10 FUN AMUSING FACTS ABOUT GOLF!
Golf Events Northern Ireland’s 10 favourite fun golf facts
1. Splish, Splash, Splosh
Every year, roughly 125,000 balls are hit into the water surrounding TPC Sawgrass’ world-renowned island green 17th hole. During the 2013 Players Championship, 44 balls were lost. But two errant shots received more media coverage than any other. Attempting to capture his second Players Championship, Sergio Garcia carded an untimely quadruple bogey seven at the 17th on Sunday, losing two balls – and the tournament – in the process.
2. Out of this World
To this day, golf is one of only two sports, along with the javelin throw, to have ever been played on the moon. Back on February 6, 1971, Apollo 14 member Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron, swinging one-handed as a result of his pressure suit. Unbeknown to the powers that be Shepherd had smuggled the club and ball onboard inside is space suit
3. Burn Baby Burn
If you choose to walk, rather than buggy your way around 18 holes, you will not only walk roughly four miles, burn 2,000 calories too.
4. If only I had the time
From January 1 to December 31, 2010, Richard Lewis set the all-time record for the most holes of golf played in one year – 11,000! Remarkably, he played every single hole at Irving, Texas’ Four Seasons Resort and Club.
5. If you wanna play just Gopher it!
Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion.” A cult classic, “Caddyshack” delivers one memorable movie line after another. But few are quoted as often as greenskeeper Carl Spackler’s Masters reference, as he imagines winning the tournament, while swinging away at flowers with a garden tool. Incredibly, the entire scene was improvised by comedic legend Bill Murray.
6. For the avoidance of Doubt
The internet myth about Golf being an acronym for ‘Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden’ is absolutely not true. As a matter of fact Golf is a very preferred sport form among ladies and there are almost twenty five percent of lady golfers and the number is growing.
7. New Balls Please
The first ever golf balls were made of thin leather, stuffed with goose feathers. ‘Feather balls’ were used up until 1848, when they were replaced with the ‘Guttie’ ball, named for the rubber-like sap of the Gutta tree, found in the tropics.
8. Speaking of which
Unbelievable as it may be but there are a group of people who play golf while they are naked. They are commonly called a “naturist”. The first naked golf course was established in a resort in France and was named Le Jenny . It has 9 hectares and 6 holes. This unique place entails a lot of places of interest including a village center.
9. Maybe ya ain’t so bad
Feeling inadequate about your high handicap? The truth is that 80% of all golfers never achieve a handicap of less than 18.
10. To the left to the left
The most famous left-handed golfer in history has a dirty secret. 4-time Major champion, Phil Mickelson, was actually born right-handed! He simply mirrored his father’s left-handed swing as a child, and never looked back.
