You are listening to Swinging Through History the podcast with your host(s)Gavin McCaffrey.

In this episode of 2 the Podcast we discuss: how it's played and why it's hard.

Segment 1: How its played

Hello everyone, in this episode I'm going to discuss how the game of golf is played. you've probably seen golf being played on television or in the movies - but you're not quite sure what the objective of the game is or how a winner gets determined. in golf players strike a very small ball from a teeing ground into a hole Hundreds of yards away. The players take successive Strokes to do so, they use various clubs with different lengths and angles. the player who holds his balls the fewest Strokes wins. You might think it's easy right but in theory yes but in practice no.Unlike many other sports, golf is a challenging game because it tests players Physically, technically, mentally and emotionally. The game demands time, patience, skill and practice. lots of practice.

Segment 2: Why it's hard

Let me give you five reasons why golf is hard. Number one there's a lot of ground to cover. A round of golf consists Of 18 holes. Its standard 18 hole golf course measures from 6,500 to 7000 yards. individual holes range from 100 to 600 yds. The next reason is that there's a lot of clubs to choose from. clubs are designed for the various positions in which the ball may come to rest and for the various distances to the whole. you need to Master the fundamentals. A successful strike requires the proper posture, grip and Alignment throughout the backswing, transition, downswing impact and finish. even the slightest imperfection might leave you searching for your ball in the rough just because you didn't take additional unwanted swings. A lot of sports are played like that where Size Doesn't determine how good a player you are, it's the fundamentals and technique most of the time. Another reason is that it's hard to stay focused. A golf round can last over 4 hours, so there's plenty of time to overthink or even Zone out. it can physically and mentally be draining. mastering the ability to stay focused and present during each shot is key. The last reason is that there are no shortcuts or substitutes for practice. It's common for players to spend years playing the game. Golf is a lifelong learning experience, with skills evolving with training, age and the amount of time you dedicate to the game. So my suggestion if you're starting golf settle in for a long haul. Even just on top of all this it can be very expensive. The average cost of a round of golf in the US is $45. The average cost of golf lessons is $80 to $125 per hour. Gulf Coast begins around $500 per set and can easily exceed $1,000. And let's not forget about the balls. if you're going to play you're going to need plenty of golf balls. The price can range from $1 a ball to over $3 a ball. but despite all these difficulties, golf has many benefits. golf has become one of the most popular sports in the world and continues to grow. The National Golf Foundation reports that in the United States alone 41.1 million people golf annually. part of its popularity could be due to the fact that anyone can participate. The sport is played at a leisurely pace and involves a lot of walking which allows people to take in scenery and talk with friends, promoting social connections and good heart health.

Music Credits: July - John Patitucci