Category: Golf

To many people golf is considered not a sport. The definition of a sport according to Cambridge English dictionary, “ A sport is a game, competition, or similar activity, done for enjoyment or as a job, that takes physical effort and skill.” (Roy) This definition describes and explains why golf is considered to be a sport. Golf can be enjoyed by anyone and has no age limit, golf is physically and mentally demanding. Golfers have to have a lot of patience and skill if they want to be good and try to succeed. Golf is very time consuming and is meatally challenging sometimes. “Golf has many rules and promotes high principles and values.” (The) Golf has many leagues and associations. Golfers have fans and sponsors. Golf also has rules and penalties for every different shot. The playing of golf in any tournament or any other format is played with an honor system, yes golf players count strokes of the others, but they also have to respect and honor that the other golf player is telling the truth. No matter where the ball was or how their shot turned out.. Golf players have to try and remember all the rules and consequences to every bad shot made by himself or the other players.

Golf takes a lot of patience and time to play and practice golf. Many golfers could get a scholarship to play at the next level at many universities or colleges. Colleges and universities usually play all year, spring and fall. Some universities or colleges have both genders playing for their school. It is very rare that they only have either a women’s or men’s team.“ 1,300 varsity college golf programs throughout the country are offered for men ,and there are 801 colleges that offer golf at their university or college.” (vasile8) Golf is a universal sport. It is very well known. Twenty four point one million people play golf in more than 120 countries in the world. Which makes golf a $70 billion dollar industry. Professional golf careers usually last longer than any other sport. Golf is a sport that doesn’t really wear out a golfers’ muscles.There are many rules golfers have to pay attention to. If golfers don’t remember the rules and make a mistake, they can call penalties on themselves. In golf no round or shot will ever be the same. So many factors go into one swing that’s why every swing or shot is different. Golf players could go out to the range to hit balls, and by the time they are done hitting they could’ve messed up something in their swing. Golf isn’t a sport where someone could just go out there with golf clubs and just hit the ball. People who go play golf or try to learn how to play golf end up learning how to manage their time and are able to stay mentally head strong and physically in shape.

Not only do golfers need the physical ability to play or practice, but golfers also need the mental ability, the mental aspect of golf out does the physical ability. “The mental preparation and toughness in golf blows away what it takes in any other sport.” (Myers) Professional golfers make playing and practicing golf look easy, but professional golfers have days where it’s hard to hit the ball straight or to even hit a perfect shot. In golf, the course is a golfers’ biggest opponent because golf players have to think about how and where the next shot is going to go. Golfers have to think about how to make the swing they need to get the shot where they need it to go. Bobby Jones said, “ Golf is a sport that’s played on a five- inch course– the distance between your ears.”(Myers)

There are many long or short term health benefits for playing golf. Golf helps golfers with their flexibility, attitude, respect, morals, and many other things. Golf helps them stay fit and have endurance. Golf helps golfers with losing body fat and helps them stay hydrated. In the golf swing, the golfers body twists and turns to create a violent energy to hit the ball. While using the ground as a force, the golf swing connects a golfers legs and core to create impact into the golf ball and the club hits the ground after hitting the ball. “Golf gets seventeen to twenty two muscles moving in a golfers body with every swing.”( Home) The golf swing helps with an all over body workout. “Muscles in the lower and upper part of a golfers back, arms, legs and abdomen are constantly in motion.” (Sports Rec)Golf players may not train like other sports do but that doesn’t mean they don’t work or sweat as much. Stretching before and probably after you play is very important. Golfers carry seventy five pound bags for five or six miles miles each round. A nine hole round walking would take a golfer two to three hours. An eighteen hole, full round, walking would take a golfer five to seven hours depending on how many people were playing. There is so much about golf practice and work that goes unnoticed by everyone. Training is very hard, especially for golfers who want to be good and maybe play at the next level. “Practicing golf to become a decent golfer requires an enormous amount of self- discipline to put in the required amount of skilled practice as well as rounds on and off the golf course. Golfers would have to practice a minimum of six hours per day for a minimum of five days per week.” (The)

Golf is not only a great way to build up a golfer’s mental and physical ability but golf also helps with friendships and making new memories with different people. Golf can be played in many different ways. Golfers usually play in the following different formats: match play, is a hole-by-hole competition where the golfer who makes the best score on the individual hole wins that hole. Golfers can also play a scramble, better/best ball, stroke play, alternate shot (foursome), and there are many more ways to play golf. These are the ones that are the most popular. By playing in these formats or tournaments, golfers meet new people every time or usually playing with someone they’ve met from previous tournaments. Golfers can play as much as they want to and for as long. There is no age limit in playing golf anyone can play that has patience, time, and golf clubs. Golf is a lifelong sport that most everyone young to old, small to big can enjoy and play for fun. In golf, golfers can eat and drink while they play. This is one of the only sports that people can eat and drink while playing. Golf can be played alone or with many other golfers. Golf can be independent when golfers want it to be. Golfers can play or practice alone. Most golfers prefer to play alone because it usually helps them focus and figure out their problems. Golf is a competitive sport not only by playing with other people, but competitive and challenging because of nature and the course they are playing. Golf helps reduce stress and helps develop a sense of connection with other people.

Golf is considered to be a sport from not only golf players, but by many other people who may not even know much about golf. Golf is a very challenging sport. Golf takes time, patience, and self control to play golf. Golf is a sport because it meets many of the aspects that classify a sport to be a sport. Golf meets many standards and has many people watching or playing. Golf is a sport that people can get involved in, but not as involved in the watching of golf as in like a baseball or football game. Golf can be enjoyed and watched by anyone. Golf has many spectators and sponsorships. Golf offers scholarships to universities or colleges just like any other sport. Golf scholarships are easier to get than a football or any other sport. Golf has many organizations and leagues that are divided up whenever it comes to ability. Golf has the mental part of the sport. Golf requires strategic thinking and mental sharpness. Golf meets the physical aspect of a sport, golf improves endurance, golf players carry seventy five pound bags walking five to seven miles each round, and in each golf swing a golfers body uses seventeen to twenty two muscles per swing. Golf affects a golfer’s life outside of the golf course in many positive ways. Golf is a great way to make friends. Golfers seem to have better control with patience and self control. Golf players are able to stay hydrated and not so hungry. Golf helps with weight loss and just causes the golf player to be in better shape.

Introduction

This research will investigate fitness levels on tour professionals and amateur golfers, trying to show that the old big belly golfer is starting to stay in the past, along with his knee, back and other injuries that avid golf players tend to suffer. Along with helping the game of elite and pro players around the globe, amateurs and the ones that just play for fun casually, can also benefit from having golf specific workouts that may be implemented on a gym or at home. By doing so, one can not only benefit from a golf perspective, but on leading a healthier life as well, improving speed, balance, strength, mobility, stability and flexibility. These are some of the key areas that are developed from a workout designed to improve on golf performance (M. F. Smith, 2010).

The research is to simply understand and realise the level of improvement that one may achieve by following an intense physical preparation followed by a programme specific for golf. For a significant or a more relevant change on the player’s abilities and skills, to see actual results and differences, it’s recommended to follow a 6, 8, or 12-week programme (Hegedus, Hardesty, Sunderland, Hegedus, & Smoliga, 2016). More importantly, it will help one to live longer increasing the quality of the daily life.

But before I get into details on how the regular physical activity can improve the golf swing and the golf game overall, according to the “Centers for Disease Control” this is what someone can expect on just by following a workout programme:

• Control body weight
• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Strengthen overall bones and muscles
• Improve mental health and mood
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, in an older adult
• Increase your chances of living longer
• Reduce the risk of some cancers

Research Objectives

• To investigate the fitness level on golf tour professionals and compare them to amateur golfers and non-golfers;
• The most common injuries among golfers and how to avoid them
• The impact that physical training has on the golf swing, for the worse and for the better.
• To demystify some doubts or misunderstandings about fitness in golf
• To obtain opinions on the people that work among the golf industry about this topic

Literature review

(Son et al., 2018) states that after his research and trials described upon his article that while both professional and amateur golfers had higher percentage of regional muscle mass than the nongolfers, such difference between professional and amateur golfers was not significant and the effects of body composition and muscle mass on the level of performance of the golf players were minimal. The results of this study suggest that amateur golfers need to consider more functional aspects during resistance training than muscular hypertrophy, thus reaping the benefits of greater performance gains. Based on the finding that percentage regional muscle mass had a different correlation with performance between the professional and amateur golfers, our suggestion is that there is a need for clarifying the differences of various muscle elements used in golf from a performance perspective for both professional and amateur golfers.

(Ells, Lmi, & Homas, 2009) acknowledge that there was a positive association between sit and reach test results and outcome averages, suggesting that flexibility may be important for golfers. Balance seems to be related to the ability to execute shots from the fairway or rough as a golfer is approaching the green. The results of the peripheral muscle testing suggest that leg power (vertical jump), upper body strength (push-ups and pull-ups), and arm strength (grip strength) were all correlated with golf performance measures, although the strongest correlations were with measures of distance and total score. The research presented a justification for the inclusion of balance, flexibility, core strength, upper- and lower-body strength and power, and cardiovascular conditioning in golf training programs.

(Hegedus et al., 2016) This study established that ten weeks of strength training program specifically targeting muscles used during the golf swing is effective in improving golf performance and physical performance in recreational female golfers, regardless of whether weight training mimics motions and positions used in golf or not. Further, there appear to be health benefits associated with strength training for golf including decreased whole-body fat percentage and visceral fat mass. Such positive impact on body composition further supports existing research demonstrating the health benefits of golf participation. Given the extensive popularity of golf worldwide, and the growing number of female participants, training programs aimed at enhancing golf performance may serve as a motivator to increase the intensity and volume of physical activity in individuals who would not otherwise do so, and as a result, may ultimately have a positive impact on health. Further research should explore the comparative long-term health and performance benefits of different types of golf training across various populations.

(M. Smith, 2007) says that there are many great golfers who did not spend hours in the gym or follow a customized program of golf-specific testing and training. In fact, most professional golfers before the 1990’s appeared to work out in moderation. But the fact is nobody sees the hard work, the long hours, the thousands of balls hit on the range, the hours on the gym, that preceded the display of elite performance on competitions. It wasn’t too long along ago when golfers were not referred to as athletes and exercising for golf was a bit of an unusual thing to do or to speak about. It was almost blasphemous to even think about lifting weights for golf and proper nutrition with a good night’s sleep were not synonymous with low scores. Basically, Smith reinforces the idea that structured golf-specific programs ensure that the player not only reaches the course in a physically optimal state, but also maintains it throughout competition.

(Evans & Thomas, 2012), providing a simple but very upfront article on the reality of a lot of the coaches that roam around the world these days, some even a bit outdated not aware of the research developments that are occurring on a year to year basis. Evans & Thomas based their research on the recommendation that is given upon most of the elite players and even some amateur recreational golf players in order for injury prevention, that is to go to the gym and follow a prescribed golf specific program or any other related that has the same functionality that golf requires, compound movements and whole-body functionality. As (Evans & Thomas, 2012) were working with Golf Australia and the Australian Professional Golfers Association (PGA), they developed a survey about perceptions and practices related to physical fitness for golf which was sent to all 1650 PGA members. The survey comprised 45 questions that collected demographic data, measured coaches’ perceptions using 5-point Likert scales ranging from ‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree’ or from ‘Never to Always’, and also asked about education and training that respondents had joined in the previous 12 months. After performing initial descriptive analysis, respondents were divided into two groups–those who agreed with the item, “I consider it very important for all of my clients to be physically fit for golf” and those who disagreed or were unsure. Surprisingly, nearly half Australian golf coaches who participated in this study did not agree that physical fitness is important for all of their clients. With the increasing evidence of the efficacy of exercise programs for golfers, providing specific and targeted education for golf coaches could help improve uptake of, and adherence to, effective programs.

(Petersen, Pyne, Portus, Dawson, & Kellett, 2010) The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of strength and conditioning programs on measures of golf-specific fitness (strength, power, balance, flexibility). Using the method of sourcing electronic library databases, hand searched sport science journals and scanning through relevant studies’ reference lists.(Petersen et al., 2010) They came up with 12 studies, most of were using fitness programs that lasted around 8 weeks with weight lifting, medicine balls and elastic bands. Most studies assessed changes in fitness characteristics and generally resulted in improvements. Concluding that strength and conditioning programs can have a positive effect on the golf swing and fitness characteristics.

Method

Research similar studies considering the same topic and research area to get different ideas on the topic and hopefully reach a conclusion on what the articles writers stand on considering this topic. Small Interview on a handful of participants and send via email a survey to a few golf coaches, professional and amateur payers, across the United Kingdom and to Portugal. In order to get a clearer image on what our current golf “world” is standing on the idea of golf fitness. Is the thinking more innovative on one country than the other, or do they share the same ideas? Questions included about the participant’s level of sports trainer training and experience, injury recording practices, reasons for recording injuries and opinions. The struggle with this method will be getting everybody involved as I will be trying to send this to several people to get some better results and add in some percentages on graphics and table charts. On the other hand, if everyone decides to participate, I would be handling with a lot of positive data to sort out and read trough some of our great minds within the sport and where do they stand regarding the fitness side of it. Analysing the data, I would like to use a lot of charts, methodologies applied regarding each person, always try to differentiate everyone taking in consideration age group, years in profession, years playing, handicap when turned pro (if pro), if amateur the current handicap, how often the practice and contact with golf. Because all of these questions and a few more I would like to include some interviews via computer or mobile cell phone, applying the same questions on the survey that the previous participants had but digging a bit more on opinions given, feeling about the matter and experience on it.

Reference list

1. Aldersdale V, C. L. (2015). Correlation between passive and dynamic range of rotation in lead and trail hips during a golf swing. Sport Phys. Edu. Recreat, 37(3):15-28.
2. Astrand, P. a. (1970). Textbook of Work Physiology. New York: Mcgraw-Hill.Ells, G. R. E. G. D. W., Lmi, M. A. E., & Homas, S. C. T. (2009). Physiological correlates performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(3), 741–750. https://doi.org/10.1109/SPAWC.2016.7536831
3. Evans, K., & Thomas, P. (2012). Perceptions and practices of Australian golf coaches towards physical fitness for golf. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 15, 127–187. https://doi.org/doi:10.2514/6.1978-1758
4. Hegedus, E. J., Hardesty, K. W., Sunderland, K. L., Hegedus, R. J., & Smoliga, J. M. (2016). A randomized trial of traditional and golf-specific resistance training in amateur female golfers: Benefits beyond golf performance. Physical Therapy in Sport, 22, 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.04.005
5. Petersen, C., Pyne, D., Portus, M., Dawson, B., & Kellett, A. (2010). Comparison of Twenty20 game demands in the early season versus the peak competitive season. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12(2010), e115–e116. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.237
6. Smith, M. (2007). Physical Preparation for Golf: Strategies for Optimising Movement Potential. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 2, 151–166. https://doi.org/10.1260/174795407789705451
7. Smith, M. F. (2010). The role of physiology in the development of golf performance. Sports Medicine, 40(8), 635–655. https://doi.org/10.2165/11532920-000000000-00000
8. Son, S. B., Park, C. H., Han, K. H., Seo, M. K., So, W. Y., An, H. S., & Sung, D. J. (2018). Comparison of muscle mass and its relationship to golf performance among college amateur and professional golfers. Science and Sports, 33(1), e1–e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2017.06.012
9. Jr, B. H., & Petrie, T. A. (2014). Age , Psychological Skills , and Golf Performance : A Prospective Investigation, 69(November), 245–249. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbt010.
10. Gatz, J., & Physiologist, E. (n.d.). Golf Specific Strengthening and Stretching. Physiologist.
11. Golf, H. P. (2010). Flexibility is important in the golf swing to allow the golfer to achieve the correct technical positions to improve performance as well as reduce the risk of injury . Adequate flexibility will also allow the golfer to sequence their swing correctly to im.
12. Doe, C. J. (n.d.). SMC – Golf Fitness Training On-Line Golf Fitness Program : SAMPLE SMC – Golf Fitness Training.
13. Back, Y. (n.d.). The Process of Strength and Conditioning for Golfers.

“The body is a complex machine. When it functions well it is healthy; when it breaks down it becomes ill (and takes you down with it)” (Coon et al., 2019). I am an avid golfer. I am always prepared to go golfing at any given time, day, or function. I have played golf since I was twelve years old. Keeping both your mind and body in good health is imperative to your golfing game. I try to eat well, I exercise, almost daily, and I keep hydrated. Our bodies are complex, and if we do not keep them operating in a good and healthy way, not only can we become sick in body, but our minds can suffer also.

In a study conducted by Jon Finn, there is a need to use psychology in the game of golf. Having a good mental and thinking process, most golfers declare that on the course, a successful game comprises of “a good golf shot is 10% swing, 40% setup and 50% mental” (Finn, 2008). According to Finn, a golfer needs to be able to turn their golfing strategies on and off. I know this to be a fact. When I am not on the course, I am not using my golfing strategies. Having a good mental thinking process is essential in one’s game. As a golfer, you are on a course for a good amount of time. There have been times that I have been on a golf course with my peers for over five hours. This not only takes a toll on one’s mental compacity, but as I said before, their physical health as well.

Eysenck and Calvo did a study on anxiety and performance. In their article ‘Anxiety and Performance: The Processing Efficiency Theory’, they stated that two major issues needed to be addressed, “the complexity and apparent inconsistency of the findings; and the conceptual definition of task difficulty” (Eysenck and Calvo, 1992). Eysenck and Derakshan explained their 1992 study in 2010. They found that there was a correlation between complexity and inconsistency. When one is on the golf course, you have to be consistent. The game is incredibly complex. Learning the skills, and techniques, having a good knowledge of your clubs, the courses you play, and how to play the game are not only complex but can be task ‘challenging’. During a golfing game, one needs to be in control of their body, mind, and training. When one becomes anxious, your proficiency takes a hit and your game suffers. According to Eysenck and Derakshan, “a high-anxious individual softens use compensatory strategies such as enhanced effort and use of processing resources to achieve a reasonable level of performance effectiveness” (Eysenck and Derakshan, 2010). They continued to say that if one does not have control over their thinking process, then one will not be able to be proficient in their performance. This is true, one needs to be in control at all times when golfing, to be proficient, and have a great game. Eysenck and Derakshan concluded in their study that there could be two contributing issues connected to anxiety and performance. If one does not keep controlled resources or recruit good resources, anxiety can hinder their performance, which can interfere with their tasks and reduce motivation. If one has control over their emotions, is task-driven, and is motivated to stay on course, then they will likely be successful in their endeavors in any task at hand.

I believe that mental, body, and physical health contributes to having a good game of golf. Joh Finn, in my opinion, was on the point on. A golfer needs to be able to turn their golfing strategies on and off. Being able to focus mentally on your game is essential. Allowing one’s self to think clearly and precisely, helps one to become more proficient in their game. Eysenck, Calvo, and Derakshan, all had good theories that one can use to make their golfing game, anxiety-free and enhance their performance. Leaving your anxieties at home, allowing yourself to be task driven; you will become a top-notch golfer.

References

1. Coon, D., Mitterer, J.O., & Martini, T. (2019). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior (15th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
2. Eysenck, M. W., & Calvo, M. G. (1992). Anxiety and Performance: The Processing Efficiency Theory. Cognition & Emotion, 6(6), 409-434.
3. Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N. (May, 20ll). New Perspectives in Attentional Control Theory. Department of Psychology, Roehampton University, Whitelands College, London SW15 4JD, UK.
4. Finn, J. (2008). An Introduction to Using Mental Skills to Enhance Performance in Golf: Beyond the Bounds of Positive and Negative Thinking. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 3(1_suppl), 255–269.

Introduction

Swing in golf means a set of rotational movements of the body’s links, carried out in a particular sequence and directions, leading to the club’s impact on the ball. In swing, from 14 to 20 elementary anatomical movements of the body parts can be distinguished, among which the movements of abduction-adduction and pronation-supination predominate (Mears et al., 2018, p. 2452). Dividing this action by the direction of movement of the stick and the angular velocity value, it is generally recognized that there are five phases of swing: backswing, acceleration, impact and through-swing, and follow-through. The technique of making a swing in golf is a constant subject of research by many specialists who use various measuring equipment and high-speed video recording for this purpose.

Backswing

Swing may differ in the subjective sensations of muscle tension and by quantitative kinematic parameters. Let us take a look at some of the critical subroutines performed by golfers during a swing. The “backswing” phase begins with the left shoulder (for RH golfer) and arms movement, which move in unison. In the initial stage of the swing, the triangle formed by the hands is preserved. The movement should be as wide, rhythmic, and smooth as possible. A large swing amplitude increases the distance to which the ball will fly. When the club reaches the top of the swing, the player’s back should be facing the target; her left arm should be straight, and her right elbow should be tucked into the body through the backswing. At the same time, the hips turn only 45 degrees. It is important to remember that the athlete’s feet must remain on the ground, and the head remains stationary. Thus, key cues are body position control without foot lift or charge movement and maintaining a triangle with arms, chest, and hands.

Through-swing

As soon as the club reaches the top point, it should not stop there for a second; immediately, the swing’s “through-swing” phase begins with the movement of the legs and hips, and after them, the shoulders turn towards the goal. The most challenging thing in this phase is to ensure that the head and spine remain virtually stationary and, with the torso tilted, serve as an axis around which the arms and body rotate. Do not exaggerate the hands’ role when hitting the ball; they are no more critical than the shoulders, hips, and legs. The recommended cues would focus on the timing and swinging through the ball because the correct swing sequence and timing generate the power in a shot.

Follow-through

When hitting, the player must always focus on correct swing sequences. After contacting the ball, the hands accompany it as far as possible towards the goal. This swing phase is called “follow-through,” which ends with the hands being put behind the head and the gaze accompanying the ball’s flight. The primary cues of a good technique at this phase would be the chest turned towards the target and the hips rotated far enough to pull the back heel off the ground naturally. In this position, try to stay at least for a few seconds.

Conclusion

Knowing each swing movement’s step-by-step instructions and principles helps avoid deflection hits, undershoots, overflights, and hitting obstacles. Each stage plays an essential role in the performance of the perfect swing. Backswing gives power: the more comprehensive the amplitude, the further the ball will fly. Then through-swing movement leads the club to the ball and hits it. The player has to move smoothly and focused on the proper technic to avoid a hook or deflection. The follow-through phase completes the swing, and the correct execution of this movement also is vital for a good hit.

Reference List

Mears, A. et al. (2018). ‘Matching golfers’ movement patterns during a golf swing’, Applied Sciences, 8(12), p. 2452.

The game of golf evolved in 1452 in Scotland and it was initially played by both Royalty and Commoners. Later, this sport was spread to other parts of the world. The Great Britain was the second region that embraced golf in the 18^th century. In the US, the sport of Golf was introduced in the 1700s. During its earlier years in the US, the sport of golf was affiliated with the wealthy. In the 1950s, Golf gained popularity in the US owing to rampant coverage in the mass media.

By 1998, several golf stars had arisen. Stars such as Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player came into the limelight. Two years later, Tiger Woods rose to fame and he has revolutionized the sport of golf in the United States. Upon gaining popularity, golf governing bodies emerged in the United States. At the moment, there are three key governing bodies. They include Royal and Ancient Club and the United States Golf Association.

When it comes to golf equipment, Scotland is also the first country to manufacture them; this started way back in the 1700s. The manufacturing of golf equipment has undergone numerous changes but the design and type of clubs seem to have been maintained. Initially, golf clubs were made from wood.

Later, manufacturers shifted from wood to steel. In addition, more durable and consistent golf balls have been manufactured in the recent past. Novel innovations became popular in the 1990s with heightened competition between manufacturers. The main brands include Ping and Callaway and to a lesser extent Taylor made and Fortune brands. Innovations revolved around game enhancing features.

For example, Callaway manufactured Larger Driver heads. Other manufacturers manufactured more forgiving oversized irons. Deeper grooves in irons and woods were manufactured with the aim of promoting spin. Some manufacturers manufactured putters with larger sweet spots and face inserts. Furthermore, multi piece golf balls were invented which allow for both distance of tee and feel around greens. Manufacturers registered huge profits owing to their superb inventions.

In a bid to protect the integrity of golf in the US, the governing bodies implemented several measures. Here are some of the regulations implemented. Drivers: 0.83 COR; 5X5 Inches, not to exceed 460 CC. The aforementioned regulations were implemented in 1998 and 2004 respectively. In 2006, another regulation governing drivers was launched; 5,900 g-cm MOI. Iron wedges: U grooves were abolished in 2010: Golf balls: restrictions on distance were introduced but discussions are still underway.

The external environment of the golf industry is also changing. The political, economic, social, and technological environments are undergoing numerous changes and they have a significant on the golf industry. An overview, of the golf industry reflects various elements that are interrelated. By 2007, it was estimated that the US had 22.7 million golfers. On the other hand, Europe and Asia had 2 and 17 million golfers respectively.

The sale of golf equipment is extremely high in the US market. In fact, 91 per cent of rounds of play take place in the US and close to 87 per cent of equipment sales occurs in the US. Research has indicated that drivers, irons and wedges are the most sold golf equipment followed by shoes, golf balls, golf bags, putters, and apparel respectively. In addition, several barriers have been identified. First, older players have health concerns. Secondly, the game is said to be costly and it seems to be a reserve for the wealthy.

The dynamics in golf equipment industry can be explained in terms of Porters’ five forces. The first force is that of the threat of new entrants. The trends have shown that it takes a lot of time and financial investments to build golf equipment. In addition, the manufacture of such brands is driven by technology and it is extremely hard to eliminate or overshadow the current brands.

Thus, among the five forces the threat of new entrants ranks last. The second force is that of power of supplies. It is clear that relationships have been established and raw materials are readily available. In addition, other manufacturing sources are abundant. The other force that is evident is that of threat of substitutes.

It is evident that customers have a wide array of leisure and sports to spend their time and money on. They can also buy used items or participate in auctions. The other force that is evident is that of power of buyers. Statistics indicate that the power of recreational players is falling. In addition, buyers are opting for new buying strategies. On top of that, buyers are very extremely price sensitive. Lastly, competitive rivalry is also evident.

There is extremely stiff competition between the top brands. Furthermore, established brands have a rough time venturing into new markets where golf equipment supplies are present. There is a significant reduction in the number of golfers with some opting to join tennis, fitness clubs, and athletics. Competition in this industry has become the order of the day and major suppliers have devised survival tactics.

Background

This section not only discusses, explains, and evaluates the reviewed sources and data, but also reports on the appropriateness of the sources and data in resolving the business problem. The sources contain important information and data that can be used to answer a whole range of issues related to establishing a captivating outdoor business intended to provide opportunities for all types of people across the socioeconomic hierarchy.

Discussion of the Data/Information

The sources reviewed provide important insights into the American golf scene in terms of growth trajectories, customer trends, and market. One particular source reveals that golf participation in America has been on a downward spiral from the 1960s, hence the need for business practitioners intending to invest in the sport to come up with novel approaches to attract golfers and increase participation rates (Beditz and Kass 2). Figure 1 below captures the declines in the number of participants and golf courses in the recent past.

The figure above shows that golfers are declining at a faster rate than the golf courses, hence the need to develop innovative marketing strategies and come up with ways to target non-traditional golfers and attract them into the sport. The proposed business may target women and youth as available scholarship demonstrates a widening appeal for the sport among these groups of the population (Brauer par. 10). These customer segments may provide the much needed revenues and sustain the business until the situation improves.

The proposed business aims to provide people of all statuses with a chance to enjoy the beauty of golf, theoretically and practically. Yet, available scholarship demonstrates that less than 1% of low income minority women in the United States actively participate in the game as opposed to more than 25% of higher-income white/Asian working men (Beditz and Kass 3).

It is also important to note that, since 2006, golf course closings have outnumbered openings even after some business owners started charging less than $40 for greens fees during peak times (Cook par. 8). Such a projection points out to an attitudinal problem in playing golf rather than a cost-related problem, hence the need for the researcher to develop unique strategies to change the attitudes of people when it comes to golf.

Despite the shortcomings, available scholarship demonstrates that the United States is still a popular destination for golf sport as the country is home to 53% of the world’s golf course supply (“Golf around the World” 14). The area has a wide potential for the sport if population estimates for North America are put into consideration.

Table 1 next page shows that more people may be ready and willing to play golf if strategies are put in place to attract more individuals into the sport. The table shows that, although North America has a substantial number of golf facilities (18,145), the region is nevertheless densely populated (561,072,904) and more people may translate into more business opportunities for golf clubs if concerted efforts are taken to attract them to the golf course. People can indeed be attracted by low prices and increased opportunities as proposed in the business plan

Table 1: “Golf Facilities Compared to Population” (“Golf around the World” Source: 5)

Once established in the United States, the business can expand to other geographical areas that have registered improvements in golf participation in the recent past. Available literature demonstrates that most European countries continue to register significant increases in golf participation despite the economic downturn and the noted decline in golf participation in other regions around the world (“Golf Participation” par. 2). Figure 2 demonstrates the expansion potential for the proposed business

One particular source has place particular importance on running golf courses as businesses, hence the need for continual replacement and renovation of key facilities of the golf business in order to stay current in the marketplace (Brauer par. 3).

Indeed, according to this source, a long-term redevelopment plan should be put in place and activated when the management notes deficiencies in the structure of the club. Such redevelopment plans may reduce costs in the long term, implying that golfers can enjoy the sport at substantially reduced prices.

Lastly, the available literature is clear that golf clubs often market a service and a product, hence the need to provide existing and potential members with superior choice and better value for money (Kirsch 254). It is documented that the above can be achieved through remodeling, renovating, and upgrading existing facilities to attract more customers and sustain competitiveness (Brauer par. 5).

Appropriateness of the Data/Information

The data and information reviewed is appropriate in terms of underscoring the need for this particular researcher to develop innovative marketing strategies and also to target non-traditional golfing segments (e.g., women and youth) to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the business. In reducing the costs involved in opening a new business, the data reviewed is appropriate in sharing the knowledge that new operators can purchase old facilities and remodel, renovate, or upgrade them to attract a sustainable customer base and reinforce loyalty (Brauer par. 5-6).

The information on the minimal number of low-end customers who participate in the game may serve as a wakeup call for the researcher to consider expanding the target market with the view to ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of the proposed business. The researcher may also decide to develop marketing initiatives targeted at demonstrating that the golf sport is not for affluent members only.

The data and information so far reviewed is also appropriate in terms of demonstrating the need to expand the target customer market due to plummeting golf participation rates (Beditz and Kass 2). This shows that the researcher may have to reconsider his marketing plan to include the customer segments that are showing signs of growth (e.g., women and youth) in addition to providing cheap golf courses.

Additionally, the information on golf course closures and minimal costs charged to access the golf courses suggests that the researcher may need to develop dynamic and focused strategies to change the attitudes of people with the view to attracting them into the golf course. Lastly, the information and data on population and other golf markets is important as it shows the potential for a ready market in North America and possible expansion areas.

Summary

The discussion and evaluation of reviewed sources and data demonstrate that the business problem highlighted can be addressed, though the researcher needs to incorporate innovative marketing approaches and target a broader customer base to increase chances of success. The researcher also needs to develop initiatives aimed at changing the attitudes of people toward golf. Such strategies will enhance more participation and improve customer numbers while at the same time ensuring that people of all walks of life are necessitated to enjoy the game.

Works Cited

Beditz, Joseph and James R. Kass. Golf Participation in America, 2010-2020, 2010. Web.

Brauer, Jeffrey D. The Business of Golf Course Remodeling, 2015. Web.

Cook, Bob. How a Declining Middle Class is Killing Golf, 2014. Web.

Golf around the World, 2015. Web.

Golf Participation in Europe 2015, 2015. Web.

Kirsch, George B. Golf in America: Sport and Society, Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2008. Print.

Introduction

Development in human beings starts when a child is born and considerably accelerates within the first five years of life of an individual. Different theorists of human development including Piaget, Vygotsky, Brunner, Bandura, and many others whose input have shaped the understanding of human development have tracked the notable developments. It should be noted that most changes in human personality take place in childhood and into the early adulthood but at the age of five, essential characteristics of human beings that define them in the future have been developed( Gallahue & Ozmun 2002).

Aspects of development range from stages in a person’s life. In early months of life, cognitive, physical and motor developments take center stage. As the child progresses, even specific aspects as language, social and psychological developmental aspects can be monitored. According to Gallahue & Ozmun (2002) language development starts as early as three months. Motor development can also be monitored at the same time when children are able to hold up their heads for longer time than when they were born. Psychological and social developments are associated with the child’s interaction with his/her immediate environment.

Main body

In this paper, both fine and gross aspects of motor development are reviewed for stage development of children between ages of under five, under twelve and under eighteen. The investigation of the essentiality of motor development in these stages in a practical approach towards ascertaining what is best for these groups with regard to golf skills development. The writer attempts to justify inclusive or separate training based on research evidence for the groups for which this work reports.

To what is conducted and entailed of coaching gross and fine motor development in the children’s golf skills this work presents a sensible educational channel. The report not only suggest what is necessary for each group but also analyses what would be the effects of this training to those under five in their future lives and if at all this kind of training is justifiable under circumstance that it may, after all, jeopardize the sole reason for which training is necessary; negatively affect the child’s future development.

Motor development is be defined as the transformation in an individual’s abilities of reflexes and motion. It is the effective use of skeletal muscles in achieving a goal. It is generally associated with body coordination and movement both in essential moving body parts and in future, the skill with which such movement can be easily enhanced into helpful activity. Ozmun argues that “motor development follows development in the brain, the nervous system and skeletons and the joints”(2001).

Gross motor skills are associated with the movement of body parts and follow a pattern. It usually starts from top down and is responsible for further development of fine motor skills. Fine motor skills describe the development of ability to handle smaller objects. Fine skills involve development of eye-hand skills and precision in handling delicate tasks. In infants, the first motor development skill is observed in head movement and suckling.

Different theorists analyze motor development through different explanations all in a sense of understanding the human person’s motor development. There is a general agreement that motor skill development follows a similar pattern in all children and that specific developments occurs at approximately the same age for all. Environment is known to play a very vital role in enhancing these skills and is attributed to variations in rates of motor development in children (Gallahue & Ozmun 2002).

Motor development is closely associated with cognitive development. In children, the sensor motor stage, the preoperational stage and the concrete operational stage and the formal operational stages outline the achievements in motor development and distinguishes one developmental age from another. Piaget enlists the sensorimotor stage as that between birth and two years of child’s life. “During this time, the child has not known how to handle objects well, have no idea about object permanency and thus once out of sight, an object remains non-existent” (Ozmun 2001).

In this stage therefore, the only best training for motor development may be restricted to gross perceptions so that the child is only kept fit to develop the muscles. This may be done through general body exercises with little or no introduction to objects that are small. They will be forgotten once they are out of sight. Training on ability to remember objects is viable at the end of this stage. If a child is able to remember the presence of objects, then this becomes an achievement for this stage.

The next stage is the preoperational stage. In this stage, the child ahs acquired object permanency. He however suffers from egocentrism and assumes that all people and things think the way he/she does. It lasts from the end of two years through the age of five to the seventh year. The child is conserved in his thinking and does not see the change in circumstances from more than one point of view. Volume and area do not make sense if they change.

The centration of the child develops as he/she leaves this stage. During this stage, motor development has picked on basic components of fine development. There is improved aiming which becomes more accurate at four years. The child can run in a circle and is able to walk backwards, has very good hand dominance over all the body parts and can summersault

After five, the child develops greater fine motor skills and has more precise movements. There is an associated clumsiness and thus for greater motor development, they should be kept on toes otherwise this may persist. They enjoy running and do not stand still. The most important development during this time is that there is an increased attention span that can be good for programmed training (Ozmun 2001).

At the age of seven, imagination is increased but abstract thinking has not started yet. The aspect of permanency has developed but the mystery of objects not yet touched, felt or seen remains. The child can however work longer but with little consistency. There needs to be a lot of coaching or supervision at this stage. The child is able to develop interest at this stage if coordination of activities does not bog him down.

During this stage, the child develops the aspect of time and relative motion such that object movement fascinates him. This is the right time to introduce manipulation of moving objects. He understands more about seasons and the aspect of suitability of programmed play. He develops fun in solving problems. The child has a tendency to shout out and develops love for reading. This would be the best time for introducing picture instructional manuals for training (Gallahue & Ozmun 2002).

The formal operations stage sets in when the child reaches the age of twelve. A more abstract perspective of the world develops with a greater sense of abstract thinking. They appreciate the possibility of reversibility and conservation. This they can apply comfortably in real and imagined situations. At this stage therefore, the child is able to learn from self and others’ mistakes but just imagining the best solution under the circumstances.

All the gross motor skills are developed and only needs to be enhanced. In sports, there is need to introduce new skills and even teach the same through theory. There is good body coordination and the child enjoys making things on his own. Innovation should thus be encouraged here.

The child can be given the role of an instructor to develop his self-confidence in gaming. The abstract thinking has developed fully and the child likes telling jokes, enjoys slang language and continued conversation. This is the right time to enforce team-building spirit. The child asks questions and may challenge the coach for answers that are not immediately available. Let the child take control albeit with logical instructions. By teenage, the child has developed theoretical perspective of all aspects of his real and imagined life and has an idea of cause effect. The intelligence develops highest and needs constant engagement.

The teenage is associated with high activity but also with a degree of reservation due to corresponding physical developments. The child now has proper body coordination and all physical developments are at their peak. For boys, the muscles are more developed while for girls, there sets in the feeling of maturity associate with the development in breast and abdomen. This becomes the perfect age for developing exceptional skills based on specialization. Real motor Development is said to stop here and what follows is just a mastery of knowledge and skill of daily living in a chosen path of interest.

Implications of stage and age specific developments to Coaching

Having identified the most essential periodical development stages and their potential in concentrating theoretical and practical motor, development, the following should be a guideline to the pursuit of optimal if not maximum motor development in children through coaching.

Between ages of two to five, the child should be taught general gross motor development skills. These will include physical balance, aiming at objects using body parts, group singing to develop language acquisition and vowel, running and vigorous movement to exhaust build up energy and general dressing to develop keenness and to an extent, balance.

After five years, the fine motor development skills should start. The child should now use small objects to aim at long distant targets. This will increase accuracy and coherence while strengthening interest and focus. It will also enhance their commitment to learning process while the attachment to outcome of events decreases. General body coordination and special aiming skills should count in this stage. The child should be taught both theoretically, through books and practically to develop all-round body coordination through practices of more precision, responsibility and teamwork. The child’s attention span should be nurtured.

The teenage is when golf should be most interesting. Here development of complex motor skills, energy systems, strength, and understanding of warm-up takes center stage. The muscle development and the sense of being another grown up should combine to make a good committed player. Here, all body coordination should have developed and special skills put into test. Modules should be developed to ask and answer questions regarding best approaches, which must then be practically done (Gallahue & Ozmun 2002).

To actualize their training, the various age groups require diverse activity programs. The under five would require training for gross motor development with greater incentives for reward. The under twelve would require a combination of the two approaches for fine and gross motor development with moderate reward system. Training the under eighteen should call for more fine motor development skills with minimal reward schemes but with a well developed action plant to suite their interests(Gallahue & Donnelly 2003).

Conclusion

On academic companions, the under five should never be given anything theoretical since no conceptual thinking has been developed. As they progress in age and become the under twelve, picture and literature companion is necessary since they enjoy reading. The concept develops here. According to Gallahue & Donnelly, “the child should gain equal skill in both practice and abstract or theoretical perspective at about twelve of playing”(2003) golf. They should be told that golf is fun, easy, about relationship building, that it is player-teach-player scenario, that it requires the best effort and that small-repeated doses make the best of a player.

All disciplines, from swing to putting should go together either theoretically or practically and with ease. Most importantly, training young children on specialized skills continually or giving instructions without a room for self-concept development may produce best players of golf and only golf with limited innovations at later adulthood. It also comes with a tendency to get bored such that interest diminishes as opposed to when development is allowed to be as natural as possible.

References

Gallahue, D. L. & Ozmun, J. C. (2002) Motor Development: A Theoretical Model in Understanding Motor Development: Infants, Children, Adolescents & Adults.

Ozmun, J.C. (2001) Introduction to Exercise Science. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

Ozmun, J.C. (1996) Including Children in Movement Activities. 4th Annual Early Childhood Workshop, OAHPERD, Cleveland, OH..

Gallahue, D.L., & Donnelly, F.C. (2003) Developmental Physical Education for All Children.

Introduction

Golf is a sport that has been in existence for over 500 years thanks to the Scottish who are believed to be the founders of the sport. Many historians have argued that Scots were the first payers of golf in the world. In America golf did not take root until the late 1880s. However the game was being played at once all throughout the nation. In 1889 New Jersey welcomed the game to be played in its soil. This was followed by the introduction of golf courses throughout the state for instance in cities such as Ridgewood and Riverton. John Reid was a Scotsman who first built a three holes course in Yonkers. This was near his home but he later came to establish the St Andrews Yonkers club. Golf began gaining popularity in the United States after World War 1. The 18^th century so the establishment of golf associations likes the St Andrews Society of golfers. Robert Tyre is a significant name in American golf because of winning a number of titles including the British open, British Amateur and the American amateur (Taylor,2008).

Main Text

In the earlier years before 1913 golf in America was mainly played by the wealthy in the society. Francis Quimet was significant in the history of golf in America after winning the US open championship over two British players. This was so because after his victory, golf as a sport attracted a lot of attention from the public. Popularity of the game continued to increase in the 1930s and even started being televised. In the American colleges tournament golf became established as a spectator sport in 1920s In the 20^th century various contribution have been made towards the development of golf in American colleges for instance people like Babe Didrickson Zaharias have been a source of inspiration for those who are in charge of golf in American colleges plus the players. This has seen the development of more golf courses in the country to support golf as a college sport. Though golf was also introduced in other countries, it has essentially remained an American game. This is because outstanding people like Jones and Tiger Woods are all from America (Mark, 2001).

In 1869 golf is in record as the college sport the first recorded inter–college game. This was particularly between the universities of Princeton and Rutgers.

In American universities golf is viewed both from an economic and sociological point of view. Economically golf generates a lot of revenues for universities and it is also utilized as a promotional sport. This has seen massive investments in the development of more golf courses and other related activities.

According to Taylor, tournaments within universities have greatly contributed to the development of the sport in the United States. This professional sport was slower to take root in America than baseball. Large scale production of ephemera in golf has greatly promoted the development of the sport in American colleges. The fact that golf is a serious competitive sport and furthermore a healthy activity has really attracted many young men in universities and colleges. This is also because of the way it has cultivated a natural environment perspective. This has been highlighted by advertisers of the game and this has been significant in its development as a college sport.

The development of more beautiful ephemera for golf has also contributed towards bringing the game to its current state in Universities and colleges in the united states.

This has been so as young men and women lookout for more interesting ephemera that can enable them compete effectively in tournaments.

The golfers own scorecard is an example of such kind of ephemera that has been significant in the history of golf. The establishment of golf camps can not be overlooked in the history of golf as a college sport. There has been a number of golf camps developed for instance between the ages of 12 – 18 years to help nurture talents in golf as an important sport. Most of the golf camps established offer comprehensive instructions while paying attention to all aspects of the game. This has been very significant in the history of the sport because it has helped to keep young people focused and when they reach college level competition is great and thus promoting the growth of the sport (Paul,2008).

Conclusion

Schools and colleges have also contributed to the growth of the sport by using the camp activities whereby young men and women are adequately trained for stiff competitions ahead. Their investments in the sport for instance establishment of courses and training staff have always shown commitment towards development of golf as a college sport. The development of golf programs that are geared towards teaching and engaging students in the game also needs to be mentioned for the role they are playing in promoting the sport. These programs also train graduates on how they can utilize the skills acquired in the game to enhance their business capabilities while in their professional world. Golf in the United States has reached to its current state because of the commitment and support from all the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to see success in the sport in colleges and universities (Paul,2008).

References

1. Paul Vitello (2008). “More Americans Are Giving up Golf”. The New York Times. The New York Times Company.
2. Mark. “Golf and Business: A Perfect Couple.” BusinessWeek.com. 2001.
3. Taylor Klutts, How golf has evolved over time.
4. Chronology of Some Important Events in Golf. Web.
5. Golf’s professional Grand Slam has developed over time. Web.

Identify the client

Based on the facts of the contract between Pro Golf and First Flight Associates (FFA), which was rescinded prematurely, this paper seeks to advise FFA on the legal framework behind the termination. This paper analyzes the case and explores the problem that prompted the parties to seek court’s intervention whereas there were other avenues at disposal to solve the dispute.

Additionally, the paper will explore possible actions that the FFA could undertake to preempt the recurrence of a similar problem in its future dealings. My recommendations will be based on my knowledge of the business law, which has been gained throughout the course.

Provide background to problem

The case presented in this paper centers on a controversial agreement between Pro Golf and FFA. FFA was accused of the failure to honor its contractual duties. Pro Golf is a multinational company with its headquarters in the United States (US), and it operates under the trademark FIRST FLIGHT.

Following the company’s desire to penetrate the global market, it appointed Robert G. Wynn as the sales representative in the Far East countries. Consequently, Wynn formed a company to execute the roles of a sales representative in Japan. The company, which was registered by the name First Flight Associates (FFA), marketed Pro Golf’s products under the trademark, FIRST FLIGHT.

This aspect indicates that it was licensed to act as a sales representative of the licensor. The relationship between the two parties was informal since no formal contract was entered between the companies when the license was issued. On the contrary, the two parties formed an implied form of contract substantiated through the letters sent by each party.

From the letters, FFA was to pay $2500 annually to Pro Golf as a consideration for the use of the trademark. However, to boost its marketing power, FFA sub-licensed other firms to use the licensor’s trademark among them being Teito Company. Under the new sub-license agreement, Teito was to pay an annual fee of $25,000 to FFA in exchange for the right to use the trademark to market the goods.

The agreement between FFA and Teito Company caused disputes as the licensor sought full disclosure of the material facts on which the mentioned contract was founded. Following the failure by FFA to disclose the terms of the contract as required, Pro Golf notified the former of the intention to terminate the contract unconditionally due to failure to observe the contractual duties by the plaintiff.

The problem

The termination of the contract without an agreement being reached between the two parties as to how to execute the termination process formed the basis of the controversy. FFA allowed Teito Company to use Pro Golf’s trademark. Additionally, it did not disclose the terms of the engagement to the licensor even when required to do so.

The reluctance by FFA to disclose the terms of engagement between it and Teito prompted Pro Golf to revoke the contract that it had made previously with FFA. The agreement was silent as to the reasons that could lead to termination. Therefore, the involved parties could not agree on the legality of such termination.

In addition to the termination of the decree, Pro Golf declined to pay the commissions earned by the plaintiff arguing that the company’s customs allowed payment of such fees upon delivery of goods to customers. FFA approached the courts requiring the defendant to be compelled to pay all the money earned prior to the termination of the contract. Pro Golf opposed the FFA’s claims for commission saying that the licensee failed to observe its contractual duties, thus giving the right to rescind the contract.

Expressly indicate termination causes

According to Schaffer, Agusti, Dhooge, and Earle (2011), under the common law, a legally binding contract can only be terminated under the following circumstances

1. Agreement by the parties
2. Failure by one party to observe a material contractual duty
3. The occurrence of the specified event
4. Lapse of time
5. Full execution of each parties contractual duties

However, for a contract to be terminated due to the occurrence of a certain event, the anticipated issue must be specified clearly in the contract. Express indication of the events that may cause termination of a contract is important since it averts conflicts that may emerge from wrongful rescission of a contract by either party before maturity.

Additionally, such indication eliminates uncertainties that may present regarding premature termination of a contract by one party. The occurrence of the stated event leads to automatic termination of a contract without having to approach the courts to question the legality of a decision by one party to terminate a contract.

FFA should ensure that its future agreements highlight the conditions in which a contract may be terminated prematurely to avoid the recurrence of a problem similar to the one described in this case. The contract between Pro Golf and FFA did not highlight expressly the events that could prompt impulsive termination of the licensing contract, and thus the parties had to approach the courts for legal assistance.

Advantages

Indicating the instances in which a contract may be terminated prevents wrongful termination of a contract by either party. This aspect eliminates confusion and delay in the execution of the contract. Additionally, the occurrence of the stated event leads to the involuntary termination of the contract, thus relieving each party of liability in the contract. This aspect leads to savings in terms of time and resources since the parties do not have to approach the courts to dispute the legality of such termination.

Disadvantages

The occurrence of the stated event leads to automatic termination of a contract, thus relieving each party of the attached contractual liabilities. In case one party has executed its duties fully, the other party may fail to honor its part of the bargain, thus leading to fresh disputes. Additionally, a contract may be terminated by other causes apart from those stipulated in the agreement, hence creating controversy.

Establish formal contracts

A formal contract refers to an agreement in which all the involved parties outline the material facts in a written text upon deliberation (Schaffer et al., 2011). Such contracts require extensive consultation between the contracting parties to come up with the representations to be included in the agreement.

Where necessary, a legal expert is hired to oversee the drafting of the contractual document and ensure compliance with the law. FFA should consider engaging in formal contracts in which all facts are stipulated in the contractual document to avoid the controversy that may present in the course of execution of the contract.

In its contract with Pro Golf, the parties did not meet physically to deliberate on the terms of the contract. On the contrary, the parties communicated through letters. The contract was thereby informal, and the conditions of the contract were only traceable from the correspondences.

If FFA had engaged in a formal discussion with the defendant, perhaps the two parties would explore and agree on allowing other companies to use the trademark. Therefore, I would advise FFA to negotiate its rights with other parties and document the terms in written texts to avoid the recurrence of the problem in its future endeavors.

Pros

A formal contract has the terms of engagement written and understood by both parties. Therefore, it acts as a proof of the existence of such contract. In case of disputes arising in the course of executing the contract, both parties may refer to the document to resolve the conflict without involving a court of law. Moreover, a formal agreement minimizes the chances of disputes emerging from misunderstandings since the terms of the contract are made clear right from the outset.

Cons

The terms of a contract may be of legal nature, which may require the services of a legal expert to guide the parties through the process. Such services may be expensive, which increases the operating costs. Additionally, the illegality of such terms may invalidate a contract even when a written document exists.

Establish a dispute resolution method prior to entering the contract and Indicate the terms of engagement, whether agency or employment. Most contracts often result in conflicts during execution, which must be resolved in time to avoid procrastinations in the performance of the contract. Therefore, parties to a contract ought to agree on the appropriate methods of resolving disputes without involving a court of law.

A clear statement outlining the method to be employed in resolving disputes should be included in the contractual document. In such a case, if a dispute arises prior to the actual period of termination of the contract, it can be resolved promptly.

FFA should consider creating a dispute resolution team with its future contracting parties made up of a representative from both sides. The contract should state the fact that the decision by the team is final and that it cannot be contested in a court of law. This move will minimize the chances of misunderstandings coupled with preempting the chances of the parties to seek justice from the courts.

In the light of these facts, I would advise FFA to deliberate dispute resolution methods prior to committing to a contact. In the contract between FAA and Pro Golf, no provision was made regarding dispute resolution hence the party resorted to seeking a legal interpretation from the courts.

Advantages

Providing a dispute resolution method provides a ceiling that limits the parties’ ability to go to the courts in case of disputes. Besides, it ensures that disputes are resolved promptly, thus minimizing the chances of court’s involvement in the resolution processes.

Disadvantages

Providing for a dispute resolution mechanism may limit the ability of a party to approach a court of law in the case of dissatisfaction by the verdict delivered through the stipulated dispute resolution method. Additionally, the resolution mechanism established by the contract may not always fit the different situations arising during the execution of the contract. Moreover, creating a dispute resolution team may require the establishment of a team of experts, which may increase the operating costs of the two parties.

The terms of a contract

A contract may be terminated on grounds of failure to perform the contractual duties from either party. Each party to a contract is under a legal obligation to act under the provisions of the contract. In case one party fails to act under such provisions, the aggrieved side is entitled to rescind the contract and seek damages for losses coming from the breach (Schaffer et al., 2011).

In the case of FAA v. Pro Golf, the defendant accused the plaintiff of failure to observe the contractual duties, hence rescinding the contract. In the light of the mentioned facts, I would advise FAA to engage actively in the formulation of the contractual terms and stick by them during the execution of its mandated duties. This way, the firm will be freed from any liability arising from the failure to execute its duties as specified in the contract.

Advantages

Adherence to the contractual duties ensures that the contract remains valid, thus eliminating the chances of the other party rescinding the contract. Additionally, it ensures that the desired outcomes are achieved, thus averting disputes that may lead to legal interventions.

Disadvantages

Adherence to contractual duties may be limited by certain factors such as the impracticability of the obligation or illegality of such tasks. In such cases, the execution of the contractual duties is derailed, and it may prompt the involved parties to seek intervention from the courts of law.

Reference

Schaffer, R., Agusti, F., Dhooge, L., & Earle, B. (2011). International business law and its environment. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Introduction

As part of this assignment, it was proposed to design a playing field for Putt-Putt Golf, a game in which one must consistently traverse nine holes to successfully complete. The main goal of the game, therefore, is to traverse the entire course in the minimum number of steps (Smugglers Cove, 2020). Creating a playing field is a demanding task that requires not only creative imagination but also mathematical calculations. This paper demonstrates the calculation of the Putt-Putt Golf course with all the requirements in mind.

List of Observations

1. The total area of the playing field is 108 m2.
2. The course contains nine holes.
3. A hole is not only the name of the hole in the ground where the ball is rolled but also the limited space for play that begins with hitting the ball and ends with hitting the ball in the hole (Quartuccio, 2018).
4. The course stands on a 0.1-meter-high concrete foundation.
5. Each hole in the ground requires a 0.108×0.108m concrete drill (Dethier, 2020).
6. The theme of the field is prismatic, so there must be a large number of corners and prismatic obstacles.

List of Prepositions

1. When designing, one Excel cell equals one meter — this allows for simulating a real field.
2. The ball can be hit obliquely between the cells — this does not interfere with play and creates an additional obstacle.
3. There are no additional objects other than nine holes and obstacle elements on the field — they do not fit under the conditions of the problem.

List of Steps for Solution

1. Then measure the course and create a rectangle.
2. Arrange the nine holes on the field in such a way that they are consecutive and have prismatic characteristics.
3. Calculate the areas of each well.
4. Calculate the area and then the volume of the concrete foundation.
5. Calculate the areas of the holes and adjust the playing surface.
6. Determine the types of obstacles.

Design

A schematic design of the playing field is shown in the figure below. The color differences show the various levels of play, nine in all. The black arrows show the player’s movement, with the end of the arrow showing the location of the hole. Since each cell is equal to 1 meter, the total size of this field is 12×9 meters or 108 m2. The placement of colored wells was motivated by creativity in synthesis with mathematical calculations, as each well had to consist of 12 cells while having no intersection with the others. As we can see, no nine holes are the same, so each one represents a certain level of difficulty for the player. On the green field, there is a three-meter bridge that connects the two sites. In addition, the organized movement in the holes is due to the presence of physical barriers, be they bushes, plastic prisms or mini-fences.

Since the area of the playing field is equal to the area of the concrete, and the depth of the foundation is equal to 0.1 m, the calculated volume of the concrete foundation was 10.8 m³ or 10800 liters. Nine square holes must be cut from this concrete bedding with dimensions 0.108×0.108: so, the volume of each hole equals 1.2 L. With this in mind, the corrected green lawn area should be 107.9, which is calculated as the field area minus the total area of the holes in the ground. Metal edging is used to delineate between the colored holes physically: this keeps the ball from rolling into other areas. Then the total length of such edging is calculated based on the total perimeter and the perimeter of each zone, but each neighborhood is counted once. It has been calculated that the length of the metal edging is 113 m.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The designed course fully meets the initial requirement and is an exciting game of Putt-Putt Golf. All of the critical conditions have been met, but the issue of ground constraints can be more carefully developed for improvement. In particular, among the recommendations, a 3D model of this course could be constructed with such barriers mapped for visual simplification (Martin, 2018). Among the limitations of the model is the “close” proximity of the holes, which would create discomfort for multiple families playing at once. This can be improved by either increasing the size of the course or reducing the area of each hole, leaving free space between them. Some of the strengths include thoughtful design, precise adherence to the assignment, and creativity — in the real world, this creates an engaging and appealing game of Putt-Putt Golf.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be said that designing own Putt-Putt Golf course is a demanding task that requires mathematical knowledge. The calculation of the course is done according to the design requirements and includes the determination of the areas, volumes, and areas of the segments. One of the most challenging tasks is to simulate the nine holes so that they are consistent and possible for real play. The proposed design fully meets all the stated characteristics and will give players an unforgettable experience combined with a challenging difficulty.

References

Dethier, D. (2020). Here’s how you can build an epic backyard golf hole — with stuff you already own!Golf. Web.

Martin, D. (2018). 4 reasons to drive your 3d designs with engineering math software. Mathcad. Web.

Quartuccio, J. (2018). Mini golf rules. SportsRec. Web.

Smugglers Cove. (2020). Are you playing putt-putt or mini golf? Is there a difference? SC. Web.