Who invented the game of golf is unclear and disputed by many. However, what is clear is that it has grown to become one of the most popular sports in the world and is played by millions. Golf courses themselves have come a long way since their creation, with spectacular grounds built around the world. Asia is catching up to Europe, with its own selection of elite golf courses, like the three championship level courses at The Els Club Malaysia, for example, one of the most celebrated golf courses in Johor.
The history of the golf course is probably just as hazy as the sport itself, but the basics are still the same. A standard golf course consists of a series of holes, usually 9 or 18 holes are the most common number, along with a teeing ground, a rolling fairway, a couple of hazards like bunkers, and a flat green with a flagstick and hole. Many of the oldest courses are ‘links’; these link courses are usually constructed on raised ground or open parkland, and commonly feature sand dunes.
When it comes to the design of golf courses, it often flows with the original landscape, even so, in some cases, modifications are unavoidable. This seems to be the case with the new courses that have been built on sites with less desirable land. Most sand traps and bunkers are in most cases, artificial, while other hazards like ponds may be natural.
Designing the layout of a golf course is considered a separate field of architectural study from regular landscape design and in the United Sates, golf course architects even have their own private associations. In general, golf courses, whether private or publicly owned, will include a practice range, with separate greens, bunkers and driving ares for practice shots.

Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world. Google+