The most frequently asked golf questions from Ask.com

Ask.com, a question and answer site that receives more than one million specific questions everyday, researched the most frequently asked golf questions on its site. You may think these are all basic questions but how many of you actually know all the answers? Naturally, I have placed my snarky comments below each answer, in red ink.

Top Ten Questions about Golf on Ask.com

1. What does golf stand for?
A. The word golf likely originated from the Medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" which meant "club".

I thought the word GOLF was an acronym for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden!
LadiesLoveGolf.com has a similar opinion

2. How long does it take to play 18 holes of golf?

A. Four hours is the estimate most people give for 18 holes.

My answer depends on if you play the publinks in which a round of golf has taken me up to six hours!

3. What Percentage of Golfers Shoot under 100?

A. There are 27 million golfers in America. Only 5 percent of them will ever break 100, and of that 5 percent only 2 percent of them will ever break 80.

I have to agree with this answer, at least for publinks golfers. I play with many who have never broken 100 but I have not yet broken 80.

4. What degree is a pitching wedge?

A. A pitching wedge is set at a 45 degree angle.

One of my favorite clubs in my golf bag. I carry pitching, sand (56 degrees) and lob wedges (60 degrees) for different shots. You can never have too many wedges!

5. How many calories do I burn playing golf?

A. How many calories a person burns while playing golf depends on three factors. One is body weight, as larger people burn more calories than their smaller counterparts. A second factor is how much time is spent playing golf, and the third aspect has to do with how active that person is on the range. A person who weighs 150 pounds and plays golf for two hours while he is carrying his clubs will burn 750 calories. A heavier person, weighing 200 pounds, will burn even more. During a two hour golf game, a 200-pound person carrying his golf clubs will burn 1,000 calories. 

In other words, walk and carry your golf clubs for golf to be more of a physical than mental game! 

6. How do you fix a slice in golf?

A. To fix a golf swing slice, it's important to realize that a slice is caused by the club face being left open when you strike the ball. Discover how you can fix your slice with help from a professional golf instructor.

Don't try fixing your slice yourself or you might add more problems to your golf swing. 

7. How many golf clubs can you carry?
A. The rules of golf allow you to carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add another iron or a specialty wood to the traditional set.

For newer  women golfers, try hybrid clubs instead of traditional woods: they are easier to hit and get the ball airborne.

8. How do you calculate your golf handicap?

A. After figuring out a golf course's rating, take the score and subtract it from the course rating before multiplying it times 113 and dividing this number by the slope of the course. Take five scores and multiply the lowest by .96 to get a handicap. 

Check out USGA.org  for more information on handicapping.

9. What is an albatross in Golf?

A. Albatross is another term for a double eagle, or 3-under par on any one hole.

How many golfers have ever gotten an albatross? Of course, for some, an albatross has the same connotation as in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner!

10. What does slope rating mean on a golf course?
A. Slope rating is a numerical index of difficulty for an average (bogey) golfer. The higher the slope number, the more difficult the course is for the bogey golfer.

I suggest that the average golfer look for courses with lower slope ratings until their scores improve, for a feeling of accomplishment!