Some time ago, I joyfully laughed at a photo-joke that I found on the Internet, which depicted a golf course for beginner golfers.
In the center of the picture was located a giant-sized hole, which could fit not only the ball, but the whole elephant. The one who laughs last laughs: while trying to play my first round of golf, I cowardly dreamed of just such giant and all-consuming holes.
Theory
Golf is an ancient game. The legend about the origin of golf tells that an ordinary shepherd came up with a game, walking like a round stone into a rabbit hole, seeing fun in this action and attracting friends to it. Further, the legend does not go down in history, but more than other places, the Scottish town of St. Andrews claims to be the name of the homeland of golf, where the image of a man with a club in his hands is clearly visible on the stained glass window of the old city cathedral. It is reliably known that by 1457 shepherd's fun had become extremely popular, and King James banned the game of golf by decree so that his archers would no longer be distracted from firing training.
Golf is a difficult game. Let's try to describe the essence of the game in a nutshell. The player has one single goal - using various clubs (wood, iron and putter), at least two and no more than 14, with the least number of strokes to drive the ball from the court to the hole. A hole is a hole in the ground where the ball should roll, as well as a specially prepared area several hundred meters long and consisting of a start zone (ty), a main zone (fairway) and a special area (green) where the hole is cut. All these zones differ in the height of the grass and the presence of obstacles. Among the obstacles may be sand traps, bunkers, water barriers, shrubs, flowers, tall grass. Each subsequent hit is performed from the place where the ball stopped after the previous one. Having put the ball in the first hole, the player moves to another field to the new hole, and this continues until all the fields have been completed.
There are 29 types of clubs that vary in weight, length and angle, under which the ball is hit. During training and games, different balls are used. They are white or orange - they are clearly visible on the grass from afar. The maximum weight of the ball is 45.93 g, the minimum diameter is 42.67 mm. The rules oblige you to complete the game with the ball that started it. Balls tend to get lost. There are many kinds of golf strokes and, again, it is simply impossible for a beginner golfer to remember so many things at once. There is a drive, and a pitch, and a pool, and others, but this is only available to those who will slowly and correctly comprehend the game.
Steam is a conditional norm that is constantly used to calculate the result and assess the level of players. Steam is the number of strokes that a golfer must make in one hole or in the entire field with a successful game. The golf score is kept strictly and under supervision, but I don’t have the opportunity to go into details: this is some kind of higher mathematics, which is difficult to write down the first time!
Golf is an intellectual game. Achieving the goal, of course, is the goal of the game, but the process itself brings golfers no less pleasure. Tactics and calculation are most important here, as in chess. However, physical strength is also needed: a good golfer can “accelerate” a club to a speed of 200 km / h, and the initial speed of the ball sometimes exceeds the speed of a bullet. Golf is a unique game. You always compete with yourself. In group performance - this is the only sport where you can play with both strong and weak opponents, having almost the same chance of winning. At the same time, have a casual conversation or business negotiations, while training tolerance for one's neighbor, developing good manners, strategic thinking and improving concentration.
Golf is a strict game. Strict observance of the rules of the game is its integral part. The first written rules of the game were made public in 1744 in Edinburgh. Today, the rulebook has more than 100 pages, a collection of interpretations and complex cases - about 500 tons. The incontrovertibility of the rules was clearly proved by the incident that occurred in American Arizona: when two golfers came to the place where the ball fell, it turned out that a snake came from somewhere unknown. The rules were not mentioned at the moment, and golfers, in order to solve the dilemma of continuing the game, contacted the American Golf Association for clarification by telephone. The association decided to introduce a new ball into the game, throwing it at a safe distance from the snake, and a curious case entered the new set of rules.
Golf is a game of ladies and gentlemen. Golf etiquette has not undergone significant changes over hundreds of years: it is honored along with the rules. It concerns not only the appearance and behavior, but also the relationship to the field itself. It is forbidden to appear on the field in jeans and sneakers, it is advisable to have special uniforms. During the game, you should not ask advice from anyone except a partner or caddy, as well as give advice to anyone but a partner. Discussing and condemning others is strictly prohibited. You can not delay and disrupt the game of other golfers. After playing, you need to tidy up the used elements of the field, including sod.
Practice
I decided to prepare thoroughly for the first visit to a golf club in my life, because an attempt to play golf always equated me with an attempt to fly into space: the world of lovers who drove small balls into no less small holes of a green lawn seemed so incomprehensible and mysterious to me. The list of resources for beginners issued by the Internet has inspired hope that the world of golf is understandable and simple. But already in the first chapter of one of the found guides, hope died, becoming entangled in greens, pairs, woods and other terms that the authors tried to explain to me the basics of the game. On a date with golf at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club in Sharjah, I had to go empty-handed and full of courage in my heart.
While I was waiting for the arrival of my instructor David, I visited a local accessories store, where I went straight to examine clothes - a strict dress code is observed in golf. Women's equipment turned out to be extremely beautiful, stylish and so attractive that I wanted to wear everything at once and here: dresses, skirts, and T-shirts (exclusively with a “polo” collar). Special white little boots, equipped with spikes that could look so wonderful on my miniature leg, became especially sweet to my heart ... Here I made the first conclusion that golf is a game of stylish people.
David turned out to be a friendly, calm and fit man, from which I made the second conclusion that golf helps to keep normal mind, body and mood. He familiarized himself with the rules of the game as much as beginners needed to know. I wrapped information around my mustache, actively straining my ears and memory so that I could understand and not forget everything. In vain: golf is indeed a difficult game. I firmly remembered only 3 main principles: “Play on the field as it is”, “Play the ball, how it laid down”, “And if neither one nor the other is possible, do it in fairness”.
Acquaintance in the game itself began with the training field of the Golf Academy, where there were a lot of kids that day (David told me that children can be taught from the age of 5). Having got two orange balls at my disposal, I began to try my weighty stick on my first hit, because David gave me the opportunity to do this without first being instructed. The trainer of the kid who was practicing next to me kept repeating to him - "Keep your back right! Don't stoop." Having straightened my back and swinging well, I hit the ball and, of course, missed: the ball seemed so small and invulnerable! Realizing that the force must be applied wisely, I did not make the second blow from behind my head, but from below, pushing the ball a little. To my joy, the ball fell on the field and rolled a couple of meters towards the hole.
To practice the blow, David directed me to a special simulator, on which the "dummies" work out the blow from behind the head. Only here, several times following the path set by the iron frame, did I understand the difference between waving a club and a hit. After training, I again went to the training field, where I made my first successful shot.
The next hour was occupied by joint attempts to put the ball into the hole: having reached the first hole on my way, I tried to finish the ball for 15-20 minutes, not understanding why the holes are so small! David helped as he could, prompting, guiding and correcting - and as soon as he had the patience! When my orange ball ended up in a recess with a flag, my joy knew no bounds. It was then that I realized that I was very tired, because all the time I was in a state of increased concentration.
David suggested taking a walk through the fields of the club. They turned out to be gigantic, well-groomed and very cozy. Another conclusion - golf - spending time in great health benefits: the air here is simply amazing! David showed me a covered field under construction, where you can play in the low season, when the Emirates is unbearably hot.
Having settled on the terrace of a local restaurant overlooking beautiful fields, I watched groups of players slowly but surely moving through the fields. It seemed that all of him - business people, sedate, knowledgeable, sedate, prudent and very confident. Golf is indeed a game of real ladies and gentlemen. A mysterious and amazing pastime, to which I now also have pleasant feelings.
And finally - a telling joke about golf. Two gentlemen play golf. One is still very young and makes many mistakes. Another gives him advice to increase the number of workouts and leaves. The young gentleman continues his attempts to master golf.
A few hours later the same gentleman comes back and reports the following news: “Stuart, did you know that when playing, you made a mistake by letting the ball fly out of the field, so this object fell into the helmet of a motorcyclist, he fell under the wheels of a huge car, the car crashed into a passenger bus. Everyone died. - Oh, Almighty, what to do now! “I would advise you, Stuart, to lower your left shoulder just below.”
Golf in the Emirates
Each of the list clubs, which are not all listed here, provides introductory lessons and training courses. Membership is not required to access the golf club. Beginners are provided with all the necessary equipment.
The Emirate Golf Association (UAE. Golf Association) is located in Dubai. Tel 04-380 1777. E-mail: [email protected].
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club (Sharjah, 06-548 7777) is our hospitable teacher. A field of 7,300 yards per 9 holes, created by the famous architect Peter Haradine, is designed for pairs 72. According to experts, the field is a real challenge for the golfer: each hole is surrounded by 5-7 trees, there are large water obstacles and intricate bunkers. The club has a professional golf academy.
Dubai Greek Golf & Country Club -
tel. 04-295 6000, Dubai.
The Emirates Golf Club -
tel. 04-380 2222, Dubai.
Four Seasons Golf Club -
tel. 04-601 0101, Dubai.
The Montgomery -
tel. 04-390 5600, Dubai.
Jebel Ali Golf Club -
tel. 04-883 6000, Dubai
Arabian Ranches Golf Club -
tel. 04-366 3000, Dubai
Abu Dhabi Golf Club -
tel. 02-558 8990, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Golf & Equestrian Club -
tel. 02-445 9600, Abu Dhabi
Al Dhafra Golf Links -
tel. 02-877 1600, Abu Dhabi
Al Ghazal Golf Club -
tel. 02-575 8040, Abu Dhabi
Tower Links Golf Club -
tel. 07-227 8555, Ras Al Khaimah
Al Hamra Golf Club -
tel. 07-244 7474, Ras Al Khaimah
