Tee Up for a Brief History of Golf

The game of golf has been a popular one for centuries, but the exact origins of this unique pastime are still the subject of some controversy. Some theories of golf history hold that the game was invented by the Chinese, while others hold that the game owes its existence to the Dutch. The most widely accepted theory, however, is that the game dates back to 12^th century Scotland.

Scotland has long been associated with the game of golf, and in fact many avid golfers have traveled there to play on some of the country’s legendary golf courses. Many tour companies specialize in golf tours of Scotland, and the link between this unique country and the game of golf has in fact been well established.

Golfers will be interested to know that golf courses have not always featured the 18 holes we are familiar with today. In the early days of the game golf courses were laid out according to the terrain being played, and the number of holes would vary from spot to spot. For instance, the famous St. Andrews Links originally featured a course of 11 holes laid out along this narrow strip of land by the ocean. Golfers would play those 11 holes, then turn around and play the same 11 holes in reverse order.

Later in the history of the golf course four of those 22 holes were deemed to be too short, thus reducing the number of playable holes in each direction to nine, and providing modern golfers with the 18 hole golf courses they know and love today.

The equipment used to play the game has changed as much as the course itself, and there have of course been many technological advances made since the first golf club struck the first ball. One of the relatively new inventions in the world of golf is the humble golf tee. This highly useful innovation dates back only to the 1930s; before that time the balls were simply struck directly off the grass.

The use of steel and titanium heads for golf clubs is even newer, dating back only to the 1970’s. Before then most golf club heads were made of wood. Graphite golf club shafts followed closely in the 1980’s, providing golfers with a better grip and better overall performance.

The care of golf courses has also changed a great deal over the years, with the highly manicured greens we see today a fairly new innovation. The modern equipment available to golf courses today allows those courses to be intricately and perfectly groomed, making play more enjoyable and ascetically pleasing. From fertilizers used to nourish the grass to herbicides used to discourage the growth of weeds, golf course owners have many ways to keep their beautiful courses looking their best season after season.

The Golfaholic

Ping golf clubs new G10 series irons

Ping golf clubs new G10 series irons are their latest endeavour to create the ultimate easy to hit club. They are loaded with design features to try and make the game easier for you. This includes things like weighting low in the toe that boosts forgiveness and stability. The launch angle has been increased by a wider sole that also aids in forgiveness upon contact with the ground. They have a higher MOI (moment of inertia) which gives you more distance and forgiveness.

Ping has also brought back the CTP or (custom tuning port) to produce more consistent ball speeds. Something else new from Ping this year is their AWT (Ascending Weight Technology) in the shafts of their irons. Lighter long iron shafts create more club head speed and a higher trajectory, heavier shafts in the shorter irons create lower trajectory for optimal ball control.

Ping offers a vibration dampening insert (Cushin Selective Filtering Insert) in their steel shafted clubs. Any vibrations created at impact are dissipated, reducing the stress on bone, muscle and connective tissue. A secondary benefit of this option is it produces better feel and added control. I had this option in my i3 blades and believe me when I say they really work. I would recommend them for everyone. The added cost is worth every penny.

A Custom Golf Cart is your Opportunity to Recapture your Youth

Custom Golf Carts are a great way to put a personal touch to your ride. Anyone who has ever been a teenager understands the importance of personal transportation, and the fun that can be achieved by modifying those wheels. These days many avid golfers are reliving those fun teenage days by modifying their new favorite form of transportation. Many players have had their most enjoyable moments on their favorite course, and simply riding around in a custom golf cart can bring back a sense of freedom and youth.

Golf Bags A Very Important Piece of Your Equipment

Do you know what you are looking for?

Golf bags are an important part of your equipment, you may not think so but how else would you carry your clubs and all your other gear? Basically there are only two kinds and it comes down to whether you walk or ride when you play. Whichever you prefer to do there are certain distinct differences between a carry/stand Golf Bag and one that is designed to be hauled on the back of a cart. Your personal preference also plays a big part in choosing the right Golf Bag.

There are a few things to consider when you are purchasing a new bag. They are; comfort, weight, durability and protection.

I like to ride when I play so mine rides on the back of the cart. I'm not carrying it so weight is not a concern for me. Cart bags are larger and therefore they are heavier. They have lots of pockets for storage so you can bring along anything you might need.

A Golf Bag that is designed to be hauled on a cart should have all the pockets and zippers facing forward, for easy access.

Durability is an important factor when you play a lot. I play three times week so my golf bag gets a lot of use. The zippers have to be durable enough to handle constant opening and closing.

Club Protection this is a factor that is sometimes over looked. Most cart bags are designed so that each club has its own individual slot. This is a very good feature because we don't want the expensive graphite shafts on our woods and hybrids to get damaged banging around with our irons. Also some golf bags have an external slot for your putter; this is good because some of today's putters have very large heads.