The long-term objective is to complete the 18 individual holes in the lowest number of strokes possible, while still being able to enjoy the game.

A "golf course" is where the game is played, and is made up of 18 individual and unique holes that all have a cup in which the ball eventually ends up in. The holes vary in distance, difficulty and terrain. The golf course consists of Par 3's, Par 4's and Par 5's. The par numbers assigned to each hole refer to how many strokes it should take a player to get the ball in the hole.

Par 3's: These holes that are relatively short and a player should get the ball on the green from the Tee box in one shot, and two putts to get the ball in the hole.

Par 4's: These holes are longer than the Par 3's, and require a long tee shot and an "approach" or "second" shot" to get to the green. Once on the green, two putts to get the ball in the hole.

Par 5's: These are the longest holes on the golf course, and typically require 3 shots to get to the green. The Tee shot needs to be long, and is usually done with the Driver. The second shot is usually taken with a 3-wood to advance the ball as far as possible. Then, with a little luck, the player has a short third shot to the green. Two putts to get the ball in the hole.

Beginners may want to start by playing local executive golf courses, or some of the easier public courses in the area. And when your game is ready for the big leagues, go for it and have fun. Public Golf courses can be found in almost every city in the nation and usually provide rental equipment and supplies for all your needs.