how they may affect things.

14 is a Magic Number

The first thing to worry about is that however many golf clubs you may own, you don’t have more than fourteen clubs with you in your bag once a round begins. This is a common mistake, perhaps teeing off after hotfooting it from the driving range, which even pros on tour have fallen victim to. Major championship winner Ian Woosnam for example, was once disqualified from an event he could have won after his caddy (fired soon afterwards) failed to check he had no more than the allowed number present.

And if you suspect that one of those clubs might work themselves loose later on, apply that lead tape before you start, as you cannot alter them after teeing off at the first.

How long is that Shaft?

As well as how many there are of them, clubs also have limits to their size: A minimum length of 18 inches and a maximum (excluding putters) of 48 inches.

The Right Start

When teeing off, pay attention to the tee-markers. They stand like two sentries for a reason; the golf ball must begin its aerial journey from between them, up to two club lengths behind but not in front.

And if the ball should get knocked off the tee for whatever reason before the downswing begins then there is no need for any furtive glances around, as, on the tee and only on the tee, the ball may be repositioned without penalty. This is because the ball is in play only after being fired from the tee.

It Begins

Now that the ball has gone up, it must inevitably come down again. If that should prove to be in a bunker or within a water hazard then the grounding of a club is not permitted. Simple enough, but what are known as `loose impediments’ may not be. These are things like leaves and twigs which may be removed before the ball is played without penalty, so long as the ball is not inadvertently itself moved during the act.

Stones are also included in this list and are often encountered, as they seem to be a popular choice of an errant golf ball as it decides what frustrating bits and pieces it can lie next to. However the size and weight of the stone may cause some dispute about whether it qualifies as a `loose impediment’ or not. A firmly entrenched stone may not be moved, and other players will look dimly on any evidence of an attempted digging exercise prior to their arrival upon the scene.

The ball may also come to rest in what is known as `casual water.’ These temporary puddles are no great cause or concern, as it is acceptable for a player to lift his ball and drop it to either side of where it originally came to rest. In this case, as in any other when dropping the ball, it must be accomplished by holding it out at arms length level with the shoulder, and definitely not allowed is slyly bouncing it a few feet nearer to the hole.

Similarly against the rules and spirit of the game of golf is kicking the ball to a better lie, or to a worse one in the case of your opponent’s ball, so a golfer who arrives first at a resting ball may well find themselves and their actions being observed carefully. This goes for caddies as well, so it is best to avoid this temptation at all times, lest sin ruin a friendship.

Lost and Found

A lost ball may be the cause of some concern, and a provisional or substitute must then be used under penalty, but if the lost ball is then found it becomes the one to use again. In the case of a superbly struck substitute ball, this is a rare case where it may be more troubling to find something than to lose it. Though a magnificent recovery shot can perk up anyone’s round, this is often easier said than done. After all, if a ball was hidden well enough to be lost, then that usually says all that needs to be said about what type of lie it may be found in.

But whatever the lie, a ball should always be played as found wherever possible. This honesty of the game is often proudly pointed to by fans of the game to outsiders. So a player should therefore feel grateful when faced with a horrendous clump of thorn thicket surrounding their ball; as in suffering this trouble they are behaving with honor and dignity and serving the game well. Even if they do not appreciate this fact at the time.

Unplayable

Sometimes though, with all the best intention in the world, a ball simply cannot be played. So a golfer can do what is called asking for relief. This is where the player seeks a free drop because an obstruction (defined as a manmade object) is preventing play from continuing, and that obstruction cannot itself be moved. If given relief, then this is not an excuse for some adventurous wandering. The ball must be dropped at the nearest `point of relief’ (or within a single club length from it) and no nearer the hole than the original shot.

However if it is simply unplayable because of where the ball rests, and no excuses are present, then a penalty drop with one stroke lost is the only way forward. This may take place in any of three ways:

Within two club lengths of where it rests (so long again, it does not end up closer to the hole than from where it was declared unplayable).
Any near or far distance behind the point in discussion, but with a straight line connecting the hole, the ball’s old position, and its’ new one.
By replaying the shot that caused the trouble.

The Green Heart

Sooner or later the play will reach the green, and here as elsewhere, advice on how to play the forthcoming stroke may only be sought from caddy or partner. Here, uniquely a ball may be lifted and cleaned, but only after its position is clearly and exactly marked. Here also the line that the golf ball will take may be cleaned up, though rolling a test ball along to check the contours is unfortunately prohibited.

After being holed the ball may be examined for damage, and if some is found then either sworn at, blessed, kissed, put somewhere safe or thrown violently away, and replaced with another that need not be of the same type.

The Nineteenth

And that is a hole completed, so only seventeen more to go, and then it’s off to the nineteenth. Here at the clubhouse bar everybody can moan generally about their game as if they didn’t really love golf and the ups and downs that go with it, and complain about bad luck or bad weather, whilst perhaps avoiding the eye of a committee member or two who may or may not remember past misdemeanors.

For golf gets into your blood once you have a go, and soon the biggest problem concerning your game will probably be that you haven’t got enough time to play as many rounds as you might wish. But then, if its work holding you back, consider that your boss might like to be invited along to be introduced to such mysteries as the pitching wedge and putting on a sloping green.

Or if family life is taking up all your time, remember that many courses are more welcoming now to a family atmosphere, and if yours is not, then switch to one that is, and get them interested in the game too. Purely for their benefit and enjoyment, of course.

About The Author

Matt Jacks is a successful article writer for hire providing tips and advice for consumers purchasing discount golf clubs & equipment ,golf club reviews & tips and lower body exercises. His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.

This article on the "How Golf Works" reprinted with permission.