The world of golf can be a pretty strange place for everyone outside of it. The sport has always been intimidating for most people. It is probably because golf has a very steep learning curve. It is also not easy to get started with playing it. You need to invest a lot of time just learning the basics, not to mention that golf equipment can be very costly. In short, not many people start getting into golf even if they wanted to. But if you can, and you want to try it out, golf is definitely worth all of that.
Golf is a fantastic game with plenty of history behind it. Golf started several hundred years ago, and it only continued to improve since then. It has developed from a simple game of trying to hit a target with a stick and a ball, to the elegant sport we know today. As golf-lovers, we appreciate even the smallest things about it, and we would be happy to share it with everyone else. Since not a lot of people play golf, there have been many misconceptions and myths about it. If you happen to know at least one, let’s see if that will come up in our list.
Here are fun facts and interesting golf stories!
- One of the world’s most popular actors, Samuel L. Jackson, is also an avid golfer. In fact, the star of flicks like “Pulp Fiction” and “Django Unchained” has a contract clause to play golf twice a week whenever he films movies. (GolfNow)
2. Golf swings are like fingerprints — no two are the same. There can be — and often times are — similarities between swings, but even with those similarities, there are a number of idiosyncrasies that define each player’s action. (Golf.com)
3. The “Happy Gilmore swing,” featuring a walking or running approach, is often imitated or attempted for fun, including by touring golf professionals. In fact, three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington is particularly well known for his impression and even uses the technique in training.
4. It’s pretty widely accepted that golf began in Scotland 500+ years ago. The Chinese, however, claim to have invented a similar game during the Song dynasty as far back as 943 A.D. (American Golf)
5. Golf was the first sport ever played on the Moon.
When you think about the greatest golf shots ever made, you may probably think about Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones, and Jack Nicklaus. But none of their shots will ever compare to the one made by the NASA astronaut, Alan B. Shepard. Why? Because this shot happened on the Moon! The Apollo 14 commander managed to sneak up a club and two golf balls with him on their mission. While on the surface of the Moon, he shanked the first one, and it rolled only about 40 yards away. He hit flush the second time, and it went at least 200 yards according to his estimate. These two shots are arguably the most famous shots ever made. But one thing is for sure; they are out of this world! (Fox News)
6. The first golf balls were made of wood.
The golf balls in their early stages were not as perfect as they are today. They have gone through numerous changes for hundreds of years. The first ones, being made of wood, were subpar compared to their modern versions. Although we may not know how wooden golf balls feel when playing, they probably have interesting characteristics. It was not until 1898 that Coburn Haskell invented the rubber-core golf ball like we presently use. (Found Golf Balls)
7. The number of dimples on a golf ball is not standard.
It is pretty safe to assume that almost everyone knows that a golf ball has holes or dimples. However, as they are too small and there are too many of them, people don’t really notice them. The number of dimples on a golf ball varies greatly. Typical ones have around 300 to 500 holes. This number depends on the manufacturer of the ball. Theoretically, the golf ball can have as many dimples as you would want, because the PGA or USGA does not regulate this number. The only parameters set by these associations for the golf balls are their maximum weight and minimum size. And of course, that they are not asymmetrical. But before you start thinking of a bigger golf ball, remember that the goal is only 4.25 inches wide! (Golf Balls)
8. No, the word “golf” is not an acronym.
This one has been around for quite a while. Some people think that golf stands for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.” But this one is not true. The acronym idea probably stemmed from the demographics of golf players. Out of the 30 million people around the world who play golf, 77% are male. But ladies, please do not be discouraged from playing golf. Golf is for everyone to enjoy.
9. Two-times is not the charm on the green.
Hitting a hole-in-one may be the most exciting thing that can ever happen to you while playing golf. But succeeding on it is undoubtedly tricky, let alone hitting two holes-in-one in a single round. According to the National Hole-In-One Registry, the odds of a player making two holes-in-one is about 1 in 67 million. That’s almost near impossible, right? Well, almost is the keyword since a 15-year old high school golfer made this happen. Cy Norman scored these two aces in a 4-hole stretch. Talk about luck! (Golf Week)
10. Righty Tighty, Lefty Lucy
It is how the world of golf refers to its most famous left-handed golfer, Phil Mickelson. However, what’s interesting about him is that he is naturally right-handed! Phil only learned to play golf left-handed when he was young by mirroring his father, and he stuck to that. It seemed to work out anyway because he already bagged 52 wins in his professional career, including 5 Major championships.
11. Yes, Golf is a real sport.
The saying “Golf is not a real sport” has no ounce of truth in it. Playing golf is a great exercise that also involves a lot of focus and thinking, and it also comes with its own etiquette. An 18-hole golf game can burn you up to more than 2400 calories. That’s almost 450 calories per hour of gameplay. Golfers have to walk a total of 4 to 8 miles to complete the 18 holes. Even players who use the caddie burn up to 1300 calories for the duration of the game. The point is, golf is a good exercise both for the mind and the body. Aside from that, you’re also enjoying your time with nature as you play.
There you go! We hope those things got you more interested in golf. What we would like you to remember is that golf is not as exclusive as you may think. While the average age of golf players is still above 50, more and more younger players are starting to get into the sport. Don’t be afraid to start! And when you do, the Indian Creek Country Club is always open for you!