Golf

Golf is a precision sport in which players use clubs to hit a small ball into a series of holes on a course, using the fewest strokes possible. It is also one of the primary sports of business culture — knowing golf opens doors in many professional environments.

The Big Picture

A standard golf course has 18 holes (a “round”). Each hole has a par — the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need. Lower score = better. This is opposite to most sports.

Scoring Terms

Score Relative to Par	Name
2 under par	Eagle
1 under par	Birdie
Even with par	Par
1 over par	Bogey
2 over par	Double Bogey

The Majors

Tournament	Location
The Masters	Augusta, Georgia, USA — iconic green jacket awarded
US Open	Varies across the US
The Open Championship (“The British Open”)	Rotates across UK links courses; oldest major
PGA Championship	Varies across the US

Legendary Players

Jack Nicklaus — “The Golden Bear”; 18 major titles; considered the greatest ever historically
Tiger Woods — dominated from 1997–2010+; 15 majors; brought massive new audiences to golf
Arnold Palmer — popularized golf in the TV era; the “Arnold Palmer” drink (half iced tea, half lemonade) is named for him
Rory McIlroy — dominant modern player; Northern Irish

Golf Etiquette (Essential)

Be quiet when someone is about to swing — any noise is considered extremely rude
Play at pace — keep up with the group ahead
Replace divots — fix turf torn up by your swing
Repair ball marks on the green
Dress code — many courses require collared shirts; no jeans

Golf and Business

In many business cultures — especially the US, UK, Japan, and South Korea — golf is a social business activity. A round provides 4+ hours to build relationships. Many deals are made on golf courses.