The club is a customized stick which has a heavy end. The use of minimum number of strokes to put the ball into the holes makes the game difficult. The clubs are all different. They have different lengths, the density of club heads is different and the loft of face. There is a restriction on the maximum number of clubs that a golfer can use. The player is given a maximum of 14 clubs to play the game. The golf courses are also all different as there are no standards set for them. They have different shapes and sizes. Also, the hazards or the obstacles are different. The obstacles or hazards make the game difficult for the player as the player has to hit the ball around. The obstacles on the golf course may be of three types, namely: water hazards like lakes and rivers, man-made obstacles like bunkers and natural hazards like dense vegetation. There is a special set of rule which applies to the game when the ball falls into these hazards.

Since there are a huge number of rules which apply to the game and they are quite confusing so it is very essential for the player to know the basics of the game clearly. The golfer must be prepared to deal with odd situations like the ball falling into a hazard or obstacle. Certain situations result in incurring of penalties. When a ball is lost or is hit out of the bounds then it counts as a penalty. If the player hits the wrong ball or hits his fellow golfer’s ball then once again it results in a penalty.

The game of golf starts when the player hits the ball using his club on the teeing ground. A small peg which is used to raise the ball above the ground level is called a tee. This shot is known as drive and is intended for covering long distances on the golf course. The term used for putting the ball in hole is ‘sinking the putt’. After the shot when the balls comes to rest the golfer again hits it to sink the putt.

The 42-year-old Northern Irishman fired a final-round 70 to finish five under to hold off Americans Phil Mickelson (68) and Dustin Johnson (72).

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn ended on one under after a 71 with American trio Rickie Fowler (72), Chad Campbell (69) and Anthony Kim (70) on level par.

Clarke, playing in his 20th Open Championship, becomes only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947.

And he follows in the footsteps of countrymen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who both won their first majors at the US Open this year and last, respectively.

Clarke led by one from Johnson going into the last round and he showed complete control of his emotions as he smiled his way to the Claret Jug at the 20th attempt.

On a day of sunny periods and fierce squalls, Clarke picked up a shot at the second, handed it back at the fourth, and then eagled the long seventh to reach the turn at seven under for a two-shot lead over Mickelson.

source: bbc

The 22-year-old from Holywood, County Down, broke a series of records as he won his first major title with an eight shot victory.

Now ranked fourth in the world, he is not expected back in Northern Ireland until Wednesday at the earliest.

In a message posted on twitter he said he was “proud to be a major champion”.

His triumph follows that of compatriot Graeme McDowell in the same event last year.

During the presentation ceremony McIlroy shouted across to his father Gerry: “Happy Father’s Day – this one’s for you”.

Mr McIlroy said it was hard to put the magnitude of his son’s victory into words.

“He has been fantastic,” he said.

“After the Masters he worked hard over the last couple of months to get where he is now, it is unbelievable.

“On Father’s Day, what a present.”

The Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers led the tributes to McIlroy following his victory.

He has also been praised at Westminster and in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Prime Minister David Cameron said McIlroy’s win was “tremendous”.

“He’s an incredible talent and clearly has a very exciting career ahead of him,” he added.

Leaving his rivals in his wake, McIlroy became the quickest player in the 111-year history of the US Open to reach 10 under par (after 26 holes).
source/full story; bbc

Le Golf National course, near Paris, was chosen ahead of other bids from Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands.

It will be the first time France has hosted the biennial Europe versus United States match and only the second time to be played on mainland Europe.

The first was in 1997, when the late Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to a narrow victory at Valderrama in Spain.

“France’s bid was exceptional. They have a first-class tournament venue already built,” said European Tour chief executive George O’Grady.

“In these tough economic times we can see where we are going. We are leaving nothing to chance on building a new course.

“The plans for the new courses in Portugal and Spain are absolutely superb.

“Seven and a half years sounds a long time but developing new areas with all the hotels, offices and roads is a big ask in that time. That is why I think their time will come.

source: bbc

The Northern Irishman and the Spaniard raced to seven under ahead of South Korean pair Yang Yong-Eun and KJ Choi.

McIlroy, 21, is playing in the maters for the 3rd time. He is the youngest ever first-round leader, beating the previous best of Seve Ballesteros who set the record in 1980.