Golf is an outdoor game in which players use specially designed clubs to propel a  small,      hard ball over a field of play known as a course or links. The object of the   game is to        advance the ball around the course using as few strokes as possible.   

A golf course is divided into 18 sections, called holes. The standard course is about 5,900 to 6,400 m. The individual holes may vary in length from 90 to 550 m. Each hole has at one end a starting point known as a tee and, embedded in the ground at the other end, marked by a flag, a cup or cylindrical container (also called a hole) into which the ball must be propelled in order to complete play at each hole. The cup is usually made of metal or plastic, 10.8 cm (4.2 inch) in diameter, and at least 10 cm (4 inch) deep.

GOLF STROKES AND GOLF CLUBS

In addition to the putt, the specialized stroke used on the green, two main types of shots are used in playing each hole: the drive, which is a long shot from the tee on to the fairway, and the approach shot to the green. Both types demand great accuracy. Shots of various lengths are played with different clubs, according to the distance to be covered and the lie (position) of the ball.

Two basic forms of competition exist in golf: match plan and stroke play. In match play the player or the team taking the fewer number of strokes to sink the ball into any particular hole - called "to hole out"- is the winner of the hole. The contest is won by the player or team winning the most holes.