Golf is a sport 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", each one of which has a unique design and typically consists of either 9 or 18 holes. Golf is defined in the Rules of Golf as "playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules
A golf ball next to a hole.The first game of golf for which records survive was played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland, in A.D. 1456, recorded in the archives of the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society, now The Royal Burgess Golfing Society. The modern game of golf spread from Scotland to England and has now become a worldwide game, with golf courses in the majority of countries.
Golf competition may be played as stroke play, in which the individual with the lowest number of strokes is declared the winner, stableford points play (as devised in 1931 by Dr. Frank Stableford of the Wallasey & Royal Liverpool Golf Clubs), in which the individual with the highest points score is declared the winner, or as match play with the winner determined by whichever individual or team posts the lower score on the most individual holes during a complete round. In addition, team events such as fourball have been introduced, and these can be played using either the stroke, stableford or matchplay format. Alternative ways to play golf have also been introduced, such as miniature golf, sholf and disc golf.
Golf has increasingly turned into a spectator game, with several different levels of professional and amateur tours in many regions of the world. People such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Lorena Ochoa, Pádraig Harrington and Annika Sörenstam have become well-recognized sports figures across the world. Sponsorship has also become a huge part of the game and players often earn more from their sponsorship contracts than they do from the game itself.
Golf is a game the exact origins of which are unclear. The origin of golf is open to debate as to being Dutch[3] or Scottish. However, the most accepted golf history theory is that golf as practised today originated from Scotland in the 1100s.[4]
Scholars have claimed references to a form of golf from hieroglyphs found on stone tablets dating to ancient Egyptian Pharoahs. A game somewhat similar to golf was first mentioned in Dōngxuān Records (Chinese: 東軒錄), a Chinese book of 11th century. It was also mentioned on 26 February 1297 in the Netherlands in a city called Loenen aan de Vecht. Here the Dutch played a game with a stick and leather ball. Whoever hit the ball into a target several hundreds of meters away the least number of times, won.
Modern golf is considered to be a Scottish invention,as the game was mentioned in two 15th century laws prohibiting the playing of the game of gowf. Some scholars have suggested that this refers to another game which is more akin to modern shinty, hurling or field hockey than golf. A game of putting a small ball into a hole in the ground using clubs was played in 17th century Netherlands. Flourishing trade over the North Sea during the Middle Ages and early Modern Period led to much language interaction between Scots, Dutch) and other languages. There are also reports of even earlier accounts of a golf like game from continental Europe.
However, these earlier games are more accurately viewed as ancestors of the game we call golf, as the fact remains that the modern game of golf we understand today originated and developed in Scotland: The first golf club memberships were formed in Scotland. The earliest permanent golf course originated there too, as did the very first written rules, as did the establishment of the 18-hole course. The first formalized tournament structures also emerged there and competitions were arranged between different Scottish cities. Over time, the modern game spread to England and from there to the rest of the world. The oldest playing golf course in the world is The Musselburgh Old Links Golf Course. Evidence has shown that golf was played here in 1672 although Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played there in 1567.
As stated, golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. As early as the 15th century, golfers at St Andrews, in Fife, established a customary route through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography. The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. One played the holes out, turned around, and played the holes in, for a total of 22 holes. In 1764, several of the holes were deemed too short, and were therefore combined. The number was thereby reduced from 11 to nine, so that a complete round of the links comprised 18 holes. Due to the status of St Andrews as the golf capital, all other courses chose to follow suit and the 18-hole course remains the standard today.
The major changes in equipment since the 19th century have been better mowers, especially for the greens, better golf ball designs, using rubber and man-made materials since about 1900, and the introduction of the metal shaft beginning in the 1930s. Also in the 1930s the wooden golf tee was invented. In the 1970s the use of steel and then titanium to replace wood heads began, and shafts made of "graphite" (also known as carbon fiber) were introduced in the 1980s. Though wooden tees are still most popular, various designs of plastic tees have been developed in recent years, and the synthetic materials composing the modern ball continue to be developed.
Golf balls are famous for "dimples". These small dips in the surface of the golf ball decrease aerodynamic drag which allows the ball to fly farther. Golf is also famous for the use of flags. These show the position of the hole to players when they make their first drive and are too far away from the hole to aim accurately. When all players in a group are within putting distance, the flag is removed by a "caddy" or a fellow competitor to allow for easier access to the hole.
World popularity
In 2005 Golf Digest calculated that there were nearly 32,000 golf courses in the world, approximately half of them in the United States. The countries with most golf courses in relation to population, starting with the best endowed were: Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Wales, United States, Sweden, and England (countries with fewer than 500,000 people were excluded). Apart from Sweden, all of these countries have English as the majority language, but the number of courses in new territories is increasing rapidly. For example the first golf course in the People's Republic of China opened in the mid-1980s, but by 2005 there were 200 courses in that country.
The professional sport was initially dominated by Scottish then English golfers, but since World War I, America has produced the greatest quantity of leading professionals. Other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and South Africa are also traditional powers in the sport. Since around the 1970s, Japan, Scandinavian and other Western European countries have produced leading players on a regular basis. The number of countries with high-class professionals continues to increase steadily, especially in East Asia. South Korea is notably strong in women's golf.[11]
The last decade or so has seen a marked increase in specialised golf vacations or holidays worldwide. This demand for travel which is centered around golf has led to the development of luxury resorts which cater to golfers and feature integrated golf courses.
In the United States, the number of people who play golf 25 times or more per year fell from 6.9 million in 2000 to 4.6 million in 2005, according to the National Golf Foundation. The Foundation reported a smaller decline in the number who played golf at all; it fell from 30 million to 26 million over the same period
SKİE SKİ THE SİİKİNG
La Grave and the massif of La Meije offer the biggest lift-accessed off piste skiing in the world! Not only that but it is one of the few massifs which has an incredible 2150m 2300m of (7050ft) vertical drop. This off-piste mountain range can provide exhilarating skiing terrain for the advanced skier, snowboarder and tele-marker. The Skiers Lodge is perfectly positioned within only 3 minutes walk to the lift! This lift ascends from the village at 1400m to stations at 1800m, 2400m, 3200m, and finally to Dome de la Lauze, “the Glacier”, at 3550m. A typical ski descent offers limitless variety from tame to steep terrain commencing on this glacier, proceeding down spectacular open bowls, winding its way through small chutes, crossing glacial moraines into seemingly endless steeps and deeps in the serenity of the forest. Legendary descents from the Girose glacier, with direct lines of 2300m explain why so many riders come back year after year to enjoy free-riding with one of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Alps. FMGA Mountain Guide Pelle Lang, the founder of Skiers Lodge, has come across this spectacular mountain village during his search for big mountain skiing. His dream was to create a lodge owned and operated by skiers for skiers. In 1989 this dream becomes a reality. "Careful thought is given to the itineraries that are chosen for each day. The goal is to keep clients challenged by the terrain, but not terrified by the surroundings."he Skiers Lodge Guide Service, for which Pelle works daily as the chief guide, represents the ski part of the concept. The ambition is to create a good chemistry between guides and skiers. Careful thought is given to the itineraries that are chosen each day. The goal is to keep clients challenged by the terrain, but not terrified by the surroundings. La Grave, de la Meije is not a ski resort. Ski resorts adapt to skiers whereas here the skier must adapt to the mountain. This is best achieved by the guidance received from the experienced guides within the Guide Service allowing the client to enter terrain otherwise inaccessible to him/her in a safe manner. All guests are given safety equipment which they are trained to use. Groups are limited to 5 persons ensuring a good level of safety and allowing for different skiing pace. All guides are qualified by the IFMGA and speak English, French, German and Swedish. In close proximity to La Grave there are many resorts with their own micro climates and our guide team may propose one of numerous possible day trips all within an hour’s drive. Service allowing the client to enter terrain otherwise inaccessible to him/her in a safe manner. All guests are given safety equipment which they are trained to use. Groups are limited to 5 persons ensuring a good level of safety and allowing for different skiing pace. All guides are qualified by the IFMGA and speak English, French, German and Swedish. In close proximity to La Grave there are many resorts with their own micro climates and our guide team may propose one of numerous possible day trips all within an hour’s drive. Depending on the best weather and snow conditions you may be guided to secret off-piste spots in Alp d’Huez, Serre Chevalier, and Claviere with their steeps, deeps and marvelous trees. Weather and snow conditions permitting why not try the phenomenal heliskiing in Alta Val Susa (Italy). The Skiers Lodge Guide Service is willing to show riders what it considered to be the best lift access free riding in the world. All it takes is a spirit of adventure for you to share in the ultimate riding experience. A revolution in attitude, style and equipment is making the sports of skiing and snowboarding better than ever.When international ski manufacturers launched their new breed of Extreme Skis, La Grave was the chosen spot. A combination of its long ski runs, its varied terrain and its untouched and unspoiled routes, has given birth to a freedom a freedom to create and shape exciting new styles, attitudes and equipment. Local riders long ago adopted a Free Rider attitude. This means taking responsibility for ones actions on the mountain. As the world of skiing and snowboarding pushes the limits of equipment, the industry pops out more modern equipment with a design and understanding of the 21st century rider. It is now easier than ever to float in the deepest powder, to hold an edge on the steepest terrain and to leave pencil-like tracks of a groomed snow surface
NEW YORK CİTY
New York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States, and is the country's third most populous state. The state is bordered by New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to the south, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east. The state has a water border with Rhode Island off the east coast of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario to the northwest. New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City.
New York City, which is the largest city in the United States, is known for its history as a gateway for immigration to the United States and its status as a financial, cultural, transportation, and manufacturing center. It was named after the 17th century Duke of York, James Stuart, future James II and VII of England and Scotland.
New York was inhabited by the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Lenape Native American groups at the time Dutch and French nationals moved into the region in the early 17th century. First claimed by Henry Hudson in 1609, the region came to have Dutch forts in Fort Orange, near the site of the present-day capital of Albany in 1614 and was colonized by the Dutch in 1624, at both Albany and Manhattan; it later fell to British annexation in 1664. About one third of all of the battles of the Revolutionary War took place in New York. New York became an independent state on July 9, 1776 and enacted its constitution in 1777. The state ratified the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788 to become the 11th state. According to the US Department of Commerce, it is also the state of choice for foreign visitors, leading both Florida and California in tourism.
New York covers 54,556 square miles (141,299 km²) and ranks as 27th largest state by size. The Great Appalachian Valley dominates eastern New York, while Lake Champlain is the chief northern feature of the valley, which also includes the Hudson River flowing southward to the Atlantic Ocean. The rugged Adirondack Mountains, with vast tracts of wilderness, lie west of the valley. Most of the southern part of the state is on the Allegheny plateau, which rises from the southeast to the Catskill Mountains. The western section of the state is drained by the Allegheny River and rivers of the Susquehanna and Delaware systems. The Delaware River Basin Compact, signed in 1961 by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the federal government, regulates the utilization of water of the Delaware system. The highest elevation in New York is Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks.
New York's borders touch (clockwise from the west) two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario, which are connected by the Niagara River); the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada; Lake Champlain; three New England states (Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut); the Atlantic Ocean, and two Mid-Atlantic states (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). In addition, Rhode Island shares a water border with New York.
Contrasting with New York City's urban atmosphere, the vast majority of the state is dominated by farms, forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes. New York's Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the United States. It is larger than the Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier and Olympic National Parks combined. New York established the first state park in the United States at Niagara Falls in 1885. Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River as it flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, is a popular attraction. The Hudson River begins with Lake Tear of the Clouds and flows south through the eastern part of the state without draining Lakes George or Champlain. Lake George empties at its north end into Lake Champlain, whose northern end extends into Canada, where it drains into the Richelieu and then the St. Lawrence Rivers. Four of New York City's five boroughs are on the three islands at the mouth of the Hudson River: Manhattan Island, Staten Island, and Brooklyn and Queens on Long Island.
"Upstate" and "Downstate" are common terms used to distinguish New York State counties north of suburban Westchester and Rockland counties, on the one hand, from the New York City metropolitan area on th other. Upstate New York typically includes the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, the Shawangunk Ridge, the Finger Lakes and the Great Lakes in the west; and Lake Champlain, Lake George, and Oneida Lake in the northeast; and rivers such as the Delaware, Genesee, Mohawk, and Susquehanna. (A popular joke goes, "Where does Upstate begin?" "At the sign that says, 'Welcome to Yonkers'!") Central New York is the region centered around Syracuse and Utica, regions west of Syracuse are Western New York (i.e. Rochester and Buffalo), Binghamton, Elmira and west along the Pennsylvania line is the "Southern Tier," and "The North Country" is the region between the Adirondacks and the Canadian border, from the Watertown area to Plattsburgh. Residents of neighboring states and provinces may use the term "New York State" to refer to Upstate New York, to distinguish the region from New York City
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