Are you thinking about picking up golf or do you not think of it as a “sport”? You can burn up to 1,000 calories playing a round of golf and you use lots of muscles too. Read more below …
Interesting Facts about golf
- It is widely accepted that golf began in Scotland about 500 years ago, although the Chinese claim to have invented a similar game during the Song dynasty (going back to 943).
- Golf is from the Dutch word “kolve”, which means club. Later on, this was changed to “glove” or “gouf” by the Scottish. The game was banned by Scotland’s king because it served as a distraction from their military training. They were prohibited from playing the game especially on Sundays.
- The first ever golf balls were made of thin leather stuffed with goose feathers, these were replaced in 1848 with the “Guttie Ball” made with the rubber like sap of the Guttie tree.
- The marks you see on golf balls are called dimples. An American golf ball has 336 dimples while British golf balls have 330 dimples. The number of dimples usually depends on the company that makes the balls. Golf ball dimples are said to help it fly more accurately and further.
- There are two golf balls on the moon! NASA astronaut and American naval aviator Alan Shepard is known as the fifth man to set foot on the moon and the only man who ever hit two golf balls while on the moon. The date was February 6, 1971.
- The most famous left-handed golfer I history is actually right handed! Phil Mickleson learned to play golf by mirroring his father’s swing as a child.
- The youngest and oldest golfers to win The Masters Tournament are one and the same! Jack Nicklaus won in 1963 aged 23 and in 1986 aged 46!
Stats which make you feel better
- 80% of golfers never achieve a handicap of less than 18!
- The chances of making two holes-in-one in a single round is one in 67 million!
- Golf is good for your fitness; our golf course is about 4 miles long – that is if you walk in a straight line 😉
- If you walk the golf course, i.e do not use a buggy, and carry your clubs rather than using a trolley, you will probably burn somewhere in the region of 1,000 to 1,200 calories, depending on your waistline or the course you are playing.
- Golf is played outside (in any weather) – being outside has great health benefits and releases endorphins.
- Golf is a social sport, where any age and capability can enjoy a game! It is great for getting to know people; Which other sport can you do whilst chatting to your opponents and playing partners from all ages?
Stats local to The Point:
- Approximately 142.380 range balls were hit on our range in 2018
- Wettest year 2012 1331.5mm of rain
- Wettest month Dec 2012 224.5mm of rain
- Driest month June 2018 3mm of rain
- 2,602,000 litres of water used on the course in last 12 months (this water comes from boreholes on the course)
- 150 tonnes of sand used on the course in 2018
- We use local sand dredged from the Camel Estuary in our bunkers
- 596 hrs raking bunkers
- 164 hrs rolling greens
- 512 hrs cutting greens
- 420 hrs watering greens
- 200 hrs changing holes
- 84 hrs spraying greens
- 530 hrs strimming
- 586 hrs cutting fairways
- 208 hrs Excavating
All major muscles are used when playing golf
- External Abdominal Obliques and Latissimus Dorsi: these muscles help rotate the torso …
- Pectroalis Major or chest muscle: helps the shoulder flex and the arm extend …
- Gluteus Maximus muscle is located in the buttocks and is regarded as one of the strongest muscles in the human body and helps support your body during the golf swing …
Golf does not have to be expensive!
- With Early Bird and Twilight rates, golfers can catch the quietest times of day at cheaper prices from £25 in the Summer for 18 holes (from 4pm) – that is £1.25 a hole
- Short on time? At The Point you can play just 9 holes
- Not played golf before? You can buy a bucket of balls for the driving range from £2 – (great family activity). Borrow clubs from us …
Do not play much?
- We do not require handicap certificates to play the course, but ask players to have general understanding of rules
- Relaxed dress code – and we do not mind people playing in trainers (stilettos or flip flops not recommended)
Did not have space in the car for clubs?
- We have hire sets available from £10 (half set) for 18 holes!
