Golf is an old game, with the most accepted theory suggesting it originated in Scotland in the 1100s.

Overall, it’s a difficult sport to master that requires power, skill, the ability to quickly measure distance and an understanding of the course, the weather elements and the spirit of the game. It’s a great game, though, around which to build a fun golf vacation - even while learning to play.

Though the rules of golf are over 100 pages long in booklet form, the basics of the game are actually quite easy to learn - with or without golf training aids. A new player can typically pick up the bare bones of what he or she needs to know after a single round, though it takes years to finally perfect and master your skill.

In this article, we’ll talk about the basics of a golf course and a rough outline of the rules. However, to really understand golf, you should either watch others first or play a round yourself.

Golf Course Basics

All golf must be played on a proper golf course that consists of either 9 or 18 holes. Each “hole” consists of a tee-off area, or starting point from which the golfers first hit their ball with a club that is called a “driver.”

After the tee is the fairway, a typically long and somewhat winding stretch of green grass peppered with golf hazards like sand traps and waterways.

The fairway is followed by the green, the area surrounding the hole, and then the actual hole or target. The hole is where players need to eventually sink their balls.

Typically, an 18-hole golf course covers about 100-200 acres, nicely landscaped, well maintained and has a balanced amount of golf hazards like trees, sand dunes and waterways.

Golf Basics

Golf can be played two ways - in match play or stroke play. The rules do not allow players to play both ways at once.

In match play golf, each hole is played separately and the golfer with the lowest score, or number of club strokes, on a particular hole wins that hole.

For example, if a golfer wins the first hole, then he is one up, while the golfer who loses it is one down. If they tie on the hole, then they are square. The golfer who wins the majority of holes wins the game.

The stroke play version of golf is about the total number of strokes over the course of an entire round of golf. At the end of the game the lowest score, or number of club strokes, wins the game.

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I know it’s the middle of winter now, but did you know that you can still get out and improve your golf swing in preparation for spring? If you’re anything like me, you just can’t wait for the snow to melt. You have to get out and hit some balls to keep your swing sharp and your head clear… …but how and where?

A simple call to your local golf course will do the trick. Just ask them if they have a driving range with heated tees. You’ll find that most golf courses have indoor driving ranges set up for their members. If not on site, your local golf course pro will definitely be able to direct you to a place nearby where you can take out some frustration with Big Bertha.

In addition to just getting out and smacking some range balls, why not sign up for golf instruction and work out some of the quirks in your swing? You’d be surprised at what you can get accomplished by just hitting balls into a net indoors. Many pros also have swing analysis software and tools they use to video tape your patterns, then review and make recommendations and changes. It’s all high technology, but it works and can shave strokes from your game quickly.

Winter is also a good time to find golf equipment on sale. These days, I can’t turn on the radio or TV without hearing an advertisement for a huge “golf liquidation sale” going on somewhere nearby. I’m sure there are great deals at these events, but if you’re anything like me, you don’t like paying a fee to gain access to a huge convention center full of stuff you may or may not be in the market for. Truthfully, getting a deal on golf equipment during the cold months is much easier if you shop online. Looking for clubs, bags, balls, shoes or even lessons on the internet is the way to go these days, trust me.

Finally, once you get your swing right and find that perfect fairway wood you’ve been missing, you may consider taking a trip to warmer places and playing a few rounds over a weekend. Weekend golf trips are the perfect getaway during the gloomy cold and snowy times of the season. There are golf courses from South Carolina to Mexico that specialize in quick getaway packages for snowbirds like you and me.

Get out today and get “back into the swing” so you are ready to go come April showers and May flowers! Big Bertha will thank you.

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Do you like golf? I know I do, but not for the reasons most people think. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy driving the ball from the tee and seeing it sail 300 yards down the center of the fairway. I like hitting a 3-iron 250 yards to the green, and I really like sinking 30-yard putts. But that isn’t why I play golf.

I play for the stress relief! Have you ever heard the phrase, “A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work?”

That statement is more true than most of us realize. If you play golf for relaxation and meditation, you will be less stressed. I even prefer to play by myself when I don’t have to be concerned with chasing someone else’s ball! (I have enough issues chasing my own).

You can learn to play golf by getting videos for less than $10. After that, try finding a starter set of golf clubs on Ebay, or at your local resale shop. You can probably develop a good golfing habit for less than $200 if you look around.

There is nothing like a relaxing day playing golf and enjoying some “me” time. You should try it as soon as spring rolls around. You never know, you may just get hooked!
Learn about golf course lawn striping here.

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Scandinavian company Ecco continues to deliver the excellence they have become known for in their current line of ECCO golf shoes. With all different sizes and colors available in their men’s styles, technology and comfort abound. The Ecco golf shoes sport different technologies that can help enhance a golfer’s game. Several styles include Ecco’s patented water resistant Hydromax leather keeping feet dry while tromping through the rough on that par 5. The process of water resisting the shoes isn’t just on the outside, but throughout the leather for longer lasting effectiveness.

For golfers who prefer to walk during their round of golf, Ecco clearance shoes have “Direct Inject” technology creating a lightweight but strong outside. The direct inject feature provides stability and cushioning allowing for extended time on one’s feet without the wearing affect of fatigue. Since the soles of these shoes are built with out glue or stitching, they prove to be durable – perfect for many rounds of comfortable golfing.

The Ecco golf shoes were designed with golfers in mind. Each golf shoe includes the Ecco swing stabilizer providing an internal system that helps stabilize heels during every golf swing. Ecco has also eliminated a distraction during the golf game by providing each pair of shoes with waxed laces that will stay tied and not throw off the rhythm of the game. If golfers prefer to wear a spikeless shoe, Ecco also has those available. Still providing traction and grip, these shoes won’t create divots or scratches on sensitive greens.

Colors and varieties of Ecco golf shoes seem endless. Men’s styles range from the Classic saddle to the Flexor model to a casual tennis shoe style of golf shoe. Colors of the shoes range from the more conservative but chic white and black combinations, to brown (all colors of brown and white). Ecco golf shoes also provide a more contemporary vibe of a mix of reds (lava), blues, and black and tans for the shoes as well.

The women’s styles of Ecco golf shoes are just as appealing. Several styles sport a classic wing buckle, to traditional laces, to a Velcro strap look. Great bold colors here as well including pink, raspberry, tans, and silvers. Ecco golf shoes range from $110 to $430. Features and styles vary with each pair of shoe allowing the golfer to choose the perfect golf shoes for their golf game.

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A comfortable, “pro body shoe” has hit the market. Actually, MBT shoes calls them the “Anti-shoe.” Why the Anti-Shoe? Because the human body was not originally designed to wear sneakers. Shoes have flattened the terrain and unknowingly cause the human race to struggle with back, knee and hip problems due to ineffective and poorly designed shoes.

The human foot was designed to walk on unstable ground. These were shoes inspired by the Masai Tribe of Africa. This tribe emulates a regal posture and limited back and joint pain, all attributed to consistently walking on uneven surfaces. Engineers at MBT shoes took this basic concept and turned it into Masai Barefoot Technology, i.e. MBT Shoes. These shoes then become the Anti-Shoe based on the premise that they are designed to recreate the feeling of standing barefoot on uneven ground.

All the pressure points a person hits, while walking barefoot, are simulated in the unique round sole MBT Shoe design. These shoes designed with a negative heel, actually work more muscle groups to a greater degree over better joint and back relief by building the surrounding muscles. In fact, with MBT shoes, the buttock region is worked 9% more than regular shoes. The rear thigh muscle activity increases by 19%. The lower limbs receive 18% more activity all while reducing the stress on the knee joints by 19%. The result of casually working these muscles increases abdominal strength and in turn better posture.

MBT shoes also offer benefits for those whose job requires a significant amount of time standing. The shoes work muscle groups while relieving joint pain and back stress. MBT shoes offers a variety of styles all featuring the unique MBT technology. Shoes range from sport shoes, sandals, professional wear and even a select styles of boots. According to the MBT website (http://www.swissmasaius.com), these shoes are best for walking, fitness walking and light jogging.

Many medical professionals use MBT shoes to accelerate recovery and relieve various types of foot, leg, and back pain ailments. For athletes, MBT shoes are used for endurance training, as well as prevention of injuries and recovery. Although the look of MBT Shoes are quite uncoventional based on their regular shoe counterpart, the benefits these shoes offer far outweigh the concern of being, “unconventional.” Customers report having purchased a pair of MBT Shoes and “never looking back.” Fashion does not have to hurt. Find more information on shoes at Shoesblog.com.

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