| There are quite a number of different ways to | | | | winner. To make things more interesting you can |
| play what is essentially the simple game of golf | | | | add money into the mix either on a per hole or |
| with many people creating their own variations in | | | | pot basis, each hole can be worth a cash value or |
| order to overcome what they see as | | | | you can all put money into a pot at the start to |
| shortcomings in the traditional approach. | | | | be divided among all the skins winners at the end |
| The most widely played version of the game is | | | | of the round. |
| known as stroke play and it's what you are most | | | | Neither of the approaches above is likely to be |
| likely to see on TV should you watch | | | | that interesting to children but thankfully there are |
| tournaments being played throughout the world. In | | | | a couple of other types of golf that you can play |
| this version of the game you basically add or | | | | with them to build some interest. The more |
| subtract points from your score depending on | | | | realistic is known as pitch and putt where you |
| how close you are to the par score for each hole | | | | play on a shortened version of a golf course and |
| that you play. For example of the first hole is a | | | | the goal is to take just one shot to get onto the |
| par 4 and it takes 5 shots for you to complete it | | | | green (which sounds easy but sometimes isn't) |
| you are said to be at +1, now if you are able to | | | | followed by putting until the ball is in the whole |
| only take 3 shots on the next hole and it is a par | | | | (most holes are par 3). A more fun orientated |
| 5 then you are able to subtract 2 points from | | | | alternative is called crazy or mini golf where you |
| you score of +1 putting you on -1 overall. And so | | | | spend the entire game on a green (of sorts) but |
| this continues for the duration of the round with | | | | your hazards are made up of any number of |
| the overall goal being to be as far into the | | | | strange obstacles in many cases based on a |
| negative numbers as possible once the round has | | | | theme. It can be a great treat for the entire |
| finished. | | | | family either during a holiday or just as part of a |
| While stroke play is the favourite of many | | | | weekend's entertainment and it can teach some |
| tournaments it can be a little low on excitement | | | | useful skills for the longer versions of the game. |
| and hard on the brain if you are just playing in a | | | | Mini golf is obviously not likely to help your children |
| match with some friends instead of in a large | | | | become golf pros but you'd be surprised how |
| group. In this scenario you could easily play a | | | | often it can build an interest in the longer versions |
| variation of the games called skins which involves | | | | of the game leading them to pick up a proper |
| the winner of each individual hole being awarded a | | | | club and ask to come to the range with you next |
| skin and the person who wins the most holes | | | | time you go. |
| over the course of the day becoming the overall | | | | |