Golf: Chasing the White Ball

Most people think that golf started in Scotland, and that "golf" means "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." These are myths. No one really knows the origin of golf. Some historians think it began in ancient Rome where participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball, while others trace it back to a Chinese game played between the 8th and 14th centuries. Golf could also have originated in Persia or the Netherlands. It is widely accepted that modern golf did originate around the 12th century from shepherds hitting stones into rabbit holes at the very spot where The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews now stands. The first rules of golf were written in 1774 in Edinburgh. It is believed that the word "golf" probably originated from the medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve," which means "club."

Equipment has changed over the years, but generally consist of woods, including a driver that is used only on the tee box, irons and a putter. And golf balls. Sometimes lots of golf balls. Professional golfers and those who want more exercise walk all 18 holes of the course, either carrying their own clubs or hiring a caddy to carry their clubs. To speed up play and help those who can't walk the course, golfers use golf carts to move around the course. Many courses, especially resort courses, require players to use a cart.

I usually contend that golf is not exercise, but a social sport. It depends on how it is played. Walking a course will burn up to 350 calories per hour for a 130 pound person, more if clubs are being carried. Using a cart will reduce calories burned to around 200 per hour. The challenge of the sport is more exactness than aerobic.  It's a very precise game in which participants evaluate each shot based on the condition and terrain of the course, the weather, the desired distance and the skill at which the player hits various clubs. The best news about golf is spending time outside, sometimes at scenic areas and with friends. And it's a sport you can do at all ages.