| Golf is a genteel sport that has become a global | | | | more players from all backgrounds. In the U.S., |
| passion, especially in the business world. Golf | | | | golf is the unofficial game of the business world, |
| trophies carry the reward of instant fame and | | | | so much so that business schools train students in |
| fortune. Golf tours of certain regions are avidly | | | | golf. In 2005, Golf Digest found that there were |
| followed by fans worldwide, and toughly | | | | nearly 32,000 golf courses in the world, with half |
| contested for. Legends like Jack Nicklaus and | | | | of them in the U.S.A. Some other golf-loving |
| Tiger Woods have captured international attention. | | | | countries include Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, |
| Golf is a game where individuals or teams hit a | | | | Ireland, Canada and Sweden. Japan and South |
| ball into a hole using several clubs. It involves | | | | Korea are catching up. |
| manipulating the ball with a club from the teeing | | | | Golf is a major professional sport with many |
| ground to the hole with a series of strokes, | | | | coveted tours and trophies. There are at least 20 |
| according to certain rules. Golf is played on a tract | | | | professional tours, each run by a PGA or an |
| of land called a course, which consists of a series | | | | independent tour organization responsible for |
| of holes. A hole represents the distance between | | | | organizing the tournament. The most famous is |
| the tee (the starting point) and the green (where | | | | the PGA Tour, a leading men's tour which carries |
| the actual hole is). Most golf courses have 9 or 18 | | | | a prize of around US$800,000. The PGA Tour also |
| holes. Experienced players take fewer strokes to | | | | brings endorsement and advertising deals, and the |
| manipulate balls into the holes. Courses also have | | | | fame that comes with beating the best of the |
| impediments like bunkers, sand traps and water | | | | best. The PGA European Tour is only second to |
| hazards (like rivers or streams). | | | | the PGA Tour, and is equally attractive to |
| Par is the theoretical number of strokes which an | | | | professional golfers worldwide. |
| expert golfer needs to get his ball into any | | | | Golf is unique for having lucrative competitions for |
| particular hole. Every game of golf is based on | | | | older players. The US-based Champions tour is |
| playing a number of holes in a given order. The | | | | one among tours for senior citizens. There are |
| two major forms of playing golf are match play | | | | five major tours for women golfers. The most |
| and stroke play. | | | | coveted is the US based LPGA Tour. |
| Golf is regarded as a Scottish invention, and has | | | | The major men's championships are as follows: |
| been played in British Isles for centuries. It has | | | | the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and |
| also its origins in the Netherlands in the | | | | the PGA Championship. Golfer Tiger Woods made |
| seventeenth century, where golf clubs were used | | | | sporting history by winning all four majors in one |
| to play balls into holes. The term golf is evolved | | | | season and earning the name Tiger Slam. |
| from the Germanic word for club. The oldest | | | | The major women's tournament run by the |
| course in the world is the Old Links at | | | | LPGA Tour consists of four majors- the |
| Musselburgh, where the game has been played | | | | Kraft Nabisco Championship, U.S. Women's Open, |
| since 1672. The links at St. Andrews occupy a | | | | LPGA championship, and Women's British Open. |
| narrow strip of land along the sea. Golfers on that | | | | Golf trophies may be made of crystal, silver or |
| course established a customary route through | | | | gold, resin, pewter, acrylic or bronze. A common |
| that terrain playing holes suited to the topography. | | | | shape is that of a golfer in action. |
| Golf is viewed as an elite pastime but is attracting | | | | |