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2010年9月24日星期五

Play Golf Really Well(1)

Golf is a challenging, skillful and exciting game where you use a set of golf clubs (maximum of 14) and golf balls to play. Each golf club (called irons, woods and a putter) has a different length and loft, designed to hit the ball a different distance. The putter is used on the putting green where the hole is located. The main aim is to shoot the ball into a small hole hundreds of yards away, in the lowest possible score.

The game is played on a golf course outdoors that is usually around 5,400 to 7,400 yards in length, depending on which tees (championship, men's, senior's, or ladies tees) you play. A Tee is a designated and marked area (often elevated) where you start each hole.

There are 9 and 18 hole courses. The grass on the main part of the layout (called a fairway) is closely mown and then there is taller grass (rough) outside of that, and of course trees, lakes and sand traps on your way to the green. The green is made of very short bent grass (like a carpet) where you putt (strike the ball with a club called a putter) the ball into the hole.

The holes on a course each have a par of either 3, 4 or 5. The word Par simply means the number of strokes you are supposed to get on a hole. It also means the total for 9 or 18 holes, such as 36 for nine holes or 72 for 18 holes. Most golf courses are par 70, 71 or 72, although a par 3 course has 18 par 3 holes totaling 54. A par 3 course is much shorter and is more for beginners.

A par of 3 means 1 tee shot to get on the green and 2 putts. A par 4 means a tee shot, one more shot to the green (with an iron or wood) and 2 putts. A par 5 means a tee shot, and two more shots to get on the green plus 2 putts.

Of course, you have to be an experienced player to shoot par. Golf pros often shoot at par or better over 18 holes, while top amateurs shoot in the low 70's and most other golfers between 80 and 120.