| Hole
In One - A Brief Golf
History
Original
Spanish text by Leticia González
Ortiz from the Magazine Conceptos
Translated by Marianne Klahre - Leer
Español |
Legend
says that golf has 18 holes because there
are 18 shots in a bottle of whisky; once
the bottle is empty, the game is over, as
well. |
When we say golf, we talk about
a sport of kings. With over 400 years of history, golf
has spread its magic over the world and has fascinated
princes, presidents, sheiks, rock stars.. In what is
the magic rooted? Maybe in the communion reached with
nature, maybe in the mental and physical skill it requires
and also - why not - in its surprising history.
Golf as we know it today,
begins to write its history between the 14th and
15th century, but its origin is still uncertain and
controversial. Some researchers trace it back to
the imperial roman game of paganica , which
was very popular amongst the roman farmers during
the first years of the empire. How was it played?
The story goes that a
leather ball filled with feathers was thrown with
a folded up stick towards an established mark on the
ground. Other experts consider golf an evolution from
the French jeu de mail , where the wooden mail or
mallet hit a ball made of the same material. Whoever
needed the least hits for the ball to reach an established
point, was the winner. This game had a lot in common
with present-day golf.
 The Dutch kolven or kolf as well as the pall
Mall, the cross, the chole or the cambuca are
considered as possible forerunners simple because they
all use a stick and a small ball in order to be practiced.
The following advice has been reached: Give the credit
of being the precursors of golf to the Scots - even though
the origins of golf also remain in the dark in Scotland - however
it is said that it was invented by the fishermen of
that country in order to keep busy once they returned
to firm ground: they hit a stone with a stick through
the links or through the open fields covered with thick
grass until putting it in a hole. Legend says that
golf has 18 holes because there are 18 shots in a bottle
of whisky; once the bottle is empty, the game is over,
as well. The markers of the holes that are preserved
in that country show the connection of golf to the
fishermen: a basket consisting of a cylinder of interwoven
reed with some kind of funnel tied to a stem of bamboo.
The
heyday of this sport in England took place
during the Victorian period; it caused such
frenzy in London's aristocracy that it was
played in the heart of the city. The players
broke doors, windows and used to hurt passer-byes.. |
Time passed and with it the passion for practicing
this peculiar game was extinguished. The heyday of
this sport in England took place during the Victorian
period; it caused such frenzy in London's aristocracy
that it was played in the heart of the city. The players
broke doors, windows and used to hurt passer-byes .
Until the authorities intervened in order to protect
the public and compelled the players to go to the countryside.
While in Scotland all social
classed placed golf, in England it was restricted
for a long time to the middle and higher classes
and today it still preserves that aristocratic air.
Fortunately what has changed is the wardrobe, used
to play in. Well then around the
16 th century ladies and gentlemen of the London aristocracy played in gala
dress, which is why, when this sport arrived in the United States of America,
it had the image of a "game for gentemen".
 Another important element
that has been modified with the passing of time and
the arrival of modern times is the variety of the
material for the production of golf balls. At the
beginning the ball was out made out of wood, but
soon it was improved by balls made out of leather,
filled with feathers or cow's fur. Around 1850 the
balls started to be produced with gutta-percha - a
caoutchouc coming from Indonesia. This small forward
move caused things to change, since it affected aspects
of the game like the design of the clubs, the style
of the game, the characteristics of the flight of the
ball itself and the length of the course.
It took various years of experimentation in order
to find the adequate ball, all kinds of humanly imaginable
materials were tested: mercury, soap, steel in small
loose balls or in powder, compressed air, wood, glycerin,
oil, honey, soil, rubber, cork, celluloid and even
human hair! Water with glycerin turned out to be the
best choice.
Soon the balata was discovered as a coating offering
a softer sensation of the hit, which allowed the cushioned grips or
golf clubs to be reduced, leaving more or less those
materials of the game that we know today.
The first clubs that formed far away from England
were the Calcutta Golf Club of East India in 1829 and
the Royal Bombay Club in 1842. In America the first
one was Canada's Royal Montreal Golf Club in 1873.
Very short golf glossary:
Basic Objective of Golf:
Putting the ball into the hole with the least possible
number of hits.
Tee:
Starting point of every hole, this is where the game
starts. It is also the name for the cone used to raise
the ball 1.3 cm off the ground in order to carry out
the swing.
Links:
Round of 18 holes in a regular game, there are also
36, 54, and 72 holes which imply 2 or 3 rounds through
the course.
Putting green?
Section defined by a hole which is pointed out by
a flag
Drive:
Long starting hit
Fairway:
Very well cared for area of the course with a trimmed
lawn. The main route of the game.
Rough:
Area of the course with high grass which makes it
difficult for the ball to move on.
Putt :
Iron club
used for precise hits.
Approach:
Coming close to the hole.
Green:
Very well cut lawn area bordering the hole
Match Play:
It is also called game by hole, where the winner is
determined for having finished the course.
Medal Play:
It is also called play by hits, where the winner is
determined for having finished the course.
Par:
It applies to the Medal Play. It is the number of
expected hits for a player to make the hole. For a
distance of less than 228m you should have 3 hits and
2 putts.
Hole in one:
Unusual hole achieved through a game of 3 hits during
the first opportunity.
At the present time you can find golf courses that
possess challenges for the players. In Puerto Vallarta
and Banderas Bay have various golf courses taking advantage
of the great beauty of our natural surroundings and
offering spectacular challenges for the players.
Banderas Bay Golf Courses:
|
Flamingos Club de Golf – 18
Holes Par 71
Designed by Percy Clifford.
Opened in 1978
Was the first golf course in Puerto Vallarta .
Green Fees:
USD $115.00
USD $ 69.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Golf Cart, Practice Range, Putting
Green, Lokers & Showers, Tax
Carretera Vallarta Km. 145,
Bucerias.
Municipio de Bahía de Banderas
Nayarit, México. 63730
Phone: 329 296-5006 |
Marina Vallarta
Club de Golf
18 Holes Par 71
Designed by Joe Finger. Opened in 1989.
Located in the heart of Marina Vallarta.
Green Fees:
USD $ 99.00
USD $ 75.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Shared Cart, Range Balls & Tax.
Paseo de la Marina S/N Marina
Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. 48354
Phone: 322 221-0545 | 322 221-0073 |
|
Vista Vallarta
Club de Golf – Nicklaus
18 Holes Par 72
Designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Opened in April 2001.
Home of the 2002 World Golf Championships – EMC World Cup.
Green Fees:
USD $130.00
USD $ 90.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Shared Cart, range Balls & Tax.
653 Circuito Universidad Colonia
San Nicolas
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
Phone: 322 290-0030 |
Vista Vallarta
Club de Golf – Weiskopf
18 Holes Par 72
Designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Opened in November 2001.
Green Fees:
USD $130.00
USD $ 90.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change witoput notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Shared Cart, range Balls & Tax.
653 Circuito Universidad Colonia
San Nicolas
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
Phone: 322 290-0030 |
|
El Tigre
Club de Golf – 18 Holes Par 72
Designed by Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril.
Golf Course of paradise Village. Located in
the heart of Nuervo Vallarta.
Green Fees:
USD $110.00
USD $ 70.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Shared Cart, Practice Balls, Bottled
Water and Cold Towels.
Av. Paraiso Km. 800, Casa Club
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. 63732
Phone: 322 297-0773 Ext. 105 |
Mayan Palace
Gountry Club
18 Holes Par 71
Designed by Jim Lipe. Opened in December 2002. Located in the heart of
the Mayan Palace Resort In Nuevo Vallarta.
Green Frees:
USD $130.00
USD $ 75.00 [Twilight]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Cart, Practice Balls.
Av. Paseo de las Moras S/N
Fracc. Náutico Turístico, Nuevo Vallarta Nay.
Phone: 322 297-1827 / 1830 |
|
Four Season
Punta Mita – 18 Holes Par 72
Designed by Kacl Nicklaus. Opened in September 1999.
Green Fees:
USD $180.00
USD $ 90.00 [Twilight] [Only from mid June to Septemer]
* Fees subject to change without notice.
* Fees inlcudes: Shared Cart, Practice Balls, Bottled
Water and Cold Towels.
Punta de Mita, Bahía
de Banderas.
Phone: 322 291-6000 |
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