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PDC Test - Golf Matters

You can earn 0.25 PDC by passing the exam following this article, which has been approved for publication by NCRA's Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters.

The questions are based on the material in the article but some may require additional research. Send your answer sheet to NCRA's Continuing Education Office, 8224 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA 22182, and enclose a check for $40 (member) or $50 (non-member) to cover the processing fee. 

Golf Matters

Throughout history, almost every culture has created and enjoyed ball and stick games. One game that has evolved and grown in popularity over time is golf. Considerable evidence suggests that the game of golf had its earliest beginnings in the British Isles during the Middle Ages. Other theories place variations of the game in France and Germany even before then. However, records of the modern game of golf start in 1894, when the United States Golf Association (USGA) was organized. The USGA has formalized rules to play, conducted tournaments and established handicaps. Today, golf is a multi-billion dollar industry, enjoyed by about 25 million Americans, approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population.

Golf courses are usually a blend of elegance and tranquility, with manicured grasses and bubbling ponds, spreading over 140 acres or more of scenic landscape. The terrain will vary, but most golf courses have at least 18 holes, surrounded by wildlife and serenity. The 14 clubs used by a player during a round of golf include a driver, a sand wedge, a putter, and several woods or irons with varying pitches and lofts. Each is designed to hit the golf ball a different distance, depending partly on the player, the lie of the ball, and the weather.

Let's take a closer look at the game as it is played on the golf course. A typical day pits the player, John E., against the elements. He may have to battle wind and cold, or heat and humidity. On the other hand, prevailing conditions may include an elite clubhouse and sheer tropical beauty. During the course of his game, John E. will have to calculate yardages, considering the wind, the ball’s position, and the terrain that is ahead of him. He anticipates the course will have undulating hills, forests of trees, water and sand traps, or any of the several other bunkers that may be present. If he makes a bad shot, he will just have to deal with it. That's how it is in golf: If John E. breaks the rules, he will get a penalty, so he stays within bounds as much as possible.

Golf is one of the only games where spectators may come within touching distance of their favorite players. At a professional tournament, if a player hits his ball into the crowd, that's where he has to shoot it from, or if it's an impossible lie, take the penalty. Even the best players have been known to shoot from out of bounds.

John E. is about to tee up on the first hole. A proper stance is required, and so are concentration and focus. This hole is a par 3, so it must be less than 250 yards. John E. uses his driver, his No. 1 wood, to hit the ball straight ahead, hoping for a hole in one. He can see the pin on the green directly ahead, and he aims for it, then swings. The ball lands near the hole, on the green, and John E. is confident he will score one under par on this hole, a birdie, a nice way to start a round of golf.

A hole in one is a rare occurrence, and usually combines great skill with a little bit of luck. Sometimes the ball will bounce off of something and will roll right into the hole. Other times, a player may hit the ball just right for the conditions, and the ball will track the pin the entire distance and then drop directly into the hole on the first shot. Whatever the circumstances, when someone gets a hole in one, it is cause for celebration, and the triumphant golfer is usually expected to treat his fellow players to refreshments after the game.

John E. is now on the fourth hole, a long par 5. The tee shot is straight down the fairway, and John E. chooses his 3 wood for this shot. He has to be careful of the bunkers on the right, and the trees and water on the left. He dedicates his attention to a mental calculation of the velocity and distance the ball will travel, observing the wind speed and direction, and then he shoots. It’s another excellent shot, about 20 or 30 yards from the green. At this point, he switches clubs and chips up about 10 or 15 feet from the pin marking the hole. Then John E. putts two more times for a score of par on this hole.

Golfers use a combination of woods and irons during a round of golf. The golf clubs differ from each other in very specific ways. For example, the loft, or vertical angle of the club face, is varied depending on how a player would like to hit the ball. The greater the loft of the club, the higher and shorter the ball will travel. The No. 1 wood has the least loft, which means that the ball will travel the farthest distance using this club.

After playing the front nine and eight of the back nine holes, John E. has played almost the entire game of golf. It has been a challenging course, but he has scored par or better on every shot, even the 7th hole, the short par 4 with the dogleg to the right, over the water. Now John E. is on the 18th hole and he has just one chance left to make this his best score ever. There is no one with him to compete against -- only himself. Golf is a game where a team is not necessary. It can be played with one player, a set of clubs, and hopefully, only one ball. John E. takes a deep breath and swings, hoping for his finest performance. As the ball flies through the air, he thinks about how the game of golf is reflective of life: One bad move can ruin the whole game, and it can happen so suddenly. That is why planning and focus are so important, even during a simple ball and stick game.

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Golf Matters Test


 

  1. Most golf courses have _____ holes. A) 12 b) 36 c) 18 d) 6
  2. The kind of club used depends on the distance of the golf ball from the hole. A) true b) false
  3. A ball which, based on its location, is nearly impossible to hit is known as a) a birdie b) an eagle c) an unplayable lie d) an ace
  4. A driver is used for a) short shots b) teeing off c) putting d) hazards
  5. Golf most likely developed in a) America b) Canada c) India d) Scotland.
  6. The PGA was formed in a) 1821 b) 1902 c) 1916 d) 1950.
  7. A par 3 hole cannot exceed what distance? A) 100 yards b) 250 yards c) 500 yards d) 150 yards
  8. Why does a golf ball have dimples? A) to add accuracy and distance to flight b) aesthetics c) manufacturing limitations d) none of the above
  9. How many golf clubs are carried by one player during a round of golf? A) 18 b) 14 c) 16 d) 12
  10. The angle of the club face is known as the a) grip b) shaft c) dimple d) loft
  11. The area of closely mowed grass that extends from the tee to the green is called a) the fairway b) the golf course c) the bunkers d) the rough
  12. The number of strokes the player takes to get the ball in the hole becomes his score for that hole. A) true b) false
  13. A golfer’s handicap is computed from a) wind velocity b) time in the tee box c) his previous scores d) type of club being used.
  14. Who was the only player to win all four majors in the same calendar year? A) Tiger Woods b) Arnold Palmer c) Bobby Jones d) Jack Nicklaus.
  15. The greater the loft of the club, the ________ the ball will travel. A) lower and longer b) farther c) faster d) higher and shorter
  16. In planning a shot, a golfer should consider a) condition of the course b) wind velocity c) wind direction d) all of the above
  17. A proper stance is not necessary for an accurate swing. A) true b) false
  18. There are two types of golf clubs: a) woods and irons b) wound-up and two-piece c) greens and roughs d) interlocking and overlapping.
  19. An 18-hole golf course averages about a) 1.4 acres b) 14 acres c) 140 acres d) 1400 acres
  20. One under par on a hole is a) an eagle b) a birdie c) a bogey d) a dogleg.
  21. What is the only major tournament held at the same course every year? A) U.S. Open b) British Open c) Masters d) the PGA Championship
  22. The United States Golf Association was formed in a) 1894 b) 1898 c) 1994 d) 1984


 

 

 

 

You can earn 0.25 PDC by passing the exam following this article, which has been approved for publication by NCRA's Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters.