Golf
When many people think of golf they think of a simple sport that is championed by Tiger Woods. However, golf has a rich history behind it and the sport is much more complicated and scientific past the simple goal of sinking the ball into the hole.
There is no clear answer to when golf was first invented although some scholars claim that it can be traced back to the Egyptian Pharaohs due to hieroglyphics that exist from this time period. There is also some proof that golf was also played in its ancient form in China as well as Denmark.
However, most of the forms of golf from ancient times were not the same as the modern day version which can be proven was first played in Scotland. This is where the first golf course was created with the full eighteen holes as well as where the first set of written rules were devised. Tournaments also emerged from the first clubs in Scotland and competitions grew across the world slowly as they expanded to be found in just about every country in the world.
The oldest course in the world is still the Musselburgh Old Links Golf Course. In fact, even Mary Queen of Scots and King Charles I of England reportedly has played at Musselburgh back in 1682 and 1646 respectively.
Today, the modern sport of golf is governed by a set of rules that have been jointly compiled by the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. This one set of rules is universally accepted with the governing principle behind the rules being ‘fairness.’
In fact, handicaps are assigned to players with the purpose of evening skill levels so that each competition is true to the nature of game. Outside of handicaps, penalties and scoring are also adjusted so that a great shot is rewarded while a poor shot is properly deducted from a player’s overall score.
Fairness is also a large part of golf etiquette which is not set in stone, but is understand on the green by most serious players. Some rules of golf etiquette include proper golf attire, the pace of play during a golf game, and the quiet understanding that players will take care of the course while they are on it.
So whatever your level, even as a complete novice it is possible to play against far more experienced players on a reasonably even playing field making the game both fair and enjoyable regardless of the differing levels of skill each player possesses.
Good equipment can give a player an edge but in the end the rules of fairness and equality set out for the game even up the score regardless of whatever little nuances the latest equipment may provide.
