Golf - More Than An Interrupted Walk Through The Pasture

Mark Twain once wrote playing golf was a good way to spoil a walk through the pasture.

The inimitable Mr. Twain, from this statement, could be believed not to be a golfer.
After all, there is more to golfing than just walking through a pasture. First and
foremost, golf is a way to either work out stress and frustration, or, for many, to get
even more stressed out and frustrated.

Golf can be the most infuriating game ever played or invented, or the most fun. And, no two trips to the golf course will ever be the same, regardless of how good a player someone is. This is because the weather conditions are never identical, and weather does play a big part in golf. The more intelligent golfers will not go near the course in a thunderstorm, but there are a few brave, and foolhardy, souls who will brave the elements just to play.

The wind also plays a major factor in golf, as the wind will affect the way the ball travels. When hit, golf balls have spin. The spin can be enhanced by the wind, causing the ball to drift away from its intended target. Therefore, the golfer has to take the wind into consideration and plan his or her shot according to the velocity and direction of the wind. Throw up a pinch of grass and watch which way it blows; look at the tops of the trees to see if there is more wind aloft and the flag on the green - if visible - to judge the wind on the green.

Golf is also a good form of exercise, for those golfers who walk the course. Most regulation golf courses measures about two miles for each nine holes, so playing eighteen holes is roughly equivalent to walking at least four miles. That distance is measured straight down the fairway and increases as you walk in woods looking for a ball. Any doctor will tell you that such a walk can only be beneficial to the walker's heart and lungs. Additionally, playing golf is good for getting out of the house and being outdoors. The best rounds of golf are usually played walking the course rather than riding in a golf cart.

On some courses, riding is not allowed except for people with a physical challenge. They may get the golf professional to allow them to have a cart so they can continue to play the game. I have played golf with people with only one arm and others with artificial limbs which would hinder their ability to walk and carry their clubs. Most golf clubs have the 90 degree rule which requires you to follow the cart path until you are near your ball and then turn out onto the fairway to take your next shot.

There are some golf courses where walking is not allowed. It takes too long to play a round of golf if you are walking and carrying your clubs. Or, perhaps even taking a caddie to lug your clubs and help in other ways such as 'reading the greens.' Pebble Beach Golf Club is mostly a riding course and they prefer you do not walk. Pebble Beach Golf Club is a privately owned public golf course and the owners try to push as many people around the course as possible in a single day. There are also many marshals around the course to encourage you to move along.

Golfers have the opportunity to enjoy the out-of-doors and appreciate the beauty of nature they find around them. The majority of courses are well landscaped and quite pleasing to the eye. Golfers also have the chance to see squirrels and rabbits on the course and take pleasure in the antics of these creatures. Many courses regularly have deer visit the course and watch the golfers. Be careful when you venture into the woods to find a ball or for other reasons as you may encounter an animal with no shoulders, a snake. This can happen on wooded courses or on desert courses. Be careful and watchful. The animals were there before the course. Some courses in the south such as Hilton Head, South Carolina will give you the chance to see alligators around the course. Stay away from them because they can move deceptively fast and are usually more bothered and hungry than friendly.

For others, however, playing golf is a great way to beat stress. These distractions help free the golfer from thinking about the mistake he or she made on the last shot or previous hole or at the office or at home. It is necessary to concentrate on your golf game in order to shoot a good score and to make the most of the game of golf. Golf also allows you to hit something as hard as you want to and perhaps even get applauded for it.

Golf is also a game of honor. Surprised? Don't be. After all, golf is the only game where a person can call a penalty on themselves, and those who play with honor do just that. Legendary amateur golfer, Bobby Jones of Atlanta, called a penalty on himself because when he addressed his ball, the ball moved slightly even tho' the ball had not been touched. No one saw the slight movement other than Jones, but he called a one stroke penalty on himself and lost a major tournament by one stroke. Of course, there are the jerks who claim to play golf, but wouldn 't think of calling a penalty on anything they have done. Their scores, though, are meaningless, and this kind of behavior will also show up in their day to day lives. Jack Nicklaus said that "they are playing a game with which I am not familiar."

Cause Joy! Get out of the house!