Golf
Although the popular notion is that the game of golf originated in Scotland in the mid-1400s, the truth is, no one really knows. Various forms of the sport have been played in England, France, Holland, Belgium, and even China. As other sports have promoted personalities, golf has steadfastly maintained its sense of decorum and tradition, rewarding only those who prove their mettle on the course. However, golf's love of tradition hasn't prevented it from establishing a strong Web presence in the 21st century. Whether you're just beginning or have already let golf take over your life, you'll find plenty of resources that can help you to brush up on the rules, obsess over tournaments, or improve your game.
Expand All Guide SectionsHistory and Rules of Golf
Golf is a simple game; the goal is to put the tiny white ball into the small hole in the ground with the fewest swings of your club. Of course, that is easier said than done and, like most sports, golf has its share of obscure rules and unique terminology. Learning the history, rules, and etiquette of the game is sure to increase your enjoyment out on the links.
Dulcinea's Insight
- In addition to the sites listed below, nearly all of the major professional golf sites will have at least a brief synopsis on the history and rules of the game as well as instructional links. ESPN even sponsors a Beginners Tour that offers "instruction addressing basic aspects of the game, including grip, posture, scoring, etiquette, and other fundamentals."
- Golf is somewhat like poker in regards to the variations of the game. There is stroke play, stroke play with handicaps, match play, closest to the pin contests, and a myriad of other alternative forms of play.
- For the history of a particular tour, look in the next section for tour links. Each link should have a history page.
- Remember, the game of golf involves hitting a small sphere of hardened rubber hundreds of yards at a time. Therefore, learning proper course etiquette is not only a matter of academic interest; it can be vital to one's safety
Dulcinea's Picks
For golf history...
GolfEurope.com
offers a peek at the game, complete with photos and illustrations, from 1497 to the present.
Ruleshistory.com
offers a history of the rules of the game, showing the Royal and Ancient Golf Club's (R&A) rulebooks at any given time. Content can be sorted by time period or by rule.
For golf rules and regulations ...
The United States Golf Association
has the full Rules of Golf, which are created and interpreted by the USGA and The R&A.
Professional Golf Tours
Understanding the organizational structure of professional golf can be difficult; the average PGA Tour player will play in tournaments governed by five different organizations over the course of a year. The Internet can help you understand the tours that make up competitive golf, as well as the organizations that govern amateur golf and major professional tournaments.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There are several different Professional Golfers Associations. The PGA of America (USPGA) is an organization primarily for club pros. The PGA Tour, which is independent of the USPGA, is made up of elite professionals. The PGA European Tour is the international equivalent of the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour and PGA European Tour are independent of each other, though they do work together in governing the Ryder Cup.
- Although the PGA isn't restricted to a specific gender, it is, for all practical purposes, an organization for male golf pros. Those seeking information on professional female golfers should concentrate on LPGA-related sites.
- The novelty of senior golf tours, which became popular in the 1980s when it featured players like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, and Jack Nicklaus, has worn off. There are now fewer senior tournaments and they receive less coverage.
- The sites listed below represent some of the biggest and best professional tours in the world. However, be sure to check your local golf courses and pro shops for information on smaller tours or tournaments in your immediate area.
Dulcinea's Picks
For men's pro tours ...
PGA Tour
covers the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. It features schedules, live scores, tournament information and video. In addition, there are player bios, with current and career earnings, tournament wins, cuts made, and other facts.
The PGA European Tour
holds tournaments not only in Europe, but in Asia, Africa, and Oceania as well. Its members come from all around the world and include well-known golfers like Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, and Vijay Singh. The site delivers all the great content PGA.com has to offer, with an especially good audio/video section.
Japan Golf Tour
gives information on the Japanese professional golf tour (in English). The site features upcoming events and a robust stats section, as well as player bios and course links.
The Pro Golfers Association of America
is an organization for golfing professionals, which governs the PGA Tour, PGA Championship and, in conjunction with the European PGA, the Ryder Cup. Its site offers a broad variety of pro golf data, tour stops, statistics, ticket information and current news. The site also features an online store and an "Ask the PGA Experts" section that allows users to submit questions and browse through archived answers from authorities on golf instruction, equipment, fitness, and the rules.
The U.S. Golf Association
governs American golf, upholding rules and holding tournaments, including the U.S. Open. Its Web site has information on etiquette, equipment, course , and how to become a USGA member. It also has information on its 13 national championship tournaments.
The Masters
is one of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments, held every April at the Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia. The site includes tournament history, records, stats, player profiles, and changes to the course.
The R&A
, St Andrews is the governing body of all golf outside of the United States and Mexico. It runs The Open Championship, a major also known as the British Open. The site includes information about rules, course management, and the development of the game around the world. The R&A is named after the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's, the so-called "Home of Golf."
Asiantour.com
spotlights the Asian Tour, which actually draws players from across Asia, England, Australia, Sweden, the United States, and elsewhere. The site is first rate, with practically all of the features of more prominent sites like PGA.com, save for video and audio (although there is a television schedule listed).
PGA Tour Australasia
is primarily dedicated to covering the pro game in Australia, although a great number of Americans play on the Australasia tour as well. All the usual facts and figures can be found on this site with one slight twist-the numerical data is represented metrically.
The Gateway Tour
is designed to aid players in developing the skills necessary to compete with the "big boys" on the PGA Tour. Founded in 2001, the total money paid out on the Gateway Tour has grown every year, with the top earner in 2006 (Jamie Neher) raking in over $150,000. The Web site is very sparse on content but does provide several contact numbers and e-mail addresses for those desiring more information.
NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour
used to be a way for future PGA Tour competitors to hone their skills and gain valuable experience. But, with purses expected to top $3.6 million in 2007, the Hooters Tour, under its sanctioning body, the National Golf Association (NGA), continues to grow in stature and prestige. Lee Janzen, John Daly, Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, and 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, are just a few of the notable tour alumni. The Web site is thorough, with membership info as well as current standings, stats, and a schedule of upcoming events.
For pro tour information for senior men ...
Champions Tour
occupies a portion of the PGA Tour Web site and furnishes a vast array of info on the senior set, including an outstanding stats section.
Sunbelt Senior Professional Golf Tour
is a site dedicated to men's senior golf in the southeastern United States. Hosting 12-14 tournaments a year, the tour claims to have paid out over $3 million in purses and includes more than 100 members that have won money on the more prestigious Champions Tour. The Web site has results, a pro shop, and a hall of fame.
Heartlandplayers.com
is great for male senior pros not quite ready for prime time, i.e., the Champions Tour. Everything from results, to current member earnings, to rules and regulations can be found on this interesting site.
For pro tour information for women ...
The LPGA
is the most prominent tour for women's golf. Its site gives biographical information relating to the ladies of the links and features a variety of interactive content, including an "Ask a Player" section that permits visitors to ask questions of their favorite tour competitors.
Ladies European Tour
is a super site dedicated to Europe's professional gals of the green, with a host of interesting features, including incredibly thorough player profiles.
The Legends Tour
provides all the essentials on the ladies senior tour, including schedules, ticket information and player bios. The site also features a forum for registered users.
Australian Ladies Professional Golf
Web site focuses on the lady pros from Down Under. Well organized, the ALPG site features easy-to-use menu tabs, providing everything from season/career earnings to golf tips. The site also contains an impressive amount of historical data, including past results dating back to 1986-87.
News and Analysis of Professional Golf
Most of the major sports news organizations will have at least a portion of their Web sites devoted to the PGA, PGA European, and LPGA tours. In addition to offering all the breaking news, commentary, and audio/video features on the pro game, many of these Internet venues also provide a full range of content for novices as well, from tips designed to improve one's game to opinions on clubs and other equipment.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Like many pro sports, it is far more difficult to find good coverage on LPGA players and events than it is to find similar coverage on PGA players and events. However, with a little diligence, the task can be accomplished with little bother, as long as you specify gender in your searches.
- Because major sports sites tend to carry a lot of the same information, avid fans might want to bookmark only those portions of each site that are most helpful.
Dulcinea's Picks
For PGA and LPGA news and notes ...
Golf.com
, a Sports Illustrated and CNN network site, is yet another major venue that generally ignores the women's game. On the positive side, it does feature some great content on the PGA Tour (and Tiger Woods), as well as some excellent tutorial videos to improve one's game.
Golf Digest
covers the PGA Tour and golf as a whole, with feature stories, instruction, travel reviews, and Tour analysis from writers like Johnny Miller. It has a good video section that covers all parts of the site. It also includes Tiger's Tips, a section in which Tiger Woods shares some of the advice that made him so good.
Fox Sports Golf
caters primarily to the PGA Tour but does offer, perhaps, the best collection of PGA videos on the Net.
ESPN Golf
(in association with Golf World) presents possibly the best site for in-depth coverage of the major tours. It offers the latest headlines, stats, videos, and player profiles. The "Player News" link alone is worth the visit.
CBS Sportsline Golf
is easy to navigate and offers a full complement of insightful commentary, player stats and leader boards for both the PGA and LPGA tours. The site also has links to the four PGA majors-the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.
MSNBC
offers a golf section geared toward fans, replete with original content, message boards, slide shows, and some video presentations.
The British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) focuses on the European Tour, with news stories, commentary, and a blog from its golf editor. It also features a good audio/video section with many interviews of European Tour players.
Golfweek
is dedicated to all levels of golf for both men and women. It features tour information, ranking, commentary, and Golfweek TV video on pro, amateur and junior golf. It also has information on apparel, equipment, and tutorials.
Golf Podcasts and Radio Shows
Major sports network sites such as ESPN, MSNBC, CBS Sportsline and Fox Sports have audio and video in their golf sections, but there are also many interesting sites and shows dedicated to golf.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Because audio/video podcasts tend to come and go quicker than the Accuform Whistler driver, try searching some of the podcast directories like Podcast Alley and iTunes for shows you might be interested in.
- Be sure to check tournament Web sites for links to event-specific podcasts and other audio/video content.
Dulcinea's Picks
For golfing podcasts and radio shows ...
The Golf Channel
is the best source for golf video coverage anywhere in cyberspace. It features news reports on the PGA, LPGA, Nationwide and European Tours, as well as the Ryder and President's Cups. It also has videos on instruction, equipment, travel, and Golf Channel shows.
The 19th Hole Golf Show
, hosted by Ryan Ballengee, delivers weekly commentary, analysis and interviews with past and present players, golf executives, and others.
TravelGolf This Week
is a very well-produced show hosted by Dave Berner that features the latest news from the PGA and LPGA tours, as well as commentary on golf equipment and travel destinations.
Sand Trap's Golf Talk
discusses the latest goings-on in the world of golf in a weekly podcast, focusing on the PGA and LPGA Tours.
Real Golf Radio
is a weekly two-hour radio show broadcast by the Real Golf Radio Network. Brian Taylor and Bob Casper discuss the world of golf and interview high-profile guests such as Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, David Toms, and Sergio Garcia.
Fantasy Golf
Want to put your knowledge of the PGA Tour to the test? Win prizes and bragging rights for predicting the best performers at any of these fantasy golf sites.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Like most fantasy sports games, if you want to be successful at fantasy golf, you're going to have to do your homework. Check some of the PGA and LPGA sites listed above to get all the latest stats and trends.
- In the same way that certain tennis players perform better on grass as opposed to clay surfaces (or vice versa), so too do some golfers play better or worse on particular courses or under particular conditions. Paying close attention to a player's likes and dislikes can often mean the difference between winning and losing a fantasy tournament.
- If you'd like to find out more about fantasy sports in general, head to the findingDulcinea Sports Guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For fantasy golf games ...
PGA Tour.com
Fantasy Golf has several games to choose, including a draft league and a salary cap league. The games are all free and the grand prize winners get free trips to PGA tournaments.
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf
is free and gives participants the option of activating a starting foursome from an 8-player roster divided into three categories. In each game tournament, 20 points is awarded to the actual round winner, with points subtracted from the other players based on the number of strokes they finished in behind the winner.
Fantasy Golf Challenge
, a free game sponsored by CBS Sportsline, allows players to spend a virtual $1,000,000 on five players in a designated tournament. The standings are determined by each golfer's finish in the competition.
Best Ball Challenge
by ESPN simulates real golf by scoring every hole. After selecting your desired foursome, your score for each hole is based on the best score achieved by your individual golfers.
Sporting News Fantasy Golf
offers cash prizes and gives each contestant four players and free trades (with the option to buy more) each week.
Improving Your Golf Game
While longtime duffers and jaded hackers may question whether or not they will ever improve their game, there are many pros and teachers who are willing to help. The Internet has many sites that can cure your slice and keep you out of the sand.
Dulcinea's Insight
- As with any educational endeavor, one must first determine his/her preferred method of learning. If you are an auditory learner, obviously going to sites offering books and newsletters is probably not going to be helpful, whereas finding appropriate podcasts and audio books might be just the ticket.
- A good way to find teaching pros in your area is to conduct Internet searches using your city/state followed by the words "golf instructor" or something similar. Often, you will find entire directories in this manner and you can at least get an idea as to cost and competence without having to, in effect, "interview" every potential candidate.
Dulcinea's Picks
Golf Tips Magazine
has everything a serious or semi-serious golfer could possibly need from equipment to instructional articles and video, to free educational software, and an editor's blog on anything and everything golf related.
Golfgist.com
features valuable instructional information in a very simple format. It features multiple tutorials on technique, mental approach, and practice drills.
Golfsupport.com
is another site that lacks a bit aesthetically, but supplies some great content, with links and articles from PGA and LPGA teaching pros.
Tom's Golf Tips
offers concise instruction on a variety of golf topics. It provides a nice checklist of dos and don'ts, as well as "problems and cures," in which it tells you how to fix common problems.
LearnAboutGolf
has basic instruction, as well as more detailed instruction from the book Golf Beginner Guide. It also has video tutorials for more visual learners.
Buying Golf Equipment and Apparel
Typically, golf apparel and equipment can be found at any golf course pro shop as well as most sporting goods stores. Finding high-quality, proper-fitting equipment can be a challenge sometimes, especially for juniors and ladies. The Web sites listed below offer a wide selection, good prices, and high quality equipment and apparel.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Finding proper fitting clothes and clubs can have a huge effect on your game. Consulting with a local pro often seems expensive, but it might just save you money (and strokes) in the long run.
- Many retail outlets (both online and off) offer free newsletters or flyers listing their current sales. Price-conscious shoppers would do well to consult these before making their purchasing decisions.
- When analyzing what type of equipment to buy, obviously it is best to examine your own needs. If, for example, you struggle with your accuracy off the tee, it is probably best to concentrate on clubs/balls designed to help you in that area rather than those noted for improving driving distances.
Dulcinea's Picks
For equipment ...
The Golf Warehouse
(TGW) offers an enormous selection of golf merchandise, and the site's excellent organization makes shopping a breeze.
Golfio
provides a range of golfing equipment, including a full complement of products for juniors.
Golfballs.com
not only offers golf balls and equipment from some of the game's most trusted suppliers, but the site allows users to list items based on the popularity ratings they were given by other shoppers.
Golfreview.com
is a straightforward site that offers a variety of products for sale accompanied by user reviews on a 1-5 scale.
Callaway Golf Pre-Owned
is a great site for bargain hunters seeking certified products from one of the most trusted names in golf.
Only Golf Apparel
carries clothing from Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Nike, Tommy Bahama, and a host of other well-known brands.
Golfsmith Golf & Tennis
sells everything from pre-owned balls and clubs to games and electronics to custom logos and travel packages.
For reviews ...
Rankmark
is one of the best sites for extensive club and equipment reviews. It surveys golfers with multiple ability levels in order to determine how well each club feels and strikes the ball-it then produces a write-up on the best products.
GolfTestUSA
rates golf equipment in many categories on a 1-10 scale, with little or no write-ups. The company states that it doesn't accept free equipment or ad revenue from manufacturers, so as not to compromise the integrity of the rankings.
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
