Golf is a game in which a player, using many types of clubs including a driver, a putter, and irons, hits a ball into each hole on a golf course in the lowest possible number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not use a standardized playing area; rather, the game is played on golf “courses”, consisting of either 9 or 18 holes.

In other words, it is a game in which a ball is struck with a club from a prepared area, known as the “teeing ground”, across fairway and rough to a second prepared area, which has a hole in it, known as the “putting green”. The object of the game is to complete what is known as a hole by playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole on the putting green in the fewest possible number of strokes.

There is general agreement that the Scots were the earliest of golf addicts but who actually invented the game is open to debate. Various forms of games resembling golf were played as early as the fourteenth century by sportsmen in Holland, Belgium and France as well as in Scotland.

Basic rules:

• Be considerate of your fellow players. Don’t talk, move, or distract a player in any other way during his swing.

• On the first tee the honor is determined by the order of the draw or, in the absence of a draw, by lot.

• It is the responsibility of a player to ensure that he plays his own ball and, to this end, each player should mark his ball if necessary.

• In match play, the ball farther from the hole is played first. The winner of a hole tees off first on the next hole. If a player plays out of turn anywhere on the course, his opponent may require him to replay.

• In stroke play, the ball farthest from the hole is played first. The competitor with the lowest score on a hole tees off first on the next hole. There is generally no penalty for playing out of turn.

• When on the green, never walk across another player’s line of putt. The imprint that your feet leave on the green can alter the path of the ball. Always step over the line of the putt or around it.

• A player may not use any artificial device or unusual equipment.

• If you hit your ball into a water hazard, you may play it or with a one-stroke penalty, play another ball from where you just hit. Another option is to drop another ball where the original ball entered the hazard, incur a one-stroke penalty and play on.

Since now you are well acquainted with golf and its rules. Go play! Have fun!

Commonwealth games are organized after every 4 years. It is a multinational, multi sport event. Involving elite athletes of Commonwealth of Nations, this was the first event then known as British Empire games. Involving around 5000 athletes this commonwealth games is organized and all the responsibility for the direction and control of these commonwealth games is under commonwealth games federation (CGF).
The last commonwealth games were organized in Melbourne, Australia from 15-26 March 2006. And this time the opportunity is given to India after 4 years for hosing commonwealth 2010 games in Delhi. This is the first time India will be hosting commonwealth games in 2010 and this will be only the second time in Asia. India will be the only third developing country to host the commonwealth games event after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held between 3 October and 14 October 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world. This will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India generally; the opening ceremony will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

Delhi won the right to host the 2010 Games by defeating the Canadian city of Hamilton by 46 votes to 22 at the CGF General Assembly held in Montego Bay in November 2003. The 2010 Games is an opportunity for India to showcase itself as a sporting and cultural nation. The strong world presence, world heritage sites, museums, modern communications, delectable cuisine, glorifying art & craft, makes New Delhi an ideal destination to host Commonwealth Games 2010.

The organizing committee exposed the advertising campaign for the games on March 26, 2006 immediately after the flag for the games was transferred from the Melbourne Mayor to the Mayor of Delhi. There was a thought of including cricket in the competition but BCCI’s disapproval dampened the chance of cricket in Commonwealth Games.

Some of the important games to be played in the Commonwealth Games 2010 are:

• Aquatics
• Gymnastics
• Rugby
• Athletics
• Bowls
• Table Tennis
• Boxing
• Cycling
• Hockey
• Badminton
• Shooting
• Squash
• Netball
• Weightlifting

Delhi’s preparation for 2010 Commonwealth Games is going on full fledge with infrastructure development , new roads , new transport system and many more , giving a whole new look to the Indian capital.