The Game of Golf

The object of the game of golf is to hit the same ball from one end of the course to the other in as few shots as possible

A standard course is made up of 18 holes. To complete the course, you play one hole at a time in order. You start on the tee and aim to get your ball in the hole. This can take between 1 and 15 shots depending on how good you are. Your scores for all holes are added together to give your score for the course.

Each hole has a Par . This ranges from 3 to 5 and is the score a professional golfer is expected to get for that hole. The course also has a par which is the par for all the holes added together.

If you have joined as a member, you will soon be allocated a handicap. In the simplest terms, your handicap is the average amount of shots you hit over the par for the full course. A handicap allows golfers of different abilities to play against each other on a level playing field. If you are playing stroke play (the most well known type of play), at the end of your game you subtract your handicap from your gross score to get your net score which is the score used in the competition. Not all styles of play use the handicap system.

If you are new to the game of golf you might feel a little uncomfortable when you first prepare to strike your ball on the first tee in front of all those people! Surprisingly, these feelings will soon be overcome. Everyone was a beginner at some stage. Also unlike many other golf clubs, men and women at our club may elect to play golf together.

These pages are to help you to become more familiar with the protocols of the game and of our Club during your initial “settling in” period.

You may also want to check out our club-days where you can meet a lot of golfers who can help you with the game!

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