Golf is a game that is as basic as can be. With a club in hand, players try to get a ball into the holes within a course (playing area) with as few hits as possible. The simple concept of the game has persisted since it was first played in Scotland in the 15th century.
Playing
But understanding the game is just as far as the ease of golf gets. Achieving these goals requires a lot of skill- accuracy, posture, club handling and, quite often, experience. People who have been able to master the art have soared to greatness at the expense of their less illustrious counterparts.
Furthermore, the task is made trickier by the nature of the golf course (the playing area). For starters, the game of golf does not have a standardized playing area like you would find in sports like football or tennis. No single golfing course is similar to others.
Secondly, golf cour
ses usually have obstacles that players need to overcome when trying to get the ball into the 11-cm diameter hole. Such obstacles include water, rocks, and sometimes uneven (rough) grass.
Organization
There are three bodies that govern golfing at the highest level worldwide. The International Golf Federation, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), and the United States Golf Association (USGA) are all senior bodies in golf administration.
So, is golf an elite sport?
It really depends on how one looks at it. The area required to play golf is vast and requires intensive maintenance. Mostly, it is well off communities that are able to maintain these standards. The equipment required to play golf- clubs, gloves, carts etc. – is also quite expensive. Most golf clubs are member-only places too.
These factors make golf pretty much a sport for the elite.