Ball in the hole: 5+ interesting facts about golf
The first female golf player was Mary, Queen of Scots. She enjoyed the game so much that she even organised her own golf club. Of course, the entertaining facts about this static sport do not end there — we are happy to share our selection.
Fact #1. Kangaroos are part of the game
According to Australian rules, if the ball hits a kangaroo during the game, the round continues as if nothing had happened. Animals are frequent visitors to golf courses.
Fact #2. Incredible speed
Famous athlete Tiger Woods is renowned for his shots – the ball reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h. Before him, no one had ever managed to reach speeds of over 150 km/h.
Fact #3. The ball is edible
As we know, lost golf balls cause damage to the environment. A German company has developed special balls that are made entirely from fish feed. When they hit the water, they crumble, becoming a tasty snack for sea creatures.
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Fact #4. That’s accuracy
In 1976, Bob Cook set a Guinness World Record for the longest successful putt, sending the ball into the hole from a distance of about 42.75 meters (140 feet). This record refers to putting, not the longest hole-in-one.
Fact #5. Playing is not mandatory
Sometimes golf is not a game, but an opportunity to make useful acquaintances with influential people. At the most expensive club in Las Vegas, an 18-hole round costs $500. At the same time, more than half of the golf club members do not know how to play at all.
The winner of the tournament is presented with a green jacket, which he can wear for only one year and must return before the next tournament, and the reigning champion chooses the menu for the dinner held before the tournament, to which only the winners of previous Masters and some members of the club’s board are invited. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has attended the most champions’ dinners, having won the Masters six times.
The highest golf course is located at an altitude of 3,970 metres in the Himalayas. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest golf course in the world.
Golf is a sport for long-lived people. A study in Sweden showed that golfers live on average five years longer than those who do not play.
The first written evidence of golf dates back to 1457, when King James II of Scotland banned the sport, fearing that it would distract recruits from archery. The ban was repeated in 1471 and 1491, which testifies to the irresistible appeal of this game even centuries ago.