Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The story of golf from real to virtual

By Joe Maldonado


Many of us have only seen a golf course on television or in sports magazines. For many people golf is only about virtual golf centers where indoor golf simulators allow both professional golfers and learners of the game to practice their shots. Every aspect of life that is virtual has always existed or has been invented in the real world. That we have brought many outdoor things into the comfort of our homes and offices is a gift of technology and science.

Many historians believe that golf was played in the Netherlands as early as 1297. While many dispute this event as being only golf-like, more respect is given to the Scots who played golf on a golf course in the year 1672. Over the years, golf evolved in terms of equipment, players, scores, rules and of course championships. There is probably no country in the world where one has not heard of golf.

In many countries, golf is considered to be a rich man's leisure game. Agreed, golf can be quite slow and leisurely in pace for a common man, but a golfer's mind is always racing in terms of swings, pushes, slices, hooks and putts, all terms associated with the golf ball moving on the golf course from the time the golfer hits it with a bat or club head. It is said that golf is an easy game to learn but a difficult one to master! No wonder the best of golfers can be counted on fingers.

Golf began to be played more by royalty and businessmen who discussed their strategies in business along with golf scores. The focus on the game was only for superficial purposes. However, professional golfers changed this outlook completely by setting up professional golf committees. The USGA set up in 1894 and the PGA in 1914 took the game of golf to new heights.
Virtual golf started sometime in the 1970s when computers made more than just their presence felt. The advent of software that was used to replicate and create a virtual world also took the sports world by storm. Virtual sports enthusiasts began playing games using computers and high performance simulators that made the whole game look almost real. Virtual golf can be played indoors even when the weather outside is not suitable for golf playing. Indoor golf simulators have gone from being just hand-held sensors to those that occupy an entire room. Today, virtual golf gaming enthusiasts vie with each other in virtual golf competitions.
Where a real golf course is spread over acres of land, virtual golf has the advantage of being set up in minimum space. Real golf also depends a lot on climatic conditions such as the winter months and temperature. In a virtual golf gaming facility, you do not have to worry about the weather conditions and can play golf all round the year.

Further, virtual golf software and equipment providers are not restricted only to some countries of the world. Even if you are located in a country that does not have a real golf course, you can always order a virtual golf simulation package for yourself.




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