Golf Video Guide

Even though golf is quite a simple game, there is no shortage of variations on the concept and different ways to play.

The basic golf game is generally referred to as stroke play – tournaments work using the stroke system, and it is the most widely-played version of the game. In this game, for every shot you make under or over the par of each hole, you have one point either subtracted from or added to your score. For example, if hole 1 is a par 4 and you take five shots, then your score is +1. If you then move on to hole 2, a par 5, and take 3 shots, scoring an eagle, your new score is –1 – that’s one minus two. This means that you’re aiming to end up with a score far into the minus numbers, with the lowest score winning.

Stroke play is heavy on maths and low on excitement, however, because it was designed for a large number of golfers playing at the same time. If you are just playing head-to-head against a few friends, it is far more interesting to play for skins. With skins, the person with the lowest score on each hole wins the hole, and the person who wins the most holes wins the match. Skins is often played for money, with players paying a certain amount to enter the game and a share of the prize money being awarded to the winner of each hole.

For children, there are two alternative rule sets: pitch and putt and crazy golf. Pitch and putt is the more serious of the two, resembling a much smaller version of a normal golf course where the player only needs to take one shot onto the green and then putt the ball into the hole. In crazy golf, however, the green is the whole course, and each hole is littered with strange obstacles, often based around a theme. While the game is fun for a family on holiday, it’s not going to turn your kids into pro golfers any time soon – although it might inspire them to take up real golf.

Golf Carts — An Amazingly Diversified Niche Industry

Golfers out for a Sunday afternoon game just take them for granted on the golf course, and never think about their origin. I am talking about golf carts, those miniature vehicles dotting each golf course. Even so, golf cart production is a multi-million dollar industry and different systems abound. Golf carts are manufactured as miniature cars, and golf-cart corporations provide leasing and financing choices just as the huge car corporations do.

Golf originates from a medieval game played on the coast of Scotland in the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble instead of a manufactured ball around the sand dunes employing a stick or wide club. As time passed, stones were exchanged for man-made balls, the earliest of which were thin leather bags stuffed with feathers. The gutta-percha ball wasn’t invented until 1848 and might be hit the maximum distance of 225 yards. In 1899 rubber balls were invented that may reach distances of 430 yards if hit by a professional. Golf sticks evolved into carefully weighted golf clubs, and in the 1880′s the use of golf club bags became fashionable. The caddie, a servant who carted all the player’s gear aound the golf course, had his burden lessened in the early 1950′s by the introduction of the golf cart.

The 1st golf cart manufacturers were E-Z-Go, Pargo, Harley Davidson and Cushman. The cost was astoundingly high for this era, $1200, however as even more manufacturers entered the field it dropped to $600, still a steep price for this era in inflationary terms. Fifty years later, E-Z-Go is still producing golf carts today. There are 100s of golf cart manufacturers listed online, and virtually all of these corporations specialize solely in these vehicles, and don’t produce any larger cars.

The 1st golf carts were gas-powered, however recently the market has shifted to even more battery-powered systems. Golf carts can be customized just like cars, and lift kits and ATV wheels are sold to golfers who wish to express their individuality out on the course. There are corporations which specialize in creating entire custom golf cars, or even miniaturized versions of full sized cars, like the Humdinger (Humvee), mini Jeep, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac or even Mercedes-Benz.

Golf carts come in three forms: manual push/pull carts, electric motorized carts, and electric or even gas golf cars that hold passengers as well as gear. Push/pull carts have two to three wheels and a vertical support to hold a golf bag. They are basically just a manual dollies with clips and holders especially adapted for golf gear, and sell for $50 to $100. Moving higher in sophistication, motorized golf caddies cost about $500 all the way to $1000. Golf carts, which resemble dune buggies in size, begin at about $1800 for a small basic model.

Ebay has a massive choice of both new and utilized golf carts at low prices however service can be a problem with the smaller vendors. Check if the vendor has a physical store as well and is not just a reseller of a larger firm. Warranty service can be affected by this.

Manufacturers are also expanding their sales by renaming carts “Electric Utility Vehicles” and suggesting alternate utilizes for them, like hauling lawn equipment and travelling around rural properties.

Well, not only golfer´s can have good use of a golf umbrella. I once handed one over to the bridegroom when the sky opened as they just came out of church. The reason might not be obvious to everyone but an ordinary umbrella is too small to shelter a couple. And you can´t expect a newly married couple to separate with two umbrellas.

So golf umbrellas are bigger and the size is actually around 60-65 inches, which is just about 150-165 centimeters. Some a little smaller and you can also find some around 70 inches. Those are like having a tent, you are very well protected from rain. The big sizes of golf umbrellas are necessary as a golfer has to take care of a number of things and if possible also protect the golf bag.

If you have watched the professional golfers playing in rain you have probably also noticed that the player use big golf umbrellas. The caddie has no umbrella and on rare occasions you can see the caddie holding the umbrella for the pro. That seem to be the only time a caddie can get out of the rain. Of course it is important to protect the player, she or he is the one making money for them both.

On the first tee of a golf round up in Virginia it started to come short showers of rain. I simply had to buy a new umbrella and choose one with a dual canopy. A dual canopy has, as the name would suggest, a dual canopy design, this feature allows for any wind to blow through the umbrella while water will still run off of it.

By making the top half of the bottom canopy out of a mesh material and then putting a second shell that covers the mesh and runs about two inches past the seam, the rain will not come through the vented area. This is especially important when you take into account the size of the umbrella when opened. This will easily cover you and your bag.

How is that size possible without the thing weighing a ton? With a fiberglass shaft and spreaders, the umbrella is lightweight and lightning resistant. A push button opening mechanism makes it easy to open the umbrella with one hand. Most golf umbrellas I´ve had don´t use push button techniques simply because there is one more thing that can fail.

A golf umbrella will keep you dry for a full round of golf. If it wasn´t for the fact that you have to hit the ball from time to time. You will also get wet from walking in the grass, not to talk about lost balls in the ruff! There are times when a player just have to find the ball himself.

Golf umbrellas with the double canopy works great even when the wind pickes up a little bit. You will not fly away even it the size is really big. Some golf umbrellas now have a ergonomic handle which cut down on fatigue from carrying it. The hand stays in a natural position. Thanks to the lightweight materials used in the construction, you can carry the umbrella without having it affect your swing due to muscle fatigue.

One drawback can be mentioned with the golf umbrellas in general. The the size of it, while you want to have as much of yourself and your bag covered, when closed, the umbrella will protrude a good bit from your bag when it is not being used. This can make loading and unloading the bag a little difficult from your car. When it has been in use you should not have it in your bag. The umbrella will get dry much faster if you can unfold it and just give it some time.

A golf umbrella is great for anyone to use, it is large enough for two people to stay dry. The dual canopy will keep the umbrella from turning inside out in higher winds while not sacrificing any coverage.

Choose your umbrella with care and you can have it for many years. The one I bought in Virgina is seven years now, still working great but the looks is not the best. I don´t care, I´m on the course to play golf.