Golf history

GOLF

Golf is an outdoor game that consists of playing a ball from a starting point into a hole in as few strokes as possible using various types of clubs.

The medieval word « kolf »  or « kolve » is of dutch origin meaning ‘club’. It is believed that the word passed to the Scots, whose dialect changed the world ‘kolf’ into ‘golve’, gowf’ or ‘gouff’.

History

Golf grew out of games played in different part of the world.

Throughout centuries, games involving a club and a ball were played by ancient civilisations. Records exists that a ball and stick game was played in Ancient Egypt about 4 000 years ago. Roman emperors played a game called ‘paganica’ using a bent stick to drive a soft, feather-stuffed ball. Some countries developed similar games such as ‘jeu de mail’ in France, ‘shinty’ in South America or ‘Ti-Khi’ in Laos.

 Around the 13th century, the Dutch played a game on their frozen canals ‘het kolven’ which consisted of knocking a ball from one point to another on ice struck by sticks that were curved at the bottom. The Dutch and the Scots being trading partners, it is generally believed that the game of golf was adapted by the Scots from the original Dutch game. The first recognizable form of golf was played on Scottish parkland in the 14th century, where a ball, made of wood, was struck from a ‘tee’ in order to hit a predetermined object in the least number of strokes. Soon, they made a real improvement to the game as the object was replaced by a hole dug in the ground. For that reason, the  Scots are considered the ancestor of the modern game.

Soon, the game grew so popular that in 1457, the Scottish Parliament under the reign of King James II issued a ban on playing golf (gouff) and football as both games prevented the practice of archery.

By the 16th Century, the word "golf" had emerged while at the same time improvements were made concerning the ball trajectory and the overall game play.

The 7th March 1744, players of the Leith Links founded the ‘Gentlemen Golfers of Leith (later ‘the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers’) and drafted their proper rules known as the thirteen ‘Articles and Laws in playing Golf’ for a tournament played on the 2nd of April, the Annual Challenge for the Edinburgh Silver Club.

The Leith Rules

1. You must tee your ball within one club's length of the hole.
2. Your tee must be on the ground.
3. You are not to change the ball which you strike off the tee.
4. You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club for the sake of playing your ball, except on the fair green, and that only within a club's length of your ball.
5. If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a stroke for so getting out your ball.
6. If your balls be found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first ball till you play the last.
7. At holeing you are to play your ball honestly for the hole, and not to play upon your adversary's ball, not lying in your way to the hole.
8. If you should lose your ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another ball and allow your adversary a stroke for the misfortune.
9. No man at holeing his ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the hold with his club or anything else.
10. If a ball be stopp'd by any person, horse or dog, or anything else, the ball so stopp'd must be played where it lyes.
11. If you draw your club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your club; if then your club shall break in any way, it is to be accounted a stroke.
12. He who whose ball lyes farthest from the hole is obliged to play first.
13. Neither trench, ditch or dyke made for the preservation of the links, nor the Scholar's Holes or the soldier's lines shall be accounted a hazard but the ball is to be taken out, teed and play'd with any iron club.

The 14th of May 1754, twenty-two Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Kingdom of Fife founded the “Society of St Andrews Golfers”.

They adopted the original thirteen Leith rules and since then are the governing body of golf all over the world. They write, interpret and maintain the Rules of Golf while guarding at the same time the tradition and integrity of the game.

Throughout the 19th century, golf was considered an elitist and a gentleman’s game due to the high costs of balls and clubs all hand-crafted. Professional golfers made their living from playing for caddying, betting, tuition and making balls and clubs.

Le World Amateur Golf Council, organized by the USGA and the Royal & Ancient, was founded in 1958 in Washington D.C. Thirty-five member countries were invited at the White House by American President Dwight Eisenhower. The same year, the first men’s team championships took place at the Old Course in Saint-Andrews. Six years later, the first women’s team championships were staged at the Saint-Germain-el-Laye course in France. En 2003, the World Amateur Golf Council changed their name into International Golf Federation. They are located in New Jersey.

Landmarks

Rules

The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the rules.

Since the 4th of May 1754, the rules of golf (thirty-four in 2004) are written, corrected and developed  by the Royal & Ancient of Saint-Andrews which in 1897 formed  a special Rules Committee. Since 1952, the R & A and the United States Golf Association collaborate together to set down a uniform code of rules and decisions. The most recent version (30th edition) went into effect on January 1st 2004 and is valid till January 1st 2008.

The Game
Rule 1: The Game
Rule 2: Match Play
Rule 3: Stroke Play

Clubs and the Ball
Rule 4: Clubs
Rule 5: The Ball

Players Responsibilities
Rule 6: The Player
Rule 7: Practice
Rule 8: Advice; Indicating Line of Play
Rule 9: Information as to Strokes Taken

Order of Play
Rule 10: Order of Play

Teeing Ground
Rule 11: Teeing Ground

Playing the Ball
Rule 12: Searching for and Identifying Ball
Rule 13: Ball Played as It Lies
Rule 14: Striking the Ball
Rule 15: Wrong Ball; Substituted Ball

The Putting Green
Rule 16: The Putting Green
Rule 17: The Flagstick

Ball Moved, Deflected or Stopped
Rule 18: Ball at Rest Moved
Rule 19: Ball in Motion, Deflected or Stopped

Relief Situations and Procedures
Rule 20: Lifting, Dropping and Placing; Playing from Wrong Place
Rule 21: Cleaning Ball
Rule 22: Ball Interfering with or Assisting Play
Rule 23: Loose Impediments
Rule 24: Obstructions
Rule 25: Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green
Rule 26: Water Hazards (including Lateral Water Hazards)
Rule 27: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball
Rule 28: Ball Unplayable

Other Forms of Play
Rule 29: Threesomes and Foursomes
Rule 30: Three-Ball, Best Ball and Four-Ball Match Play
Rule 31: Four-Ball Stroke Play
Rule 32: Bogey, Par and Stableford Competitions

Administration
Rule 33: The Committee
Rule 34: Disputes and Decisions

The basic golf rules are the same for both men and women.

A golf course generally has 18 holes laid out over a landscaped area that generally includes a number of hazards such as water, rough, sand traps or bunkers, trees, etc.. in order to make the game more difficult.

One begins to play a hole at the tee area, from which the golfer ‘drives’ or ‘tees off’ the ball into the fairway which is the area between tee and green. To complete the hole the golfer must put his ball in the ‘cup’ of the putting green (or putting surface) which is situated at the end of each hole.

A golf party is usually played by groups of two to four people with each participant taking a turn to play his or her ball. The ball must be played as it lies ; sometimes in unusual circumstances, the ball may be removed to a better position following the rules.

A player is permitted to carry a selection of maximum 14 clubs of different shapes, sizes, and lengths.

An 18-hole golf course has an average length lying between 5 700 and 6 500 m with the distance of each hole varying from 130 to 550 m (150 to 600 yards).

Depending on the length of each hole, the golf course has established an average number of strokes (the ‘par’) necessary to reach a hole and an average number to complete the course.

Length of the holes

- Par 3 : up to 250 yards or 228 m in length for men, 210 yards or 183 m for women.

- Par 4 : 250 to 471 yards or 229 to 434 m in length for men, 211 to 400 yards or 184 and 366 m for women.

- Par 5 : more than 470 yards or 435 m in length for men, more than 401 yards or 367 m for women.

A good golfer must be able to drive his ball more than 183 m (200 yds) from the tee in less than three shots.

Competition

There are two forms of play : one which is decided by the total number of strokes taken to complete the round (stroke-play), the other one which is decided by holes won and lost (match-play).

- Stroke-play (or medal play) : A competition based on the number of strokes taken for a specific round. The player who uses the fewest strokes to complete the course is the winner.

Most professional competitions are played at stroke play over four rounds (72 holes). In a match-play tournament, players are paired for matches , with a winner advancing to the following  round, until two golfers remain to play a final match for the contest.

- Match-play  : A competition in which each hole is a separate contest. Victory goes to the player (or team) winning the most holes. If both contestants get the same score on a hole, it is said to have been halved. A player (or team) that has won one more hole that the opponent is said to ‘one up’. If the lead becomes more than the number of holes remaining, the match is over. If a golfer is three up with two more holes to play, he wins. The final score is expressed as ‘three and two’ (3-2). In match play, scores are compared after every hole, and a player wins, loses, or halves (ties) each hole

Different matches

- Single (or twosome): A match in which one plays against another.

- Threesome: A match in which one plays against two, and each side plays one ball.

- Foursome: A match in which two play against two, and each side plays one ball.

- Three-Ball: A match-play competition in which three play against one another, each playing his own ball. Each player is playing two distinct matches.

- Best-Ball: A match in which one plays against the better ball of two or the best ball of three players.

- Four-Ball: A match in which two play their better ball against the better ball of two other players.
 

 A skin game is a betting game in which the player who takes a hole, wins the pot. If there is no winner, the pot is carried over and added to the pot for the new hole. Among the great skin specialists : Jack Nicklaus, Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer, lee Trevino, all of them figure on the  All-time Skins list. 

Device of the Royal and Ancient

 Play the ball as it lies

Play the course as you find it

And if you can't do either, do what's fair.

But to do what's fair you need to know the Rules of Golf.

Etiquette

An important part of the game is Etiquette covering  Courtesy and Priority on the course as well as care of the course.

1 Don't move, talk or stand close to a player making a stroke.
2 Don't play until the group in front is out of the way.
3 Always play without delay. Leave the putting green as soon as all players in your group have holed out.
4 Invite faster groups to play through.
5 Replace divots. Smooth footprints in bunkers.
6 Don't step on the line of another player's putt.
7 Don't drop clubs on the putting green.
8 Replace the flagstick carefully.

Note: A ball played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.
 

“more than 2 h to play 9 holes – less than 4 h to play 18 holes “

Definitions

This section of the Rules of Golf contains over sixty definitions which form the foundation around which the Rules of play are written.

These include:

 Abnormal Ground Conditions - any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.
 Addressing the Ball -  a player has “addressed the ball’’ when he has taken his stance and has also grounded his club, except that in a hazard a player has addressed the ball when he has taken his stance.
Advice - any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.
Ball in Play - a ball is “in play’’ as soon as the player has made a stroke on the teeing ground. It remains in play until it is holed, except when it is lost, out of bounds or lifted, or another ball has been substituted whether or not the substitution is permitted; a ball so substituted becomes the ball in play.
Bunker - a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.
Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker, including a stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen), is not part of the bunker. A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass is part of the bunker.The margin of a bunker extends vertically downward, but not upward. A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.

Burrowing Animal
A “burrowing animal” is an animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.
Casual Water - any temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance (dew and frost are not casual water).

Competitor - a player in a stroke play competition. A “fellow-competitor’’ is any person with whom the competitor plays. Neither is partner of the other. In stroke play foursome and four-ball competitions, where the context so admits, the word “competitor’’ or “fellow-competitor’’ includes his partner.
Ground Under Repair - any portion of the course so marked by the Committee. Also includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked.

Hazards - any bunker or water hazard designed into a course to create difficulty. Roads, tracks or paths are not hazards..
Hole
The “hole’’ must be 41/4 inches (108 mm) in diameter and at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) deep. If a lining is used, it must be sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface unless the nature of the soil makes it impracticable to do so; its outer diameter must not exceed 41/4 inches (108 mm).
 Holed
A ball is “holed’’ when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.
 Honour
The player who is to play first from the teeing ground is said to have the “honour.’’
Lateral Water Hazard - a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard.

Line of Putt - the line that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to Rule 16-1e, the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.
Loose Impediments - natural objects such as stones, leaves and twigs provided they are not fixed or growing, are not solidly embedded and are not sticking to the ball.
Lost Ball - a ball is deemed “lost’’ if:

a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or
b. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball; or
c. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place.

Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the five-minute period allowed for search.
 is deemed to have “moved’’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

Move or Moved - a ball is deemed to have “moved’’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.
Obstructions - anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and
c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

Out of Bounds -  beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course.
A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.
A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.
 Penalty Stroke – a stroke added to the score of a player or side under certain Rules. In a threesome or foursome, penalty strokes do not affect the order of play.

Putting Green – surface around the hole specially prepared for putting and containing a 41/2 inch diameter hole.
Side - a player, or two or more players who are partners.
Stipulated Round - the “stipulated round’’ consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. 

Stroke -  the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.
Substituted Ball - a ball put into play for the original ball that was either in play, lost, out of bounds or lifted.
Teeing Ground - the starting place for the hole from which the golfer must tee off, defined by two tee-markers.
Through the Green - the whole area of the golf course except the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards.
Wrong Ball - any ball other than the player’s:

Ball in play,

Provisional ball, or

Second ball played includes:
• another player’s ball,
• an abandoned ball, and
• the player’s original ball when it is no longer in play.

The rules of play

TEEING OFF

Tee off between and not in front of the tee-markers. You may tee off up to two club-lengths behind the front line of the tee-markers.

Teeing off outside this area - in match play there is no penalty but your opponent may ask you to replay your stroke; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and must then play from within the proper area.

PLAYING THE BALL

Play the ball as it lies. Don't improve your lie, the area of your intended swing or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. Don't press anything down or build a stance.

If your ball lies in a bunker or a water hazard don't touch the ground in the bunker, or the ground or water in the water hazard, before your downswing.

The ball must be fairly struck, not pushed or spooned.

Playing a wrong ball (except in a hazard) - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and you must then play the correct ball.

ON THE PUTTING GREEN

You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line of your putt but not any other damage, including spike marks.

You may mark, lift and clean your ball on the putting gre·en. Always replace it on the exact spot.

Don't test the putting surface by scraping it or rolling a ball over it.

Ball played from putting green strikes flagstick - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty.

BALL AT REST MOVED

If your ball is at rest and it is moved by you, your partner or your caddie, except as permitted by the Rules, or if it moves after you have addressed it, add a penalty stroke and replace your ball.

If your ball is at rest and is moved by someone else or another ball, replace it without penalty to you.

BALL IN MOTION DEFLECTED OR STOPPED

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by you, your partner or your caddie - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies.

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by someone else - play your ball as it lies wihout penalty, except (a) in match play, if an opponent or his caddie deflects the ball you have an option to replay the stroke or (b) in stroke play, if the ball is deflected after a stroke from on the putting green, you must replay it.

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another ball at rest- in matchplay, no penalty and the ball is played as it lies except. In stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty if your ball and the other ball were on the putting green before you played.

LIFTING, DROPPING AND PLACING THE BALL

If a lifted ball is to be replaced, its position must be marked. If a ball is to be dropped or placed in any other position it is recommended that the ball's original position be marked.

When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it. If a dropped ball strikes you or your partner, caddie or equipment it must be re-dropped without penalty.

There are eight instances where a dropped ball rolls to such a position that it must be re-dropped - see Rules of Golf Rule 20 - 2c

BALL INTERFERING WITH OR ASSISTING PLAY

You may lift your ball if it might assist any other player.

You may have any ball lifted if it might interfere with your play or assist any other player.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS

You may move a loose impediment unless it and your ball are in a hazard. However, if you have touched a loose impediment within one club-length of your ball and your ball moves, the ball must be replaced and (unless your ball was on the putting green) you incur a penalty stroke.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Check the Local Rules on the score card for guidance on immovable obstructions (e.g. surfaced roads and paths etc.) .

Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans etc.) anywhere on the course may be moved. If the ball moves it must be replaced without penalty.

If an immovable obstruction (e.g. a water fountain) interferes with your stance or swing, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless your ball and the obstruction are on the putting green.

CASUAL WATER, GROUND UNDER REPAIR

If your ball is in casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made by a burrowing animal e.g. a rabbit, you may drop without penalty within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole.

WATER HAZARDS

Check the Local Rules on the score card to establish whether the sea, lake, river etc. is a `water hazard' or a `lateral water hazard'.

Ball in watery hazard - play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke, (a) drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball crossed the margin of the water hazard and spot on which the ball is dropped, or (b) play again from where you hit the ball into the hazard.

Ball in lateral water hazard - in addition to the options for a ball in a water hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within two club-lengths of (a) the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard or (b) a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.

BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS

Check the Local Rules on the score card to identify the boundaries of the course. If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played under penalty of one stroke i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball, after which if it is not found or identified it is lost. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you may play a `provisional ball'. You must state that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search for the original ball. If the original ball is lost or out of bounds you must continue with the provisional ball under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is not lost or out of bounds, you must continue play of the hole with it and the provisional ball must be abandoned.

BALL UNPLAYABLE

If you believe your ball is unplayable outside a water hazard (and you are the sole judge), you may under penalty of one stroke, (a) drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole, (b) drop any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or (c) replay the shot. If your ball is in a bunker you may proceed under (a), (b) and (c). However, if you elect to proceed under (a) or (b) you must drop in the bunker.

Rules and dates

1850 Introduction of the gutta percha ball or ‘gutty’. A new rule stipulated that if a ball breaks up in flight, another ball may be dropped without penalty where the largest piece is found.

1909 Limitations on the form and make of clubs.

1922 Limits on the size and weight of balls in order to limit the distances they travel.

1929 Introduction of steel shafts.

1939 Only 14 clubs allowed to be carried.

1960 Ban of distance measuring devices.

1984 A ball must be dropped at arm’s length and at shoulder height; no longer over the golfer’s shoulder.

1990 The golf ball is standardized, it must be at least 1.68 inches in diameter with a weight of no more than 1.62 ounces, marking the end of the 1.62 British ball.

Handicap

The handicap system allows golfers no matter their skill level to compete on a fair and equitable basis.

Each golfer's proficiency is "summed up" by a single number which is based upon this golfer's actual historical performance.
There are many different handicap systems known around the world. Almost all of them consider only a player's best scores out of his or her most recent.

No matter which system is used, a handicap system has two parts: Reduction and Application.

- REDUCTION

"Data Reduction" is a term used for the first part of any handicap system. All it means is that a player's latest rounds of golf are fed into a formula with the purpose of summing up this individual's current proficiency.

Most systems generate a single number to describe each golfer's proficiency. That number is referred to as a "handicap". Beginning around 1988, The USGA revised their handicap formula and to differentiate between the old and new system, they labelled their new proficiency figure a "Handicap Index".

For example, a golfer who consistently shoots in the high 70s on a typical regulation course will have a handicap somewhere between 4 and 7. A golfer who usually shoots close to 100 on the same courses will have a handicap in the mid-20s.

- APPLICATION

Having a "handicap" is not worth much unless there is a way that golfers of different handicaps can use these figures to make competition fair between them.

That brings us to the second part of any handicap system. There is a formula that tells each golfer how to apply their handicap during an actual match or tournament.

To make competition fair between golfers of different proficiency, a handicap system will generally convert each golfer's handicap figure into a specific number of "credit strokes" to be used during the round.

For example, Ellen is a very good golfer (handicap 4) and wishes to play Judy, a medium-good golfer (handicap 14). The same handicap system that generated those handicap figures will also tell them how to use their handicaps (plus any course-specific information) to calculate a specific number of "strokes" that Judy will be credited with.

If the pair are competing in stroke play, Judy will deduct those credit strokes from her final score before she compares it with Ellen's to see who won.

If the pair are competing in match play, Judy will receive a single stroke of credit on each of several holes. The handicap system will tell her how many strokes of credit she is entitled to and on which holes she may use them.

Because the purpose of any handicap system is to promote fair competition, almost all of these systems employ some sort of peer review to ensure that each golfer's handicap figure represents a true evaluation of his or her proficiency.

Scratch equals a zero handicap - A Scratch golfer is a golfer who averages par.

About the golf ball

250 km/h : the speed of a golf ball during take-off shot by an experienced player during the first 50 m.

The golf ball underwent several changes throughout its life.

The very first golf balls, dating back to Ancient Rome, were made of smoothly carved boxwood.

Wooden balls were popular until the 1700s, then came the feather stuffed leather covered ball (Featherie) followed by the Gutta Percha ball (Gutty or Guttie) and replaced by the rubber core ball.

the handcrafted wooden ball was used from the mid 15th century until the 17th century.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the featherie golf ball, a sphere made of leather stuffed with goose feathers, was invented in 1618. It was the standard ball for more than three centuries.

in 1848, Reverend Andrew Dickson of St Andrews invented the first Gutta-Percha ball or ‘Gutty’ which was made from the rubber like dried sap of Sapodilla trees commonly found in Malaysia. These balls could be easily produced and repaired. With industrialisation in the 1890’s, rubber companies like Dunlop started a mass-production killing the handcrafted ball business.

A one-piece-rubber-cored ball was discovered in 1898 by an American dentist, Dr. Coburn Haskell in association with the Goodrich company. It consisted of lengths of rubber yam stretched around a rubber core and covered in a Gutta Percha sphere. This ball was universally adopted in the 1900’s. John Gammeter patented the first automatic winding machine in 1900 allowing a mass production of the ball. Golf clubs were forced to improve their golf courses introducing longer fairways with more holes and bunkers.

In 1906, British WilliamTaylor asked to be given a patent on a dimple design for golf ball covers.

Spalding introduced the two-piece Top-Flite ball,  a solid core inside a durable synthetic cover.

The size and weight varied a lot. The first official standards were established in 1930 by the British Golf Association while the United States Golf Association created their own rules. The 1.62-inch British ball was smaller than the 1.68-inch American ball. An official standard was finally set by the USGA in 1990 indicating that

the weight of a golf ball should not exceed 1.620 ounces (45.93 gr) and must have a diameter of at least 1.680 inches (42.67 mm) in diameter. The coefficient of restitution was regulated at about 0.6 meaning that if the ball is dropped from a height of 10 ft, it will rebound to a height of 6 ft.

There exist numerous types of construction : a one-pieced molded rubber ball to multi-layer balls that have liquid or solid centers wound with rubber thread. The covering is hard rubber or synthetic material covered with a surface pattern, known as ‘dimples’ that allow the ball to fly farther and straighter. A dimple is generally round (some are polygonal). There are 300 to 500 dimples on a ball.

Facts and figures

- 5 minutes : the delay in finding your golf ball.

- 40 seconds : time limit to hit your ball.

- 42,67 mm or 1.68-inch  : diameter of a golf ball.

- 45,93 gr or 1.62-inch : weight of a golf  ball.

- 108 mm : diameter of a hole

- 100 mm : depth of a hole

A ball is in play as soon as the player has made a stroke in teeing ground. The ball remains in play until the player has holed out, except when it goes out of bounds, is lost, is lifted, or is replaced by another ball in accordance with the rules.

A ball is lost when it cannot be found within five minutes after the start of the search; the player declares the ball lost before the search has lasted five minutes; the ball is found within the five-minute period, but the player cannot identify it as his.

World Golf Hall of Fame

In 1974, the PGA of America founded the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, North Carolina, honouring a total of 13 members. In 1998, it moved to Jacksonville in Florida as a part of the World Golf Village which also features a golf museum.

The Hall of Fame was created to honour and recognize services and accomplishments spanning a career in golf. Supporters include the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, the Augusta National Golf Club, the United States Golf Association, the National Golf Foundation and the Golf Course Superintendents of America. Also the professional tours of Japan, Europe, Australasia and South Africa and the Royal Canadian Golf Association agreed to participate in developing the new museum and the Hall of Fame in Florida. The Hall of Fame boasts 100 members. The latest inductees were :

Greg Norman and Payne Stewart in 2001 ; Bernhard Langer, Tony Jacklin, Tommy Bolt, Ben Crenshaw and Marlene Hagge in 2002 ; Julie Inkster and Annika Sörenstam in 2003 ; Tom Kite and Isao Aoki in 2004.

About clubs

In the early days of golf, golfers on the eastern coast of Scotland carved their clubs from wood such as apple, pear or beech. In 1502, King James IV of Scotland ordered a special set of clubs from a bow-maker. As King of England, he appointed William Mayne as royal club-maker. At that time, a set consisted of ‘long noses’ for driving, grassed clubs for the fairway, ‘niblicks’ (today’s wedges) and a club for putting.

A club is the instrument used to strike the golf ball. Its components are a grip, a shaft and a head. They are numbered from 1 to 11 depending on Les clubs sont numérotés de 1 à 11 correspondant à leur ouverture par rapport à la perpendiculaire au sol. Plus le numéro du club est petit, plus l'ouverture est petite, et par la suite la distance réalisée est grande.

Since 1938, a maximum of 14 clubs can be carried by a golfer. The rule is designed to restore shotmaking skill. The numbering of clubs also dates from this period.

In general, a set of clubs consists of 8 irons, three woods and a putter. Some players substitute a high-lofted wood for the 3-iron because they find it easier to hit.

There are three types of clubs

1. Irons

An iron is a club with a metal head. They are numbered 1 through 9, each one realizing shots of a different distance (n° 1 to 4 used for long distance shots, n° 5 to 7 for middle distance shots and n° 8 and 9 for short shots). As the number increases, the face of the club becomes large rand more lofted.

A wedge is an iron characterized by a high loft  to increase trajectory, and significant sole weighting to help penetrating sand or grass. The pitching wedge is used for hitting pitch shots; the sand wedge designed by the great golfer Gene Sarazen is used  for getting out of sand bunkers.

2. Woods

These clubs are used from the tee, fairway and rough for shots requiring greater distance than irons.

Formerly used, a wood is a club with a wooden head. Nowadays it is a club with a large head of wood or metal. Numbered 1 through 5, they are generally used for shots requiring greater distances than irons. The n°1 wood is  a driver, the longest hitting club used from the tee which requires maximum distance.

Did you know that steel-shafted clubs were permitted in the USA since 1924 and in Europe since 1929 ?

- In 1930, great golfer Gene Sarazen invented the sand wedge

- In 1959, Karsten Solheim invented the first heel-toe balanced putter, the Ping putter (named ‘ping’ because of the sound it made at the ball contact).

- In 1979, the company Taylor-Made introduced the first metal woods becoming predominant in the next decades.

- In 1990, Callaway introduced the most successful club in history, an over sized wood called the ‘Great Big Bertha’.

Nowadays, woods with titanium heads and graphite shafts are very fashionable.

3. Putter

A putter is a club especially made for putting on the green. It has a short shaft and a straight face.

All about shots

An Approach-shot is medium-range shot played to the green.

A Bisque is a handicap shot is a stroke that can be taken on any hole, on condition that the player aannounces his intention before teeing off.

A Blast is a shot from a sand trap that takes a lot of sand with it.

A Bowker is a poor shot that bounds back into play after hitting a tree, a spectator etc..

A Chili-dip is a shot on which the club head hits the ground before the ball. The results is a weak lofted shot.

A Chip shot is a short approach shot with a low trajectory, usually hit with top or backspin.

A Cut shot is a high soft shot that stops when it touches the green.

A Dib is a poorly-hit shot.

A Fat shot is a shot on which the club hits the ground before it hits the ball.

A Flip shot is a short high shot played with a highly lofted iron.

A Grasscutter is a hard-hit shot that follows a low trajectory.

A Half shot is a shot played with a half swing.

A Lob shot is a shot that goes straight up and comes straight down, often used when the golfer has little green to work with.

A Muff is a poorly hit shot.

A Putt is a shot made toward the hole when the ball is on the putting ground.

A recovery shot is a shot from an undesirable position (rough, hazard) onto the fairway or green.

A Run-up is a an approach shot that is struck close to the the ground in order that the ball will roll toward the hole.

A Stony is a shot hit very near to the flagstick.

All about grips

There are several ways of holding or positioning the hands together on a club.

Among the most popular grips figure :

- the Vardon grip named after the legendary Harry Vardon who popularized and explained this grip in his book, ‘the Complete Golfer’ published in 1905.  Also called Overlapping grip.

For right-handed golfers: The pad surface of the right little finger rests against the knuckles of the left index finger.

 - the Interlock grip (popular on the LPGA tour but also used by Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods)

For right-handed golfers: The left index finger rests within the spread between the right little finger and the right ring finger.

- the Baseball grip which resembles to the way a baseball player grips a bat.

For right-handed golfers: The right little finger pushes against the left index finger without overlapping it.
 - the Reverse grip used when putting.
For right-handed golfers: The hands are reversed such that the right index finger butts  against the left pinky.

Example of a score-card

            1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9

Length            260     180     285     440     180     365     355     470     175

PAR    4          3          4          5          3          4          4          5          3

Played            5          2          4          5          5          4          6          5          3

            10       11       12       13       14       15       16       17       18

Length            491     276     369     435     152     421     308     19       467

PAR    5          4          4          5          3          4          4          3          5

Played            6          2          4          2          1          5          3          3          5

Comments :

the player realized twice a “Birdie” meaning one stroke under Par (holes n° 2 and 16)

the player realized an “Eagle” meaning two strokes under Par (hole n° 11)

the player realized a “Hole in one” meaning a hole made in one stroke (hole n° 14)

the player realized an “Albatross” meaning three strokes under Par (hole n° 13)

the player realized a “Par”, meaning the number of strokes designated for a hole representing a standard of good performance (holes n° 3-4-6-8-9-12-17-18)

the player realized a “Bogey”, meaning a score of one over the Par (holes n° 1-10-15)

the player realized a “Double bogey”, meaning a score of 2 over the Par (holes n° 5-7).

Did you know that the term ‘birdie’ was invented in 1898 when American Ab Smith of the Atlantic City Club in New Jersey said that his golf partner hit a ‘bird of a shot’, he then suggested a double pay-off for scoring one stroke under par on a hole.

Some of the oldest golf courses in Europe

1735. Royal Burgess Golfing Society SCO – 1764. Royal St Andrews SCO - 1787. Royal Blackheath ENG – 1856. Pau FRA - 1875. Pontnewydd WAL - 1879. Tipperary IRL - 1881. Royal Belfast IRL - 1888. Royal Antwerpen BEL – 1891. Cannes Mandelieu FRA - 1898. Copenhagen DEN - 1889. Bad Homburg GER - 1891. Las Palmas ESP - 1893. Haagsche HOL - 1898. Engadine SUI - 1902. Göteborg SWE - 1903. Circolo des Golf di Roma ITA - 1922. Lisbon Sports Club POR - 1924. Oslo NOR

Did you know that one of the founding members of the reputed Cannes-Mandelieu golf course, situated in the south of France, was the Duke Michel Michaïlovitch, brother of Alexandre III, Tsar of Russia. Living in exile in Cannes, he contributed to the construction of the golf course in the 1890’s.

China’s first golf course Mission Hills was inaugurated in 1984 at Shenzhen. 

Caddy (caddie)

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), was an avid golfer. Raised in the French court where military cadets carried the clubs of royalty, she may have brought the custom to Scotland. The term ‘cadet’ evolved into the word ‘caddy’.

A caddy of  a professional  golfer carries golf bags weighing  up to 15 kg. 

 The 6th of February, astronaut Alan Shepherd, member of the crew of Apollo XIV,  hits a golf shot on the moon with an iron n°6.

Glossary

Ace : to shoot a hole in one.

Albatros : three strokes under par. Also obsolete name for a double eagle.

Apron : the area of grass surrounding the putting surface; also known as the fringe.

Approach shot : a short or medium-ranged shot played to the green at the flagstick.

Back nine or Back side : the second 9 holes on an 18-hole course.

Backswing : the portion of the swing when the club is taken from the ground back over the head.

Best ball : descriptive of a match in which the best individual score of two or more partners is the score for a hole. Also, the score itself, as in, "Smith had the best ball with a birdie, while his partner shot par."

Birdie : one stroke under par.

Bird's nest : an unfortunate lie, in which the ball is cupped in deep grass, like an egg in a nest.

Blind bogey : a competition in which a score is drawn from a hit and the winner is the player the player who comes closest to matching it.

Blind hole : a hole on which the putting green cannot be seen as the player approaches it.

Bogey : a score of one over the designated par for a hole ;  double bogey : + 2 ; triple bogey : + 3, etc..

Bunker : a hazard consisting of a stretch of bare ground, often a depression, covered with sand situated on the fairway or near the green.

Cadet, caddie or caddy : a person who carries the a player’s clubs. He may give advice.

Casual water : a temporary accumulation of water, usually from rain, that is not a water hazard. A player may lift the ball fromcasual water without a penalty.

Club : a stick used to hit the ball. Its components are a grip, a shaft and a head.

Condor : a triple eagle or four under par on a hole. Quite rare as it requires a hole in one on a par 5.

Course rating : an evaluation of a course in terms of difficulty, as compared to other courses, expressed in strokes and decimal fractions of a stroke. The course rating is used in computing handicaps.

Cut : the highest score allowing a player to continue in a tournament. A player makes the cut when he shoots that score or lower. He misses it when he shoots a higher score.

Divot : piece of turf cut out by a club’s head when a shot is made. The player must replace the divot and tamp it down.

Dogleg : a bend in the fairway.

Drive : the first stroke from the tee with a maximum force hit by the n°1 wood, the driver.

Driving range : a practice area for strokes and tee shots.

Eagle : two strokes under par ; double eagle : -3.

Fairway : well-kept area of the golf between tee and green.

Flagstick : marker placed in the hole showing its location on the green.

Green : putting green or surface on a hole.

Grip : the way in which a player holds his club ; area of the shaft where the club is held.

Hazard : a bunker or  water hazard  created to cause difficulty to the golfer. Lateral hazards run alongside the fairway.

Hook : a shot that curves from right to left  (for a right-handed golfer).

Links : originally a seaside course, nowadays any golf course.

Par : number of strokes designated for each hole representing a standard of good performance.

Penalty stroke : an additional stroke added to a player’s score because of a violation of rules.

Play-off : to play further holes or another round in order to determine the winner of a tie match.

Putt : shot made toward the hole, specially prepared for putting.

Rough : areas of long grass bordering the hole.

Slice : shot that curves strongly from left to right (for a right-handed player).

Stance : position of the feet during the address.

Swing : action in stroking the ball which includes the take-away, the backswing, the downswing and the follow through.

Tee : device of wood, metal or plastic on which the bal lis placed for driving ; the area from which the bal lis struck on the first shot of a hole.

Wedge : iron with a heavy flange on the bottom and a high loft.

Whiff : to swing and miss the ball.

Golf around the world

The EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION was founded during a meeting held in Luxembourg on the 20th of November 1937.

Countries	Courses	Players	Male	Female	Juniors
Total Europe	6 235	4 115 342
Austria	138	95 000	53 135	32 621	9 244
Belgium	65	45 589	29 879	15 710	5 159
Bulgaria	4	102	95	4	3
Croatia	1	168	139	29
Cyprus	4	458	336	108	14
Czech Rep.	52	19 240	12 015	4 371	2 854
Denmark	148	130 706	80 367	38 715	11 624
England	1 911	937 451	747 948	124 630	64 873
Estonia	5	680	Detail not communicated
Finland	106	105 576	62 247	29 016	14 313
France	548	359 141	222 536	96 555	40 050
Germany	648	483 172	259 462	172 336	51 374
Greece	6	1 335	860	180	295
Hungary	7	1 510	1 200	150	160
Iceland	56	9 793	6 401	2 023	1 369
Ireland	403	266 730	179 800	51 430	35 500
Israel	2	2 000	1 200	450	350
Italy	229	76 717	54 208	22 509	-7 143
Latvia	2	600	400	70	130
Lithuania	1	265	165	50	50
Luxembourg	6	3 637	2 546	1 091	-408
Netherlands	139	251 000	156 000	84 000	11 000
Norway	155	122 000	76 000	29 000	17 000
Poland	18	1 030	800	150	80
Portugal	67	17 642	12 359	3 594	1 689
Russia	3	4 800	2 500	1 500	800
Scotland	546	261 075	196 062	35 433	29 580
Serbia & Mont.	1	190	115	40	35
Slovakia	5	1 880	1 178	371	331
Slovenia	8	7 309	4 677	2 080	552
Spain	266	233 708	153 553	69 347	10 808
Sweden	430	554 293	315 506	146 606	92 181
Switzerland	85	46 414	25 295	16 001	5 118
Turkey	9	3 610	2 460	935	215
Wales	161	70 521	53 448	8 775	8 298

Evolution since 1990

Years	Courses	Players
2004	6 052	3 958 965
2003	6 105	3 741 680
2002	5 981	3 556 623
2001	5 896	3 400 588
2000	5 782	3 187 622
1999	5 657	3 022 499
1998	5 523	2 948 405
1997	5 277	2 755 116
1996	5 041	2 636 113
1995	4 863	2 497 163
1994	4 585	2 368 914
1993	4 323	2 190 669
1992	3 962	2 026 244
1991	3 698	1 858 952
1990	3 578	1 713 906

The world’s top-50 golf courses

(according to US Golf Magazine)

The 2004 survey is compiled by an international panel of 100 golfers, journalists, architects and industry figures looking at each courses' strategic integrity, how well a course tests the full range of golf skills and its rhythm of design, location, ambiance, conditioning, tradition and visual appeal.

Name of golf course is followed by its year of creation and course designer.

1 - Pine Valley Golf Club, New Jersey USA (1922 George Crump)
2 - Cypress Point Club, Monterey, CA. USA (1928 Alister MacKenzie)
3 - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey, CA. USA(1919* Jack Neville/Douglas Grant)
4 - Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia USA (1933* Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones)
5 - St. Andrews - Old Course SCO (1400* Old Tom Morris)
6 - Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Long Island, NY USA (1931*Howard Toomey/William Flynn; Willie Dunn en 1891)
7 - Pinehurst Country Club (n° 2 course), Aberdeen, North Carolina USA (1907* Donald Ross)
8 - Muirfield, Edinburgh (1744*Old Tom Morris)
9 - Royal Melbourne, Melbourne AUS (1926 Alister MacKenzie)
10 - Royal County Down, Newcastle IRL (1898 Tom Morris)
11 - Ballybunion (Old Course), County Kerry IRL (1893 Captain L. Hewson/James McKenna)
12 - Royal Portrush, County Antrim IRL (1888* H. S. Colt)
13 - Merion Golf Club (East course), Philadelphia USA (1912*Hugh Wilson)
14 - Sand Hills Golf Club, Mullen, NE., USA  (1995 Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw)
15 - Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania USA (1903* Henry Fownes)
16 - Royal Dornoch, Dornich SCO (1877 Tom Morris/John Sutherland)
17 - Seminole Golf Club, Palm Beach, Florida USA (1929* Donald Ross)
18 - Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort, Michigan USA (1931, Alister MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell)
19 - Turnberry (Ailsa Course), Ayrshire SCO (1897* Alister MacKenzie)
20 - Winged Foot Golf Club (West course), Mamaroneck, NY. USA (1923* A. W. Tillinghast)
21 - National Golf Links of America, Long Island, NY. USA ( 1911* C. B. MacDonald)
22 - Carnoustie (Championship course), Angus SCO (1842* Alan Robertson, Old Tom Morris/James Braid)
23 - San Francisco Golf Club, California USA (1915* A. W. Tillinghast)
24 - Prairie Dunes Country Club, Reno USA (1937 Perry Maxwell)
25 - Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course), Michigan USA (1918* Donald Ross, R. Trent Jones)
26 - Royal St. George's, Sandwich, Kent GBR (1887* Laidlaw Purves/Frank Pennink)
27 - Kingston Heath, Melbourne AUS (1887 Alister MacKenzie)
28 - Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic ST DOM (1971 Pete Dye)
29 - The Olympic Club - Lake Course, San Francisco CA. USA (1924* Sam Whiting)
30 - Royal Birkdale, Southport, Liverpool GBR (1889* Fred Hawtree/James Taylor)
31 - Muirfield Village Golf Club, Muirfield, Ohio USA (1974 Jack Nicklaus)
32 - The Country Club (Open Course), Brookline, Mass. USA (1895* W. Campbell/Rees Jones)
33 - Woodall Spa, Lincolnshire GBR (1926 Harry Vardon/H. Colt/Colonel Hotchkin)
34 - Royal Troon, Troon, Ayrshire SCO (1878* C. Hunter/W. Fergie)
35 - Chicago Golf Club, Chicago USA (1894* Charles MacDonald)
36 - Oak Hill Country Club (East Course), Rochester, NY. USA (1925* Donald Ross)
37 - Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Springfield, NJ., USA (1922* A. W. Tillinghast)
38 - Portmarnock Golf Club, County Dublin IRL (1894 George Ross/W. C. Pickman)
39 - Fishers Island Club, New York, NY. USA (1927 Seth Raynor)
40 - Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Course), Ascot GBR (1901 Willie Park)
41 - Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, OK. USA (1935* Perry Maxwell)
42 - Hirono Golf Club, Kobe JAP (1932 Charles Alison)
43 - New South Wales, Sydney AUS (1928 Alister MacKenzie/Eric Apperly)
44 - Loch Lomond, Dumbartonshire SCO (1995 Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish)
45 - Morfontaine Golf Club, Chantilly FRA (1927 Tom Simpson)
46 - Camargo Club, Cincinnati, Ohio USA (1921 Seth Raynor)
47 - Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles, CA. USA (1926* George Thomas)
48 - The Pete Dye Golf Club, Bridgeport, West Virginia USA (1967 Pete Dye)
49 - Bethpage State Park, (Black course), New York, NY USA (1936*A. W. Tillinghast)
50 - Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Lancashire GBR (1886*)

* staged a Major

Did you know that the first complete fairway irrigation system was installed in 1925 at the Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, in the state of texas ?

Continental Europe’s top-50 golf courses

(according to Golf World compiled in 2003)

1 - Valderrama Golf Club, Sotogrande, Andalusia ESP (1975 Robert Trent Jones Sr.)

2 - Golf Les Bordes, Beaugency, Vallée de Loire FRA(1987 Robert von Hagge)

3 - Halmstadt Golf Club, Halmstad, Hallands SUE (1938 Rafael Sundblom)

4 - Morfontaine Golf Club, Chantilly, Paris FRA(1927 Tom Simpson)

5 - Chantilly Golf Club Chantilly, Paris FRA (1906 Tom Simpson/John Abercromby)

 6 - El Saler Golf Club, Valencia ESP (1967 Javier Arana Ybarra)

7 - Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Cadiz, Andalucia ESP (1964 Robert Trent Jones Sr)

8 - Noordwijkse Golf Club, Noordwijk HOL (1915 Frank Pennink)

9 - San Lorenzo Golf Club, Faro, Algarve, POR (1988 Joseph Lee)

10 - PGA Golf de Catalunya, Costa Brava ESP (1999 Neil Coles/Angel Gallardo)

11 - Prince de Provence, Vidauban FRA (1999 Robert Trent Jones Jr.)

12 - Royal Zoute Golf Club, Knokke BEL (1909 Seymour Dunn ; 1945 Lt. Colonel Allen/Harry S. Colt)

13 - Praia d'El Rey Golf & Country Club, Obidos POR (1997 Cabell B. Robinson)

14 - Le Golf National (Albatros course), St Quentin FRA (1990 Hubert Chesneau)

15 - Fontainebleau Golf Club, Fontainebleau FRA(1909 Tom Simpson)

16 - Das Branderburg Sporting Club Berlin Scharmutzelsee, Brandenburg GER (1997 Nick Faldo)

17 - Biella Le Betulle Golf Club, Biella, Piemonte ITA (1957 John Morisson)

18 - Domaine de Sperone Golf, Bonifacio, Corsica FRA (1990 Robert Trent Jones Sr.)

19 - Barseback Golf & Country Club, Jaravallens, Malmohus, Skaane SWE (1969 Ture Bruce)

20 - Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Zandvoort, HOL (1910 Harry S. Colt/Frank Pennink)

21 - Hamburger Golf Club Falkenstein, Hamaburg GER (1906 Harry S. Colt/J. Alison/M. Morrison)

22 - Seignosse Golf Club, Siegnosse, Côte d’Argent FRA (1989 Robert von Hagge)

23 - Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & CC, Wassenaar/Den Haag HOL (1893 Harry S. Colt /J.Alison/J. Abercromby)

24 - Ullna Golf Club, Alkersberga, Stockholm SWE (1979 Sven Tumba)

25 - Troia Golf Club, Setubal POR (1981 Robert Trent Jones Sr)

26 - Falsterbo Golf Club, Malmohus, Skaane SWE (1909 Gunnar Bauer) 

27 - Bad Griesbach Golf Resort (Brunnwies course), Bad Griesbach GER (1996 Bernhard Langer)

28 - Villa d'Este Golf Club, Montorfano, Como ITA (1926 Peter Gannon)

29 - Milano Golf Club, Monza, Milano ITA (1928 Peter Gannon/Cecil Blandford)

30 - I Roveri Golf & Sports Club, La Mandria, Torino ITA (1971 Robert Trent Jones Sr)

31 - Penha Longa Golf & Resort, Sintra, Estoril POR (1992 Robert Trent Jones Sr)

32 - Club de Campo (Black course), Madrid ESP (1956 Javier Arana Ybarra)

33 - Oitavos Golfe, Quinta da Marinha, Estoril POR (2000 Arthur Hills)

34 - Bremen Zur Vahr Golf Club, Bremen GER (1905 Bernhard von Limburger)

35 - San Roque Club (Old course), Sotogrande, Cadiz ESP (1990 Tony Jacklin/Dave Thomas)

36 - Utrechtse Golf Club de Pan, Bosch en Duin, Utrecht HOL (1929 Harry S. Colt)

37 - Berliner Golf & Country Club, Motzener See, Berlin Brandenburg GER (1991 Kurt Rossknecht)

38 - Murhof Steiermarkischer Golf Club, Murhof, Graz AUT (1963 Bernhard von Limburger)

39 - Le Querce Golf Club,  Sutri, Lazio ITA (1985 Jim & George Fazio)

40 - La Puerta de Hierro (Arriba course), Madrid ESP (1904 Tom Simpson/John D. Harris)

41 - Real Sociedad Neguri, Algorta, Bilbao ESP (1911 Javier Arana Ybarra)

42 - Castelcontrubia Golf Club, Agrate Conturbia, Novara ITA (1984 Robert Trent Jones Sr.)

43 - National Golf Club, Belek, TUR (1994 David Feherty/David Jones)

44 - Saint Germain Golf Club, Saint-Germain FRA (1922 Harry S. Colt)

45 - Pevero Golf Club, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia ITA (1972 Robert Trent Jones Sr.)

46 - Royal Golf Club de Belgique, Ravenstein, Bruxelles BEL (1905 Tom Simpson/Alister Mackenzie)

47 - Moscou Country Club, Moscou RUS (1993 Robert Trent Jones Jr.)

48 - Seddiner See Golf & Country Club, Wildenbruch, Postdam, Brandenburg GER (1997 Robert Trent Jones Jr.)

49 - Geneva Golf Club, Genève SUI (1972 Robert Trent Jones Sr)

50 - Vilamoura Golf Club (Old course), Vilamoura, Algarve POR (1969 Frank Pennink; 1996 Fred Hawtree & Sons)