GOLF

Golf is a club-and-ball sport where players hit a ball into a series of holes on a course, using as few strokes as possible. It's one of the few major sports where the lowest score wins. How it works A standard round has 18 holes, played in order. Each hole has a tee box where you start, a fairway, hazards like sand bunkers and water, and a green with the hole (the "cup"). Each hole has a par, the number of strokes an expert player is expected to need (usually 3, 4, or 5). Beating par is a "birdie" (one under) or "eagle" (two under). One over is a "bogey". Players carry up to 14 clubs, including drivers for long distance, irons for mid-range shots, wedges for short and high shots, and a putter for the green. The winner is whoever completes the round in the fewest total strokes. Common formats Stroke play: total strokes across the round, the format used in most professional tournaments. Match play: you win individual holes against an opponent, and whoever wins the most holes wins the match. Notable events The four "majors" are the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Team events include the Ryder Cup (Europe vs. USA) and the Olympics, where golf has been played since 2016. Why people like it Golf rewards precision, patience, and mental control more than raw power. It's also played by all ages and skill levels thanks to the handicap system, which lets weaker and stronger players compete fairly.