A game played with a small ball and a set of clubs, the object being to hit the ball into each of a series of holes with the smallest possible number of strokes -- of uncertain origin but may have originated with a game called chole, is supposedly the Celtic word for "ball" and also may come from the Old Dutch or Old German word "kolb" or "kolven" meaning "club" or "clubs".

There are basically two forms of play, one which is decided by holes won and lost (match play) and the other which is decided by the total number of strokes taken to complete the round (stroke play).

The rules of golf can be a very confusing thing to master. There are just so many of them, and they are frequently updated or amended.

Golf	Golf
Golf	Golf

But these resources should help golfers get a grip on the rules of golf. Basic golf rules are: The holes on the course must be played in order (l through 9, 10 through 18 or 1 through 18).

In match play, each hole is a separate contest. If you win the first hole, you are "one-up"; if you lose it, you are "one-down"; if you tie it, you are "all-square". During a round, you may not ask anyone except your caddie or partner for advice on how to play. However, you may ask about Rules or the position of hazards or the flagstick. The player who has the lowest score on a hole has the right to play his/her ball first on the next hole. This is called the "honor".