Golf is a precision sport in which players try to place a ball into a series of holes using as few strokes as possible, selecting different clubs according to distance, lie and obstacles on the course. A standard course has 18 holes, and a competitive day usually lasts several hours. Spectators can follow one group of players around the course or remain beside a selected hole, green or grandstand and watch several groups pass.
Professional competitions are most commonly played as stroke-play tournaments, with scores added across several rounds and the player with the lowest total number of strokes winning. A cut is often applied after the opening rounds, allowing only the better-placed players to continue. There are also matches decided hole by hole, team competitions, national championships and major international championships. A title may be earned through the result of one tournament, the final ranking of a series of events or victory in a team contest.
Golf attracts strong interest in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, South Africa and many countries across continental Europe. The largest events take place on historic coastal courses, parkland layouts and modern complexes designed to accommodate large crowds. The influence of wind, rain, ground firmness, bunkers and water hazards means that every course presents a different competitive challenge.
The season extends through most of the year because competitions move between climate regions, while an individual event generally covers three or four competitive days, sometimes with practice sessions and additional programs. When buying a ticket, visitors should check whether it is valid for a particular day or the full event and whether it provides general admission, a reserved seat, access to a grandstand beside a specific hole or entry to a hospitality area. Entry gates, re-entry rules, distances between holes, course accessibility and restrictions concerning bags, cameras and mobile devices are also important.
The atmosphere at golf differs from the constant noise found in many other sports. Spectators generally remain still and quiet while a player prepares and takes a shot, with reactions following a well-played ball, a long putt or the completion of a hole. Watching involves walking, changing position and choosing locations strategically, so the same event can offer either the experience of following a preferred group or viewing the entire field from one point.