Club-and-ball sport · Putting greens

Golf

Players use clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes in as few strokes as possible. Talk to our putting consultants about greens and golf venues.

What is golf?

Golf is a club-and-ball sport. Players use different clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course, in as few strokes as possible.

Unlike most ball games, golf has no standard playing area, and handling the different terrain on each course is part of the game. A full course has 18 holes, though recreational courses are often smaller, with nine. Every hole has a teeing ground to start from and a putting green with the hole, or cup, which is 4¼ inches (11 cm) across. In between are the fairway, the rough (long grass), bunkers (sand traps) and hazards such as water and rocks. Each hole has its own layout.

In stroke play, the lowest total number of strokes wins. In match play, an individual or team wins by taking the most individual holes over a round. Stroke play is the more common format, especially at the elite level.

A short history

The modern game began in 15th-century Scotland. The 18-hole round was created at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1764. The Open Championship, also called the British Open, is golf's first major and the oldest tournament still played. It was first held in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. It is one of the four men's professional majors; the other three, The Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, are played in the United States.