Precision Sports 🇬🇧United Kingdom Olympicmedieval

Golf

Individual precision sport played on an 18-hole course — hit a small ball from a tee into a series of cups using the fewest possible strokes.

📐golf course⏱~240 min🌤outdoor

What is Golf?

Golf is a precision club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit a small ball into a series of 18 holes on a course, using as few strokes as possible. The modern game originated in 15th-century Scotland — banned by King James II in 1457 because it distracted from archery practice — and was formalised by the Society of St Andrews Golfers (now The Royal & Ancient) in 1754. The Rules of Golf are jointly maintained by the R&A (worldwide) and USGA (Mexico/USA). Professional golf's four 'major' championships — The Masters (April, Augusta), PGA Championship (May), U.S. Open (June), and The Open Championship (July, various UK venues) — form the pinnacle of the sport. The PGA Tour (men) and LPGA Tour (women) run the top pro circuits.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Complete each of the 18 holes in as few strokes as possible; the golfer with the fewest total strokes (or holes won, in match play) is the winner.

Match structure

Golfers play a designated hole from tee to green. On each hole they aim to reach the green (cup) with as few strokes as possible. Each hole has a par (expected number of strokes): par 3 (short hole), par 4 (medium), par 5 (long). Total for 18 holes is typically par 70-72. Tournament competition uses two main formats: **stroke play** (total strokes across 72 holes) and **match play** (holes won across a set number).

Rules

Basic rules

Playing the ball as it lies
You must play the ball from wherever it lies (fairway, rough, sand, water etc.) unless a specific rule allows relief (unplayable, hazard, ground-under-repair).
Tee box
You may tee the ball up on the tee shot only; anywhere within the tee-box markers.
Order of play
Player 'away' (farthest from the hole) plays first. On the tee, order is determined by 'honour' (lowest score on the previous hole).
Out of bounds and lost ball
Ball out of bounds or lost = stroke + distance penalty (add 1 stroke, replay from the previous location).
Hazards
Water: 1 penalty stroke and drop within 2 club-lengths of where the ball entered. Bunker: play from the bunker without grounding your club.
Putting green
Only the putter is used on the green (rare exceptions). No touching your line of putt with your hand; may mark and lift your ball with a coin/marker.
Scoring
Each stroke counts (including penalty strokes). Terms: bogey (+1), par, birdie (-1), eagle (-2), albatross/double-eagle (-3), hole-in-one.
14-club rule
You may carry a maximum of 14 clubs during a round; penalty is 2 strokes per hole (max 4 strokes).

Advanced rules

Match play
Score is by holes won, not strokes. Match ends when one side is 'up' by more holes than remain. Ryder Cup, President's Cup use this format.
Handicap system
The World Handicap System (WHS, unified 2020) allows golfers of any level to compete fairly — 8 best rounds of 20 average, adjusted for course difficulty.
Provisional ball
If you believe your ball may be lost/out of bounds, hit a 'provisional' before searching — saves time.
Relief options
Free relief for cart paths, ground-under-repair, casual water, and immovable obstructions. Penalty drops for hazards and unplayable lies.
Drop procedure
Since 2019, drop from knee height (previously shoulder height) within one club-length of the reference point.
Slow play
First offence: warning. Second: 1-stroke penalty. Third: 2-stroke penalty. Fourth: disqualification (rarely enforced but always threatened).

Scoring

Stroke play: total strokes over 4 rounds (72 holes). Match play: holes won across a set number.

Action	Points
Hole-in-one (ace)	-2 or -3 (par 3s)
Albatross / Double-eagle	-3
Eagle	-2
Birdie	-1
Par	0
Bogey	+1
Double bogey	+2
Triple bogey	+3

Win condition · Fewest total strokes (stroke play) or most holes won (match play). Ties resolved by playoff (sudden death or 3-hole aggregate).

Playing area

Called

golf course

Dimensions

18 holes typically 5,500-7,500 yards total (5-7 km). Individual holes range from ~100 yards (par 3) to 600+ yards (par 5).

Manicured grassland with distinct areas per hole: tee box, fairway, rough, sand bunkers, water hazards, and putting green with the cup. Course varies by climate — links (coastal), parkland, desert, mountain.

Equipment

Golf clubs
Up to 14 clubs per bag (rule 4.1). Categories: driver (1 wood), fairway woods (3, 5), hybrids, irons (3-9), wedges (pitching, gap, sand, lob), putter.
Golf ball
Diameter 42.67 mm min, weight 45.93 g max. Multi-layered urethane cover for premium balls, distance-focused Surlyn cover for beginners.
Golf bag
Carries the 14 clubs, balls, tees, gloves, apparel, water.
Tees
Wooden or plastic pegs used to elevate the ball on the tee box; longer for drivers, shorter for irons.
Glove(s)
Usually one glove on the non-dominant hand for grip.
Golf shoes
Spikes or spikeless soles for grip; soft spikes only on most modern courses.
Rangefinder / GPS
Legal in most events since 2019 — provides distance to pin and hazards.

Officiating

Golf is self-regulated — players call penalties on themselves. Officials interpret the Rules of Golf when disputes arise. Every player has a marker (usually a playing partner) who records their score.

Rules officials (walking or in golf carts)
Chief referee
Marker (fellow competitor keeps your official score)

Strategies

Course management
Play the percentages — take the lower-risk shot; leave yourself a full-swing yardage into greens; play to the fat side of pins.
Short game precision
60% of shots are within 100 yards. Elite short-game skills are the fastest path to lowering scores.
Driving accuracy over distance
For most amateurs, fairways-hit is more valuable than driving distance — rough and hazards cost strokes.
Putting is 40% of your score
Practice putting daily; lag putting from 30+ ft prevents 3-putts; short 4-6 ft putts are round-savers.
Trust and commit
Pre-shot routine, single swing thought, commit to the shot — the mental game is what separates 80s golfers from 70s golfers.

Terminology

Par: Expected number of strokes for a hole (usually 3, 4, or 5).
Birdie / Eagle / Albatross: 1, 2, or 3 strokes under par on a hole.
Bogey / Double bogey: 1 or 2 strokes over par on a hole.
Hole-in-one (ace): Ball in cup from the tee shot; typically only on par 3s.
Fairway / rough / bunker / hazard: Different course areas from short-cut grass to deep sand and water.
Green / cup / pin: Putting surface / the hole / flagstick indicating the cup position.
Driver / iron / wedge / putter: Categories of golf clubs — 14 max per bag.
Lie: The position/orientation of the ball as it sits — good lie, bad lie, sidehill lie, etc.
Handicap: Numerical measure of a golfer's ability (0 = scratch = par golf; higher = worse); allows level competition.
Slice / hook: Ball curves right (slice, for right-handers) or left (hook).
Draw / fade: Controlled slight left curve (draw) or right curve (fade).
Chip / pitch / lob: Short-game shots of varying trajectories around the green.
Cut / miss the cut: In pro events, the 4-round field is reduced to top 65-70 after 2 rounds ('cut'); those who don't qualify 'miss the cut'.

Major competitions

The Masters
annual · USA (Augusta National) · since 1934
Traditionally first men's major; April.
PGA Championship
annual · USA (rotating venues) · since 1916
May.
U.S. Open
annual · USA (rotating) · since 1895
June.
The Open Championship (British Open)
annual · UK (rotating links courses) · since 1860
July — oldest golf major.
The Players Championship
annual · USA (TPC Sawgrass) · since 1974
PGA Tour's flagship event.
Ryder Cup (US vs Europe, men)
biennial · worldwide · since 1927
Presidents Cup (US vs Rest-of-World, men)
biennial · worldwide · since 1994
Solheim Cup
biennial · US vs Europe (women) · since 1990
Summer Olympic Games
quadrennial · worldwide · since 1900
Returned to Olympics in Rio 2016 after 112-year absence.

Where it is played

Governing bodies

The R&A (Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) — rules worldwide except Mexico/USA
Founded 1754 · St Andrews, Scotland
Official site ↗
United States Golf Association — rules in Mexico/USAUSGA
Founded 1894 · Liberty Corner, USA
Official site ↗
PGA Tour
Founded 1929 · Ponte Vedra Beach, USA
Official site ↗
LPGA Tour
Founded 1950 · Daytona Beach, USA
Official site ↗
International Golf FederationIGF
Founded 1958 · Lausanne, Switzerland

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Jack Nicklaus (18 majors, most ever)
Tiger Woods (15 majors, 82 PGA Tour wins tied)
Arnold Palmer
Sam Snead (82 PGA Tour wins tied)
Ben Hogan
Rory McIlroy
Bobby Jones (Grand Slam 1930)
Annika Sörenstam
Nancy Lopez
Lorena Ochoa
Nelly Korda
Scottie Scheffler

Records

Most major championships (men)
Jack Nicklaus — 18 (1986)
Most major championships (women)
Patty Berg / Mickey Wright — 15 / 13 (1962)
Most PGA Tour wins
Sam Snead / Tiger Woods (tied) — 82 (2019)
Lowest 4-round PGA total
Justin Thomas (2017 Sony Open) — 253 (27-under-par) (2017)
Longest putt made in a tournament
Craig Barlow / others — over 100 ft (~30 m) recorded multiple times

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Grip, stance, posture
Neutral grip (Vardon, interlocking, or ten-finger), athletic stance, spine tilt away from target — the foundation of everything.
2
Putting first
Learn to two-putt every hole before tackling long shots — putting is 40% of scoring.
3
Wedge and short-iron swings
Half-swing wedges before full-swing irons; feel and rhythm come before power.
4
One club at a time
Master a 7-iron before moving to driver; add clubs slowly as your swing stabilises.

intermediate

1
Full-swing driver
Wider stance, ball forward, less spine tilt on driver; commit to launch angle and turn.
2
Short-game specialisation
Chips, pitches, bunker shots — spend 60% of practice on shots within 100 yards.
3
Course management
Play a smart round: aim for centres of greens, avoid trouble, play the percentages.
4
Scoring under 90/85/80
Progressive scoring goals — better decisions and short-game gradually lower your average.

advanced

1
Shot-shaping
Learn to hit both draws and fades on command; play holes strategically with the right shape.
2
Long game power
Sequencing and hip rotation for elite driving distance — often requires trained rotational strength.
3
Elite putting
Green-reading, speed control, and pressure putting under tournament conditions.
4
Mental game and competitive prep
Sports psychology, pre-shot routine, and playing under leaderboard pressure — the difference between good club golfers and pros.

Frequently asked

How many clubs can I carry?+

Maximum 14, per Rule 4.1. Typical mix: driver, 3 fairway woods/hybrids, 7 irons (4-PW), 3 wedges (gap, sand, lob), putter.

What are the four majors?+

The Masters (April, Augusta), PGA Championship (May, rotating), U.S. Open (June, rotating USGA venues), and The Open Championship (July, rotating UK links courses).

What is par?+

The expected number of strokes for a hole. A par-3 is short (~100-250 yards); par-4 is medium (~250-450); par-5 is long (~450-600+). An 18-hole course typically totals 70-72.

How does the World Handicap System work?+

The WHS (unified 2020) averages your best 8 of the last 20 rounds, adjusted for course difficulty. Result: handicap index (0-54) allowing golfers of any level to compete fairly.

Why do tournaments have a 'cut'?+

After 2 rounds of a 4-round pro tournament, the field is reduced (typically top 65-70 plus ties). Those who don't 'make the cut' don't play the final 2 rounds and don't earn prize money.

How fast can a golf ball travel?+

PGA Tour drives average ~180 mph (290 km/h) ball speed. The record for measured club-head speed is ~145 mph (Kyle Berkshire, long-drive record). Elite tour drives carry 300+ yards on modern courses.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Golf— Wikipedia
R&A / USGA — Rules of Golf— The R&A / USGA
PGA Tour — Statistics— PGA Tour

Last verified 2026-08-24.community