Golf is a sport where players use special clubs to hit a small, hard ball across a large outdoor course, trying to get it into a series of holes using as few strokes as possible. A golf course typically has 18 holes spread across rolling terrain, with each hole marked by a flag stuck in a small cup in the ground.

Players start each hole at a flat area called the tee, then try to hit the ball hundreds of yards toward a smooth patch of very short grass called the green, where the hole is located. Between the tee and the green lie various obstacles: sand traps called bunkers, ponds, trees, and areas of tall grass called rough. The challenge comes from controlling where the ball goes with each shot, since a tiny change in how you swing can send the ball wildly off course.

Unlike most sports, in golf a lower score is better. If a hole is supposed to take four strokes (called par), completing it in three strokes is excellent. Professional golfers can hit a ball over 300 yards and sink putts (gentle strokes on the green) with remarkable precision.

The game requires patience, concentration, and honesty, since players often keep their own scores. People play golf competitively in tournaments or casually with friends and family, walking the course and enjoying the outdoors.