| Understanding the game of golf includes | | | | between the fairway and the green is called the |
| understanding golf courses and the intricacies that | | | | rough. The rough is the turf of which is cut higher |
| surround them. A golf course consists of a series | | | | than that of the fairway and is generally a |
| of holes, each of which consists of a teeing | | | | disadvantageous area from which to hit. |
| ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a | | | | The hazards are the area that every golfer |
| green with a flagstick and a cup. All of these | | | | wants to avoid. Young up and coming players will |
| materials are placed on the course intentionally in | | | | soon be able to correlate hazard with failure. |
| order to facilitate a round of golf. Because a | | | | Hazards are divided into three types. The first |
| standard round of golf has 18 holes, most golf | | | | type of hazard are water hazards such as lakes |
| holes choose to follow this strict model. However, | | | | and rivers, the second is man made hazards such |
| some of them deviate and have 9 holes in order | | | | as bunkers and the third is natural hazards such |
| for the whole to be played twice a round. | | | | as dense vegetation. Special rules apply to balls |
| Additionally, for novelty and maintenance reasons, | | | | that fall in a hazard. When it gets to this point, a |
| others may have 27 or 36 holes so that people | | | | player may not allow the golf club to touch the |
| can choose two groups of nine holes at a time | | | | ground, not even for a practice swing. A ball in |
| for novelty and maintenance reasons. Many older | | | | any hazard may be played as it lies without |
| golf courses, often coastal, are golf links, of a | | | | penalty. If it cannot be played, the golfer must |
| different style to others. | | | | forfeit certain strokes and may finish at an |
| For non-municipal courses, there is usually a golf | | | | undesirable position. This should be avoided as it |
| club at each course. The golf course features a | | | | restrains golfers from getting high bogeys but |
| teeing ground, water hazard, rough, an area | | | | rather an eagle, birdie, or in really unfortunate |
| designated to be out of bounds, a sand bunker, a | | | | cases and albatross or a condor. This situation |
| water hazard, fairway, putting green, flagstick, | | | | may arise from when the ball goes into the |
| and a hole. The teeing ground is the name given | | | | water, at most times. Also, the putting green is |
| to the first section of every hole. There is usually | | | | also an important part because it is where one |
| more than one available box for a player to place | | | | plays a stroke on a defined surface. Knowing the |
| their ball, each one a different distance from the | | | | dynamics of a golf course is important for all |
| hole. The fairway is the area between the tee | | | | golfers, and can help give the more |
| box and the putting green. The area between the | | | | knowledgeable ones an advantage over the |
| fairway and the out of bounds markers and also | | | | others. |