Hello
& welcome to this weekend’s GK Nugget.
The high point of this week has clearly been India’s surgical strikes on Pakistan to nip infiltration of terrorists in the bud. But this week also saw a low point in the sporting world, particularly for ardent golf fans, with the passing away of golf great Arnold Palmer.
So this week, the GK nugget tees off with some lesser known trivia about Arnold Palmer and the game of golf.
Born in 1929 in Pennsylvania, USA, Arnold Palmer was regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers. He was one of golf’s most dominant players in the late 1950’s & early 1960’s; so much so that he was nicknamed “The King”.
He was the 1st golfer to make $1 million from the sport. He collected 7 major titles in a 6-plus-year explosion, from the 1958 Masters to the 1964 Masters & also notched up 62 PGA Tour wins.
Palmer was the trailblazer in sportsmen taking on brand endorsements. Even at the age of 86, he ranked as the 5th-highest earner in the game. According to Golf Digest's latest figures, Palmer's $40m income last year was beaten only by Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
He even has a drink named after him. The Arnold Palmer is 1 part iced tea & 1 part lemonade.
Palmer designed more than 300 golf courses in 37 states, 25 countries and five continents (all except Africa and Antarctica), including the first modern course built in China, in 1988
Now
about the sport:
Golf was invented over 550
years ago in Scotland, however it is claimed that the Chinese developed
a similar game as far back as 943
A.D.
Golf was banned in Scotland on three separate occasions (1457, 1471 & 1491) to prevent Scots from being distracted from preparations to defend against an English invasion.
Golf is the 1st sport to be ever played on the Moon. On February 6, 1971, Apollo 14 member Alan Shepard hit a ball on the moon with a six-iron. Shepard had to play the shot with one-handed because of his space suit. He missed his 1st swing but hit the ball with his 2nd swing.
The origin of the word “golf” is thought to have come from the Dutch word “kolf” or “kolve”, meaning “club” and then passed into Scottish language and became to “golve,” “gowl” or “gouf” because of the eccentricities of Scottish dialect. Many people wrongly believe that it’s because it forms the acronym; “Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden”, but that is merely an internet myth.
The 1953 World Championship of Golf was the first nationally televised golf tournament.
The major championships are the four most prestigious men’s tournaments of the year. In chronological order they are: The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (referred to in North America as the British Open) and the PGA Championship.
In 1963 Jack Nicklaus became the youngest player to win The Masters & in 1986, he became the oldest player to win The Masters. Tiger Woods made his first hole-in-one when he was just 8 years old. Despite being the most talented left-handed golfer ever, Phil Mickelson is naturally right-handed.
There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball, but not all golf balls have the same amount of dimples and they range between 330 and 500 dimples. The most popular golf balls have between 380 and 432 dimples.
You’re not allowed to carry more than 14 golf clubs in your golf bag.
Samuel L. Jackson is a huge golf lover and has a clause written to all his movie contracts that allows him to play golf twice a week.
It’s common for Japanese golfers to have insurance for getting a “hole-in-one”. Having made hole-in-one It’s customary to throw a party and present gifts to all your friends to share your good luck.
That’s all on this weekend’s GK nugget. If this has made you eager to try your hand at golf, use the internet to search for a golf course near you and head it. There are clubs that will teach you the sport in most of the metros.
Golf was banned in Scotland on three separate occasions (1457, 1471 & 1491) to prevent Scots from being distracted from preparations to defend against an English invasion.
Golf is the 1st sport to be ever played on the Moon. On February 6, 1971, Apollo 14 member Alan Shepard hit a ball on the moon with a six-iron. Shepard had to play the shot with one-handed because of his space suit. He missed his 1st swing but hit the ball with his 2nd swing.
The origin of the word “golf” is thought to have come from the Dutch word “kolf” or “kolve”, meaning “club” and then passed into Scottish language and became to “golve,” “gowl” or “gouf” because of the eccentricities of Scottish dialect. Many people wrongly believe that it’s because it forms the acronym; “Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden”, but that is merely an internet myth.
The 1953 World Championship of Golf was the first nationally televised golf tournament.
The major championships are the four most prestigious men’s tournaments of the year. In chronological order they are: The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (referred to in North America as the British Open) and the PGA Championship.
In 1963 Jack Nicklaus became the youngest player to win The Masters & in 1986, he became the oldest player to win The Masters. Tiger Woods made his first hole-in-one when he was just 8 years old. Despite being the most talented left-handed golfer ever, Phil Mickelson is naturally right-handed.
There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball, but not all golf balls have the same amount of dimples and they range between 330 and 500 dimples. The most popular golf balls have between 380 and 432 dimples.
You’re not allowed to carry more than 14 golf clubs in your golf bag.
Samuel L. Jackson is a huge golf lover and has a clause written to all his movie contracts that allows him to play golf twice a week.
It’s common for Japanese golfers to have insurance for getting a “hole-in-one”. Having made hole-in-one It’s customary to throw a party and present gifts to all your friends to share your good luck.
That’s all on this weekend’s GK nugget. If this has made you eager to try your hand at golf, use the internet to search for a golf course near you and head it. There are clubs that will teach you the sport in most of the metros.
