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A History of Golf
A History of Golf
By: Doris Rush
If there were sticks and objects that could be hurtled along, then there was 'golf.' No one knows for certain who started golf. But everybody knows who plays it now - everyone does.
The origin of the name 'golf' is believed to be the Dutch word of 'colf,' which means 'club.' In the medieval ages, golf was also known as "spel metten colve,' which literally meant 'game with clubs.'
Nearly every area around the world has some claim to the origination of golf. Scotland, of course, has its claim. But so do China, Rome, England, France, Holland, Belgium, even Laos. Every country has a game consisting of sticks and balls, and every country is correct in its assumption that it invented the game. But there is no one country where 'golf' actually began.
Still, Scotland is widely considered to be birthplace of golf. And it began haphazardly, a way of hitting a pebble or other roundish object into a hole by means of a stick or club.
Edinburgh, Scotland, claimed the first golfing society. The Gentlemen Golfers - later known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and today in residence at Muirfield - claim their club was already under way in 1744.
The first inter-Scotland club matches were played in 1857. The world would wait until 1860 for the first British Open to be played.
The British Open was being played 35 years before the U.S. Open. It has been called "The World Open." Players from around the globe participate, as they have for a century or more. The British Open is all-inclusive. The U.S. Open has been moving in that direction for the last decade. But the British Open has been accepting a cast from around the world since the turn of the century.
It is not known for certain when golf came to America - only that when it got a toehold in the 20th century, America became the world leader in great players. By 1900, the explosion of the game in America was complete. Proof was that, at the turn of the century, there were more golf clubs in the United States than there were in Britain.
Tiger Woods came upon the scene in 1996. He won eight times in 1999, nine times in 2000, and won the four major championships in succession in 2000-2001, starting with the U.S. Open in 2000. Should his career be as successful in his 30s and 40s as it has been in his 20s, he will assume the mantle of "best player ever."
Women have played a very large part in the history of golf, even before the last half of the 20th century when they finally achieved equality with men. Records of ladies playing golf exist all the way back to the time of Mary Queen of Scots.
Author Bio
Visit the French Connections website www.frenchconnections.co.uk for Golf Holidays in France.
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Dressing to Win Your Golf Game
Dressing to Win Your Golf Game
By: Jimmy Bonner
Golf is about patience, vision, and what you wear. That's right, what you wear can have a major effect on your game. Golf is a unique game that doesn't always spell out a specific dress uniform for golfers, but if you aren't thinking about what to wear your game can suffer. Included below are some tips for golfers of any age, and a ability to improve their game by selectively choosing what they wear.
Starting at the top of the body, wearing a hat has become acceptable in golf. In the 1980's it was visors, in the 1990's it was hats, and in the 2000's it's all about hats. Tiger Woods made a statement by always wearing his signature Nike hat, and it's not just for style. Hats can help block out the sun, which can help you improve your shot. Hats are also good was to keep your eyes confined from other players. Got a secret putting trick that you do with your eyes? Now you don't need to let others see it, because your hat obstructs their view. Hats also can help on colder days by keeping the head warm. When the temperature drops many golfers lose their focus, by wearing your hat and keeping your head warm, your focus can always be on the game.
Golf requires a collard shirt that is as far as many clubs will instruct you what to wear. While it is important to wear a collard shirt for requirement reasons, it is also important to be selective in the shirt you select. The number one thing for golfers to consider when purchasing a golf shirt is the room it offers in the shoulders. As most experience golfers will tell you most of the swing is in the shoulders. If you are wearing a golf shirt that obstructs this part of your swing, you can be in for a long day. Conversely golfers do not want to wear baggy shirts that may also interfere with their game. Choose a comfortable shirt that will fit normal.
Pants are also required on the course for gentlemen. Your pants should have pockets. This may sound elementary, but many a golfer has left the store mad because they don't have pockets. You'll need pockets for your score card, tees, wallet, and what ever else you choose to bring. Be sure to purchase pants that are light weight and made of a material that won't irate you in the sun. For example pick light weight cotton versus a wool pant. Pants also should be a comfortable fit.
Shoes in golf maybe the most important article you wear to the course. For maximum tread you need to purchase soft spiked golf shoes. These are the shoes that have soft rubber spikes naturally built into the shoe, not the metal kind. Shoes should be comfortable, and fit very well. Fit is especially important in golf because if you walk the course in shoes that don't fit, your feet will develop blisters. Blisters can distract you from your game, and put you in the rough quick.
Overall your golf clothing choices should reflect thought, and have a theme of comfort. You want to be able to perform your best, but if you're just picking things out of the closet you may end up playing worse than you could with some golf specific gear.
Author Bio
Jimmy Bonner is the author of the best-selling golf ebooks. He can walk you through every single step to cut your handicap, hit ball farther and stop slicing at Advanced Golf Skill www.advancedgolfskills.com.
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