Players began to form golf associations in the 18th century, the first of these being the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Scotland.
The first golf club in Spain was founded in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1891.
The Club de Campo Málaga was created on March 9th, 1926 with the aim of creating a golf association which would "boost tourism and a general interest in the city"
From the end of the 19th century until now, the number of golf courses worldwide has increased manifold, as has the number of golf enthusiasts.
This “boom” has also led to tourist resorts with hotels, restaurants and the like cropping up around golf courses.
Golf is the fourth most important sport in Spain as far as licenses granted, with upwards of 250,000, a figure which shows that it is not just a sport for the elite. One of the reasons for the heyday of this sport can be traced to the success of such Spanish golfers as Severiano Ballesteros, who paved the path to glory, José María Olazábal, Sergio García and Malaga golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
The tricks of the trade
The swing
The player should stand erect yet relaxed before the ball. The arms should form a Y. The left hand should support the club, while the right is placed below.
The swing is initiated with the backswing, slowly turning the body to the right (for right handed players) and throwing the right shoulder back so that the club is raised horizontally and is parallel to the ground. The left leg should bend slightly, and the heel may be raised a bit.
Once the club has been fully raised, the body should begin to turn in the opposite direction (downswing) by straightening the arms and wrists below the chest. The club will descend, gradually increasing the speed of the movement until maximum force is reached at the moment of impact.
The stroke
The first stroke when beginning a hole is made from the tee. If it is a long hole (par 4 or par 5), a driver is generally used as this club can hit the ball the farthest.
The approach is the stroke which hits the ball onto the green and as close to the hole as possible. A pitching wedge (PW) or sand wedge (SW) is generally used for this stroke as these clubs have the greatest degree of inclination (loft) and avoid the ball rolling too much, making for a more precise stroke. The club used to putt is called a putter. This stroke causes the ball to roll, rather than lifting it from the ground; it is therefore essential to calculate any possible slope or incline of the green.
Handicap
Each player has his or her own number of strokes which are deducted in a competition. This number is referred to as a “handicap”. The handicap depends on the result a player obtains in local or club competitions or in more important tournaments. The better a player is, the lower his handicap, and therefore the fewer the strokes that will be deducted during the following tournament.
The handicap system is one of the characteristics of golf which allows both good and less experienced players to play together without there existing such a disadvantage
Etiquette
Golf etiquette refers to the rules of behaviour to be followed in the various areas of the sport but which do not comprise the “rules of the game” strictly speaking. A violation of these rules is not penalized with extra strokes, but rather by cautioning offenders.
The most important of these rules are: Safety on the course, consideration towards others, speed of play, priority and dress |
 A shot of the inauguration of the Club de Campo Malaga by King Alphonse XIII
Un deporte saludable
A study carried out by a team of German researchers among golfers between the ages of 43 and 67 has shown that playing golf has very positive effects on the cardiovascular system. This proves the hypothesis that golf is the perfect activity for older people to keep themselves physically fit due tothe conditions in which it is played: in a natural environment surrounded by water and grass, while wearing comfortable clothing.
The study shows the influence of golf in preventing coronary disease. A reduction in triglycerides and an increase in good cholesterol, or HDL, were also shown to be a result of playing.
The rotation made for most movements involved in this activity (waist and back) requires strength-building gymnastic exercises for the torso.
In addition to walking, golf involves another series of movements, especially when hitting the ball. First the player must make several practice swings, i.e. pretend to hit the ball several times. Here the shoulder and wrist muscles come into play and the distance we wish to hit the ball is more easily calculated. The torso is then kept erect and rigid with the head and neck bent slightly forward, the knees slightly bent and the eyes on the point where we wish to hit the ball.
In this stance, the player swings the club forwards and then back until it nearly touches the back.
All of the player's weight is then shifted to the right foot, while the left foot is turned until it rests on the tip of the big toe and the left knee is turned inwards.
While it may seem one of the least active sports, it is one which puts nearly all our muscles into action. Taking up this magnificent sport can therefore only bring us enjoyment.
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