GOLF

Definition: a club and ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on
a course in as few strokes as possible.

Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not utilize a standardized playing area, and coping
with the varied terrains encountered on different courses is a key part of the game. The game at the
highest level is played on a course with an arranged progression of 18 holes, though recreational
courses can be smaller, often 9 holes. Each hole on the course must contain a tee box to start from,
and a putting green containing the actual hole or cup (4.25 inches in width). There are other
standard forms of terrain in between, such as the fairway, rough (long grass), sand traps, and
hazards (water, rocks, fescue) but each hole on a course is unique in its specific layout and
arrangement.

HISTORY

While the modern game of golf originated in 15th-century Scotland, the game's ancient origins are
unclear and much debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, in
which participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. One theory asserts that paganica
spread throughout Europe as the Romans conquered most of the continent, during the first century
BC, and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others cite chuiwan ("chui" means striking and
"wan" means small ball) as the progenitor, a Chinese game played between the eighth and 14th
centuries. A Ming Dynasty scroll dating back to 1368 entitled "The Autumn Banquet" shows a
member of the Chinese Imperial court swinging what appears to be a golf club at a small ball with
the aim of sinking it into a hole. The game is thought to have been introduced into Europe during the
Middle Ages. Another early game that resembled modern golf was known as cambuca in England
and chambot in France. The Persian game chaugán is another possible ancient origin. In
addition, kolven (a game involving a ball and curved bats) was played annually in Loenen,
Netherlands, beginning in 1297, to commemorate the capture of the assassin of Floris V, a year
earlier.

Four gentlemen golfers on the tee of a golf course, 1930s

The modern game originated in Scotland, where the first written record of golf is James II's banning
of the game in 1457, as an unwelcome distraction to learning archery. James IV lifted the ban in
1502 when he became a golfer himself, with golf clubs first recorded in 1503-1504: "For golf clubbes
and balles to the King that he playit with". To many golfers, the Old Course at St Andrews, a links
course dating to before 1574, is considered to be a site of pilgrimage. In 1764, the standard 18-hole
golf course was created at St Andrews when members modified the course from 22 to 18 holes. Golf
is documented as being played on Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Scotland as early as 2 March
1672, which is certified as the oldest golf course in the world by Guinness World Records. The oldest
surviving rules of golf were compiled in March 1744 for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, later
renamed The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which was played at Leith, Scotland. The
world's oldest golf tournament in existence, and golf's first major, is The Open Championship, which
was first played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, in Ayrshire, Scotland, with Scottish
golfers winning the earliest majors. Two Scotsmen from Dunfermline, John Reid and Robert
Lockhart, first demonstrated golf in the US by setting up a hole in an orchard in 1888, with Reid
setting up America's first golf club the same year, St. Andrews Golf Club in Yonkers, New York.

GOLF EQUIPMENTS

 Golf clubs are used to hit the golf ball. Each club is composed of a shaft with a lance (or
"grip") on the top end and a club head on the bottom. Long clubs, which have a lower
amount of degree loft, are those meant to propel the ball a comparatively longer distance,
and short clubs a higher degree of loft and a comparatively shorter distance. The actual
physical length of each club is longer or shorter, depending on the distance the club is
intended to propel the ball.

Golf clubs have traditionally been arranged into three basic types. Woods are large-headed,
long-shafted clubs meant to propel the ball a long distance from relatively "open" lies, such as the
tee box and fairway. Of particular importance is the driver or "1-wood", which is the lowest lofted
wood club, and in modern times has become highly specialized for making extremely long-distance
tee shots, up to 300 yards (270 m), or more, in a professional golfer's hands. Traditionally these clubs
had heads made of a hardwood, hence the name, but virtually all modern woods are now made of
metal such as titanium, or of composite materials. Irons are shorter-shafted clubs with a metal head
primarily consisting of a flat, angled striking face. Traditionally the clubhead was forged from iron;
modern iron clubheads are investment-cast from a steel alloy. Irons of varying loft are used for a
variety of shots from virtually anywhere on the course, but most often for shorter-distance shots
approaching the green, or to get the ball out of tricky lies such as sand traps. The third class is the
putter, which evolved from the irons to create a low-lofted, balanced club designed to roll the ball
along the green and into the hole. Putters are virtually always used on the green or in the
surrounding rough/fringe. A fourth class, called hybrids, evolved as a cross between woods and
irons, and are typically seen replacing the low-lofted irons with a club that provides similar distance,
but a higher launch angle and a more forgiving nature.

A maximum of 14 clubs is allowed in a player's bag at one time during a stipulated round. The choice
of clubs is at the golfer's discretion, although every club must be constructed in accordance with
parameters outlined in the rules. (Clubs that meet these parameters are usually called
"conforming".) Violation of these rules can result in disqualification.
The exact shot hit at any given time on a golf course, and which club is used to accomplish the shot,
are always completely at the discretion of the golfer; in other words, there is no restriction
whatsoever on which club a golfer may or may not use at any time for any shot.

 Golf balls are spherical, usually white (although other colours are allowed), and minutely
pock-marked by dimples that decrease aerodynamic drag by increasing air turbulence
around the ball in motion, which delays "boundary layer" separation and reduces the drag-
inducing "wake" behind the ball, thereby allowing the ball to fly farther.[25] The
combination of a soft "boundary layer" and a hard "core" enables both distance and spin.

 A tee is allowed only for the first stroke on each hole, unless the player must hit a
provisional tee shot or replay his or her first shot from the tee.

 Many golfers wear golf shoes with metal or plastic spikes designed to increase traction, thus
allowing for longer and more accurate shots.

 A golf bag is used to transport golf clubs and the player's other or personal equipment. Golf
bags have several pockets designed for carrying equipment and supplies such as tees, balls,
and gloves. Golf bags can be carried, pulled on a trolley or harnessed to a motorized golf cart
during play. Golf bags have both a hand strap and shoulder strap for carrying, and
sometimes have retractable legs that allow the bag to stand upright when at rest.

 Golfers also often wear gloves that help grip the club and prevent blistering. Gloves are sold
individually and normally worn only on the players' non-dominant hand, but it is not
unheard-of for a player to wear gloves on both hands to reduce chafing. The increased grip
and control allows for harder swings to be made with more control, increasing distance.

 Ball washers may be used to clean golf balls. According to strict rules, the ball is not allowed
to be cleaned between a player's tee shot and the ball's landing on the green, except to the
degree necessary to inspect the ball for damage that would make it unplayable. Once the
ball has landed on the green, the player may pick up and wipe off the ball to remove
attached dirt or debris that would impede the ball rolling along the green, and between
holes the ball may be thoroughly cleaned.
 MECHANICS OF GOLF SWING

The golf swing is just that, a swing. In nearly all sports that involve swinging an implement, a bat, a
hockey stick or racquet, the object to be struck is moving. In golf, the ball is always stationary. The
golf swing is similar to other swinging motions in sport. For golf, you need to learn only one basic
swing. As distance requirements change a different club is selected from the set for the needed
yardage. The golf swing is a circular motion around the body similar to a baseball swing.

The difference is that while a batted ball ideally is around waist high when it is struck, a golf ball is on
the ground. In a golf swing the plane that the club travels on is tilted. The golf swing has two distinct
phases – pre-swing and in-swing. The pre-swing phase, the preparation that occurs before playing,
includes a pre-shot routine and addressing the ball. The in-swing phase is the actual swinging of the
golf club. The swing should be completed in one smooth, fluid motion. The entire swing is often
broken down into smaller components that include the: address, takeaway, change of direction,
down swing, impact and follow through/finish

GOLF SWING MECHANICS

Address Position It is important that we have the proper stance to help create balance. It is vital that
we maintain proper balance throughout the golf swing.

• Stand up to the ball with your ankle joints under your shoulders.

• The weight should be evenly distributed between the heels and the balls of the feet. The weight is
actually directly over the arches but since most arches don’t touch the ground you will feel it
balanced between the balls of the feet and the heels.

• Your weight should be evenly balanced between the right and left foo

POSTURE

To position the upper body correctly you must have the proper stance as described above.

• Push your hips back and tilt forward from your hips until the bottom of your sternum points at the
ball.

• Tilt your spine away from the target so your trail shoulder is lower than your target shoulder.

ALIGNMENT – CLUBFACE AND BODY

It is critical that you align your body and aim your clubface correctly in relation to the target. If you
make a good golf swing but are aiming incorrectly you will hit the ball in the wrong direction. To aim
correctly:

• Stand about three feet behind the golf ball and select a spot on the target line no more than a few
feet in front of the ball. The target line is an imaginary line that connects the golf ball to your
intended target.

• When you have selected your spot, walk up to the ball with your eyes looking at that spot and
place the clubface behind the golf ball facing the spot and target.
• Make sure to keep looking at the target as you set your feet the correct width and take your
proper address position.

GRIP

The grip is one of the key fundamentals to a good golf game. Without a proper grip it is very difficult
to attain the most out of your golf game.

• While standing up straight, hold the club up in front of your body at a 45-degree angle with your
trail hand on the shaft just above the grip.

• With your target hand, simply shake hands with the grip (placing grip of club diagonally across base
of fingers).

• Slide the trail hand down the shaft of the club so the target hand thumb fits into the lifeline of the
trail hand. At this point the target hand thumb is being covered up with the thumb pad of the trail
hand.

• Pressure: Hold the golf club firmly, but do not squeeze

FULL SWING

Now that your body is in the proper address position it is time to move your body, arms and club. As
you swing the club the trunk will turn to move the club backward and forward and the arms will
move the club up and down. It is also important to make sure the hands and arms stay in front of the
torso throughout the golf swing. Proper movement of the shoulders:

• Place a golf club across your shoulders and crisscross your hands to opposite shoulders.

• Turn your shoulders 90 degrees away from the target line.

• Turn your shoulders back to zero degrees to the target line with your trail shoulder turning down
toward the ball.

• Turn forward 90 degrees to the target line with your trail shoulder finishing closest to the target.
This will teach you the proper motion of the body in the golf swing. Proper movement of the arms
and golf club:

• As your shoulders turn away from the target line, simultaneously the trail arm and wrist will fold
vertically up until the top of the backswing. The target arm will maintain extension.

• At the top of the backswing your hands should be in front of your chest between your shoulders.

• As your shoulders return to the ball (zero degrees) the trail arm and wrist will straighten up
through impact. As the shoulders turn through to the finish (90 degrees) position the target wrist
and arm will hinge up over the target shoulder while maintaining extension of the right arm. In order
to hit the ball most efficiently you must maintain a steady spine angle from start to finish. This is
accomplished by keeping the hips pushed back throughout the swing.
BUNKER SHOTS

Bunker shots are swings where the objective is to hit the sand underneath the ball and the ball flies
out with the sand. The image of taking a slice of sand the size of a dollar bill seems to work for most
golfers. First, go through your aim and alignment drill. After you have your target line and your
intermediate target set, then place your hands on the grip. Many players make the mistake of
gripping the club first and then rotating the shaft to open the clubface. Remember that your club
cannot touch the sand in a bunker, otherwise you incur a two-stroke penalty for grounding your club
in the hazard.

There are four factors that control the height and distance of your shots:

• The more loft you add to the clubface by moving the shaft back at address, the higher and shorter
the ball will carry.

• The steeper the angle of your approach into the ball, the higher and shorter the shot.

• The more clubhead speed a swing generates, the farther the ball will carry.

• The more sand you displace under the ball, the shorter the shot

CHIPPING

Whatever club you’ve selected for this chip, set the angle of the shaft so it is more vertical and
resembles the upright angle of your putter. When you address the ball, the club should rest more on
the toe than it would for a full shot. The grip end of the club should be pointing towards the middle
of your body, and your weight should be evenly distributed between the balls of your feet and the
heels. Bear in mind that a chip is very much a “one-lever” stroke.

Ken Venturi, who had one of the best short games in history, likes to tell people to imagine their
hands were molded together in a cast when chipping. Almost everyone agrees that you want to grip
the club lightly, since this helps promote better feel. And always try to keep the back of your left or
top hand moving on a line parallel to the target line. This will help keep the clubface square to the
target.

PITCHING

The basics of good pitching mirror those of chipping. Employ your full-swing grip with a light grip
pressure and play from a slightly open stance. A slightly open stance pre-clears your hips and helps
you deliver the club directly along the target line. What varies when hitting a pitch shot is the ball
position, both in your stance and relative to the position of your hands at address and impact. If you
have a tight lie off closecropped grass, or a poor lie in the rough, you need to play the shot with your
hands slightly ahead of the ball, with the ball back slightly in your stance. This will cause the ball to
fly on a lower trajectory and run farther.

As the lie improves, you can position the ball more towards the middle of your stance, with your
hands either even with the ball or fractionally behind. This will allow you to employ the full loft of
the club. Given a consistent ball position, the more you position your hands behind the ball, the
more effective loft you add to the club, the higher the ball will fly and the softer it will land.

PUTTING

The two main factors in putting are distance control, which is determined by the backward and
forward swing of the club, and direction, which is determined by where the clubface is pointing at
impact. At address, your ankle joints should be under your shoulders. Push your hips back and up
and let your arms hang naturally from your shoulders. Your eyes should be directly over the ball
since placement is crucial to help ensure solid contact. As with other shots the best way to aim the
ball properly is to pick out an intermediate target on your target line a foot or two ahead of the ball.
Align the blade of your putter and the ball to this target. Your grip should be light and comfortable
and needs to provide control and accuracy. Unlike the fullswing grip, there are a variety of ways to
grip the putter that range from a split grip with hands apart to a crosshanded grip. Whatever is most
comfortable for you and allows your hands to work together is the best grip for you.

MUSCLES USED IN GOLF SWING – (2005 Robert’s list of primary groups of muscles used in golf
swing)

1. INITATION

 isometric contraction (gripping) of the forearms, wrists and hands (forearm extensor and flexor
muscles)
 stabilization of the trunk/core and hip/pelvis areas, using the core muscles and major lower-
extremity muscles to maintain position (hip adductors, abductors and extensors; quadriceps;
hamstrings; calves; deep abdominals; quadratus lumborum)
2. BACK SWING
 stabilization of the shoulder joint (rotator cuff—supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres
minor, subscapularis)
 trunk rotation (obliques, lumbar extensors)
 hip internal rotation of the back leg and hip external rotation of the front leg (hip
abductors, gluteus maximus, obturatorius internus, superior and inferior gemellus,
quadratus femoris)
 control of the club position (wrist and hand musculature

3. DOWNSWING AND IMPACT

 stabilization of the trunk core and hip/pelvis musculature to control movement to
the target (hip abductors and adductors, internal and external obliques, quadratus
lumborum, rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis)
  stabilization of the shoulder and scapula (shoulder blade) from acceleration to
impact (rotator cuff, serratus anterior, middle and lower trapezius, other midback
muscles)
 downward movement of the arms (pectoral muscles)
 weight transfer from the back leg to the front leg (all leg muscles)

4. FOLLOW THROUGH
 support of body weight on the front leg as the swing is finishing (hip and trunk
muscles)
 deceleration of the golf club (rotator cuff )
 SCORING

Par is the number of shots (or strokes) a top-class golfer is expected to take to play each hole
based on its length and difficulty.

It also refers to an expected total of shots for the whole round of 18 holes.

Par for a course usually ranges between 70 and 72 shots but most golfers never match that.

Par for a hole is usually between three and five shots, although there a couple of par sixes in
America.

If you take four shots on a par-four hole you make par. Golf scoring terms

But if you do better or worse than that you're introduced to Albatross: Three shots less than
some funny names. par

Take three shots on a par-four hole (i.e. one less than par) and Eagle: Two shots less
you call it a birdie.
Birdie: One shot less
Take five shots on a par-four hole (i.e. one shot more than par)
Bogey: One shot more
and you've got a bogey.
Double bogey: Two shots more
These are just names though.
Triple bogey: Three shots
What counts is the number of shots you play on each hole, which
more Contd....
are added together for your total score for the round.
PAR THREE

Par three holes tend to be less than 250 yards in length for men and 220 for women.

They work on the idea that you can hit the green in one shot and then you have two putts to score
par, in this case a three.

PAR FOUR

Par four holes range from a little less than 300 to over 450 yards.

You'd hope to reach the green in two shots, leaving two putts for par.
PAR FIVE

Par five holes tend to be longer than 480 yards. There are a few par six holes in the world - usually
more than 600 yards long.

Getting to the green in less than three shots is very difficult. Again that will leave two putts for par.

GOLF ETIQUETTE

What people can expect during a round of golf, from beginning to end:

Arrive:

If caddies are available:

Remember caddie programs are an excellent way for young people to earn some money and be
exposed to a sport that they can enjoy and might help shape their character.

A good caddie can make the round more enjoyable by giving you hints that might lower your score.

A good caddie can provide information on yardage, club selection, reading the greens and the layout
of the course.

Warm Up:

Try to arrive soon enough to give yourself time to warm up properly.

Work your way through the bag, beginning with the short irons, moving onto the mid-and long irons
and then the woods.
It's often a good idea to finish warming up by hitting a few soft wedge shots before heading for the
practice green and hitting a few putts.

Don't hit hundreds of balls and leave your game on the practice tee.

First Tee:

Check the scorecard to learn any local rules.

Local rules apply only to the specific course you are playing.

If your playing companions suggest a match, it's a good idea to make sure everyone is comfortable
with the stakes.

Make sure to place an identifying mark on your ball and inform the other players the type and
number ball you are playing.

Avoid Slow play:

When your group is not keeping up with the pace of play of the group in front of you:

Walk at a reasonable speed between shots.

Begin planning your next shot as you approach the ball by studying the strength and direction of the
wind.

When you reach your ball, check the lie, select your club, visualize your swing and shot, and then
play your shot.

From the time you select your club until you actually hit your shot, you should take no more than 30
to 45 seconds.

If you aren't ready to play when it is your turn, encourage one of your fellow players to play.

Maintaining the course:

Replace your divots.

Turf tends to explode on impact, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replace the divot. In this
case, you have two options:

You can use the toe of your shoe to kick in the turf around the edges of the divot.

Many courses often put containers of a soil/seed mixture on their carts and tees. If this is the case,
simply fill in the divot with the mixture.

Bring a rake into the bunker with you -- remembering that you should always enter the bunker from
the low side at a point nearest to the ball.

Whenever possible, avoid walking on the steep face of a bunker.

After hitting your shot, rake the area you played from, as well as all your footprints and any others
within reach.
Rakes should be left either in or nearby the bunker.

Important to repair any pitch marks or indentations caused by the ball hitting the green.

Using a tee, knife, key or repair tool, repair the mark by working the edges towards the center,
without lifting the center of the mark. Don't tear the grass. Finish by smoothing the area with a club
or your foot. Try to get the area smooth enough to putt over.

Just remember that while the Rules of Golf allow you to repair pitch marks on your putting line, you
cannot repair spike marks on your putting line until after you have putted.

On the green, remember:

Don't step on your fellow players putting lines -- the imaginary line that connects the ball to the
hole.

If your ball is on a player's line, volunteer to mark the ball.

If you're ball is not furthest from the cup:

Mark your ball, either with a plastic marker or a small, thin, dark coin such as an old penny.

After you have marked your ball, place your putter down at a 90-degree angle with the heel
touching your marker.

Move the marker from the heel to the toe of your putter. Reverse the procedure to return the ball to
its original position.

Do not stand where you might distract a fellow player and don't move.

Don't make any noise when your fellow player is preparing to putt.

If you don't have a caddie and are asked to tend the flagstick, make sure you aren't standing on
anyone's line.

Hold the flagstick at arm's length so the flag doesn't flutter in the breeze, and make sure your
shadow doesn't fall across the hole or line. Loosen the bottom of the flagstick so it doesn't stick
when you try and remove it by pulling it straight up after the other player has putted. The flagstick
should be removed right after the player has hit the ball.

If you lay down the flagstick, lay it off the green to prevent doing any damage to the green.

Generally, the player closest to the hole will tend the flagstick.

After everyone has putted out, immediately walk to the next tee.

Miscellaneous:

If you hit a tee shot into the woods and suspect that it might be either lost or out-of-bounds, the
Rules of Golf allow you to play a second or provisional ball.

You then have five minutes from the time you reach the spot where you suspect the ball landed to
find the ball. If it is not found within that five-minute period, you must declare it lost and play your
provisional ball with a one-stroke penalty
If, however, you play the provisional ball and subsequently find your original ball in-bounds, you
must pick up your provisional and continue to play the original ball, in-bounds.

Out of bounds balls are assessed the penalty of "stroke and distance."

For a complete discussion of the Rules of Golf, visit the USGA's web site.

For safety's sake, never hit when there's a chance you might be able to reach the group ahead of
you, and anytime you hit a shot that you think even has remote chance of hitting any other players,
yell "fore" immediately, and make a point of apologizing to any players your ball lands near.

Displays of frustration are one thing, but outbursts of temper are quite another. Yelling, screaming,
throwing clubs or otherwise making a fool of yourself are unacceptable and, in some cases,
dangerous to yourself and others.

As a player, you also have a responsibility to learn and understand the Rules of Golf.

Five of the most common Rules are those deal with Out of Bounds, Lost balls, Unplayable lies, cart
paths and water hazards.

Moving on, if your group stops for refreshments, either at the turn (the end of nine holes) or
following the round, volunteer to pay for them, as well as offer to buy drinks for the caddies.

Whoever pays at the turn, however, should not be expected to pay for refreshments at the end of
the round.

Finally, at the end of the round, shake hands with your fellow players, congratulate the winners,
console the losers, and thank them for their company. At the end of the day, the great pleasure of
the game is the time you get to spend with your friends whether old friends or new friends you just
made through the game.

SCORING

STROKE PLAY

Golf is the only sport where the scores are kept by fellow competitors not by officials.

Players swap cards at the start of a round, marking each other's score as well as their own.

Both players must sign both cards if the card is to be submitted to a competition or for
handicapping.

In a tournament, failure to sign a cards or signing for a wrong score can lead to disqualification.

Strokeplay is the simplest form of scoring.

Each player adds up his score for the round and, once handicaps have been deducted if they are
being used, the lowest score wins.

Strokeplay tournaments are often called medals.

Because the player is playing against the course rather than an opponent, every putt must be holed
no matter how short.
Most professional tournaments are played like this.

MATCH PLAY

In this system of scoring, each hole is played as a mini match.

The player with the lowest net score for the hole is said to win the hole, the par of each hole doesn't
matter.

Effectively you aren't playing the course, as you do in strokeplay, you are playing your opponent.

So if you take four shots and your opponent takes five, you win the hole.

You are now said to be 'one-up'. Your opponent, who lost the hole, is said to be 'one-down'.

If your opponent wins the next hole, the match is 'all-square'.

If you win the next hole, you are two-up.

If both players get the same score the hole is 'halved' and the match score stays the same.

The score is kept by the number of holes up (won) and the number of holes to play. (Example: you
are 2-up, with six holes to play.)

When a player is up (winning) by more holes than there are holes Matchplay terms
remaining, then the match is won.
Up: A player is ahead in the
This is when you see the final score of 3&2 for example. match

That means three holes up with two holes to play. The other Down: A player is behind in the
player cannot win in this case. match

A match is considered 'dormie' when one side is up by the exact All square: Players have the same
number of holes that remain. score

For instance if Player A is 'dormie two' that means he is two Halved: Players half the hole
holes ahead with two holes to play. when they take the same number
of shots
Player B can only halve the match
Dormie: E.g. A player is two holes
Because the match is played between the two players or pairings
up with two to play
and no-one else, players can opt to 'give' short putts rather than
make their opponent hole out. 3&2: E.g. A player is three holes
up with two holes to play
This often happens for putts within two feet. However the 'given'
putt still counts as one stroke.

Sometimes if the pressure is on, players will make their opponent hole out from within this distance.

STABLEFORD

In this type of competition points are awarded depending on the score for each hole.
It was designed to speed up play - as soon as a player can no longer score a point he can pick up his
ball.

A player scores one point for a bogey, two for par, three for a birdie, four for an eagle and five for an
albatross.

You win a competition by scoring the most points overall.

On an amateur level, if a player takes six shots on a par-four hole Normal stableford system
but is entitled to a shot because of his handicap, his net score is
Albatross: Five points
five.
Eagle: Four points
That would be a bogey which entitles him to one point. What is a handicap?
Birdie: Three points
The points can be modified - for instance so the rewards for
scores below par are higher. Par: Two points

Bogey: One point

FOURSOMES

As well as playing against someone else, there are ways in which you can involve four people in a
game of golf.

The Ryder Cup, held every two years, shows how pairing up can produce some exciting matches and
real camaraderie.

It is played in a matchplay format but feature singles, foursomes and fourballs.

SINGLES

Singles golf is played as a match between two people.

The system of 'handicapping' means players of different abilities can compete equally.

There are several ways of scoring - strokeplay, matchplay or More on handicapping

stableford.

FOURSOMES

This is a popular form of team golf where two pairs of two people compete against each other using
only one ball per team.

Each partner takes turns to tee off at alternate holes and each partner takes alternate shots during
each hole.

In foursomes you need consistency. You need to keep the ball in play and avoid making mistakes.

Penalty strokes do not interfere with the natural order of play. If you play out of turn in matchplay,
you lose the hole.

In strokeplay it means two shots must be added to your score for that hole.

FOUR BALL
Another form of team golf where two pairs compete against each other.

Fourballs are exactly that. Each player has one ball and all four
play the hole at the same time.

Whichever player takes the least shots, wins the hole for their
team.

Because each team has two players going for the hole, players
can afford to gamble as they look to take a winning advantage
and make a birdie.

Some clubs only allow fourballs to play at quieter times as they

take longer to complete a round, so check before you set off.

Having a good relationship with other players is crucial,

particularly in foursomes and fourballs matches.

Partners need to stick together even if one of them is playing

badly. Paul Casey and David Howell
formed a good partnership at the
In big competitions, professionals say that "sorry" is a word that is 2004 Ryder Cup
hardly ever used.

SPORTS INJURIES IN GOLF

Golf is a sport with many health and wellbeing benefits. A reported 60 million people of all ages play
golf across the world, sometimes into their 80s and 90s.

The health benefits have been widely reported in recent years with an 18 hole round amounting to
6-8 km of walking, requiring over 8,000-12,000 steps and a calorie burn of 1,500.

However, golf can be very demanding; requiring strength, endurance, explosive power, flexibility
and athletic ability to perform a movement that produces some of the fastest club head and ball
speeds of any sport.

The effect of these repeated large forces on the body can lead to many different types of injuries,
which are often specific to certain areas and sides of the body in golfers, depending on their lead
side.

Much research has been done on the types and likelihood of injuries experienced by golfers with the
main areas of the body prone to injury being the lower back, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hips.
Below, European Tour consultant physiotherapist Nigel Tilley explains some of the common golfing
injuries and how physiotherapy can help get you back on the green.

Wrist injuries - Extensor Carpi Ulnaris (ECU) injury

There are a large range of common wrist injuries in golf - we will concentrate on one main area of
problem: Extensor Carpi Ulnaris (ECU) injury.

What is it?

The ECU is a skeletal muscle that extends and adducts the wrist. It has to work very hard during the
golf swing and is highly prone to injury, which can be caused by high force trauma (hitting a tree root
or thick grass), rapid increase in loading, continued excessive loading and technique faults.

How does physiotherapy treat this type of injury?

This type of injury will often require 'load modification' with more traumatic sudden onset injuries
requiring immediate removal of load and PRICE protocol (protection, rest, ice, compression and
elevation) or POLICE (protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, elevation). The aim here is to
reduce the bleeding and swelling from the injury site if severe tissue disruption, such as a partial or
full rupture, has occurred.

Lower back injuries - Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP)

What is it?

Lower back injuries account for roughly 30% of all golfing injuries, with poor technique and lack of
flexibility in the mid spine and hips possible causes. Often it presents as an aching and discomfort on
moving into certain positions and doing certain activities. However, the soreness and stiffness that
people often present with is called 'non specific' as it is not usually clear which structure is causing
the problem/pain.

How does physiotherapy treat this type of condition?

Trying to remain active and avoiding extended periods of rest is important in people with NSLBP.
Whilst it may be a good idea in the very initial stages of the problem to reduce or avoid significant
movements or activities that aggravate the symptoms, it is a good idea to keep mobile and try to do
stretches and exercises that relieve the symptoms and promote normal movement. These are often
specific to each individual and your physio will discuss the best options for you. Often in the initial
phases the use of heat through hot packs and baths can help as well as manual therapy treatments,
soft tissue massage, TENS and advice on the best ways to lift, bend, sit and move in out of the car
and bed.

Elbow injuries - Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

What is it?
Tennis elbow is common in golfers, who are more likely to suffer from injuries to the outside of the
elbow region, rather than ‘golfer’s elbow’ which affects the inside. In general the tendons do not
show signs of inflammation but rather angiofibroblastic degeneration, collagen disarray and hypoxic
tendon degeneration. This often occurs due to rapid increase in loading and or continued excessive
loading due to training or technique faults that the tissues are unable to adapt to.

How does physiotherapy treat this type of condition?

The type of physiotherapy management will depend on the stage of the problem and your individual
presentation. Often this type of injury will require 'load modification' with more sudden onset
injuries requiring immediate removal of load and PRICE protocol (protection, rest, ice, compression
and elevation) or POLICE (protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, elevation).

Increasing the ability of the tissue to tolerate loads and re-model can be achieved through
structured exercises, which your physiotherapist will be able to advise on, depending on the stage
and severity of your presentation.

Other treatment techniques include the use of manual therapy to the elbow and associated tissues
and structures as well as devices called epicondylitis clasps and taping techniques that can help to
offload the injured area to help it recover.

Shoulder injury - Rotator cuff injury

The shoulder is a complex joint and there is a large range of injuries that can occur within it and its
structures. We will concentrate on the rotator cuff.

What is it?

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles in the shoulder that are involved in movements and control
of the shoulder joint. There are two main causes of injury to this structure, acute trauma and
degeneration. The amount of stress needed to cause an injury to the rotator cuff tendon will often
depend on factors such as the person’s age, general health and underlying condition of the tendon
prior to the stress elicited on the tissue. Tears can occur from injuries such as a fall onto the arm,
sudden lifting or rapid movement of the arm (such as in the golf swing) or deceleration of the club
head suddenly when unexpected (hitting a tree root or getting the club head stuck in thick rough).
Repetitive movements of the golf swing combined with poor technique and/or flexibility and control
issues can lead to injuries to the shoulder and rotator cuff.

How does physiotherapy treat this type of condition?

The type of injury, its severity and stage will affect the physiotherapy management of the condition
and the time of recovery. TENS, manual therapy and acupuncture are techniques that can help with
pain relief. The aim of physiotherapy will be to return optimum function and control to the shoulder
complex through structured exercises rehabilitation. Physiotherapists often use taping techniques to
also help in the treatment of shoulder injuries. Advice on ergonomics, activity and lifestyle can help
identify ways to reduce positions and aggravating factors that may slow the recovery or worsen the
injury.
References:

https://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/beginners

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf

http://www.randa.org/Rules-of-Golf/MainRules/6-The-Player

http://www.pga.com/golf-instruction/instruction-feature/fundamentals/better-golf-swing-
mechanics-and-body-turn-video

http://www.dmpfitness.com/dmpfitnessjournal/2016/3/18/golffitness