Golf Facts for Beginners: Surprising Things You Should Know

Golf is simple at its core: hit the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. But the game is full of fascinating facts about rules, scoring, equipment, etiquette, and history.

Golf Facts for Beginners

Golf is over 500 years old

The modern game started in Scotland in the 1400s, making it one of the oldest organized sports still played today.

A standard golf course has 18 holes

Most courses are 18 holes, but many beginner-friendly ones have 9 holes for quicker play.

Golf balls have about 336 dimples

Dimples reduce drag and help the ball fly farther and straighter.

Every shot counts, even mistakes

Whether you miss the ball (an “air shot”) or hit out of bounds, it still adds to your score.

Par is the scoring baseline

Each hole has a “par” score, usually 3, 4, or 5 strokes, that golfers aim to match or beat.

Birdie, Eagle, and Bogey are scoring terms

Birdie means 1 under par, Eagle means 2 under, and Bogey means 1 over par.

Golf etiquette is as important as rules

Be quiet when others swing, repair the course, and yell “Fore!” if your ball is heading toward someone.

The longest drive ever was 515 yards

Mike Austin hit this legendary shot in 1974.

Golf has been played on the Moon

Astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls during Apollo 14 in 1971.

Anyone can play, at any age

Kids, adults, and even 100+ year-olds have enjoyed the game, with a 103-year-old once making a hole-in-one.

Lydia Ko was a champion at 14

She became the youngest golfer ever to win a professional tournament.

Golf is a low-impact sport

Unlike running or contact sports, it’s easy on the joints, making it perfect for lifelong play.

You don’t need 14 clubs to start

Beginners can play with just a few, like a driver, iron, wedge, and putter.

The word “Fore!” is a safety warning

Shouted when a ball might hit someone, it means “look out!”

The oldest golf course is St Andrews

St Andrews in Scotland, known as the Home of Golf, has been played on since the 1400s, while Musselburgh claims the oldest continuously used course.