Golf – A rule game
Golf – is a game that not all can play, it’s a game which requires a lot of concentration and precision. One needs a lot of time to be devoted too, to master the game. Any game needs passion to master it, and Golf specially needs a lot of patience and inner talent to play it well.
One needs to follow certain rules while playing Golf. The rules of golf were first compiled in March 1744, and these are known to be the oldest rules. These were set up for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers. These were renamed as The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The game then was played at Leith in Scotland. The first and the oldest Golf tournament and one of the major ones is The Open Championship which was played on the seventeenth day of October, 1860. This was played at Prestwick Golf Club, in Ayrshire in Scotland.
The game of Golf is played on 9 hole course or on a 18 hole course. If it is played on a 9 hole course, then one needs to play twice over to complete one round. The game is played with tees and can be elevated form the ground, on the discretion of the player. The players can walk to their next drive or shot with the help of the golf carts which are run over the golf course. The player can be accompanied by a caddie, who carries and manages the equipment of the player, and they are allowed to advice the player on the ways of playing. Caddies are part of the rules, and can only server and advice the player, for whom he is working, and he cannot advice to nay of the players who are competing.
The game of Golf follows very strict rules which are standardized internationally and are governed jointly by The R & A, created in 2004, from The Royal And Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which has been founded in 1754. This was done teaming up with United States Golf Association- the USGA in short.
The basic principle of the rule is being fair. To quote the words of the rules “Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair”. The rules for the amateur golfers are even more stringent. A golfer, who has played for money or given advice for money, is not at all treated as amateur and is not allowed to play any tournaments meant for amateurs. Amateur Golfers can however receive expenses according to the guidelines, and can also accept non cash prizes – all within the limits prescribed by the Rules of Amateur Status.
The golfers also need to follow the golf etiquette besides the officially printed rules and guidelines. These Golf etiquette guidelines take care of things like pace of play, safety, fairness of play and the obligation that the player has to take care of the course. The golf players mostly follow rules of the golf etiquette to improve the playing experience of everyone. There are no penalties though if there is a breach of rules.
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