Monday, January 22, 2007

Top 10 Xbox 360 Games Your Kids Want For Christmas This Year - Guaranteed!

Xbox 360 was the number one smash hit for Christmas gifts last year. The reasons are obvious: more visual effects, better console, incredible action, and excellent game choices. This year again teens will be playing Xbox 360 games with their friends, comparing games at school, and buying, renting or swapping the new Xbox games out this year. Here are some of the top picks for Christmas 2006, in a variety of categories, such as action, adventure, shooters, sports, and role-playing. Something for everyone.

1. Gears of War - Shooter

Now this is what next-gen gaming is all about! I've logged over 13 hours of game time so far, and haven't even finished it, but that's because I'm milking this baby for all it's worth. The campaign experience is one to be savored, as there probably won't be anything like it again for quite some time. Gears of War is one of those titles that comes around every couple of years and raises the bar so high that it almost spoils every game released in the next six months.

This third-person shooter thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the earth.

Gears of War is about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage cooperative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities). Also, voice recognition will be available for players, and voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends.

2. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter - Shooter

The face of war has changed with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Enemy lines are blurred and there is no clear opponent. New enemies and threats require a new type of warfare and a new kind of soldier. Enter the Ghosts.

In 2013, the U.S. Army will implement its Integrated Warfighter System. IWS combines advanced weapon systems, satellite communication devices, and enhanced survivability features into a fully integrated warfare combat system. Equipped with cutting edge weapons and communications systems, you will find yourself, one of the Ghosts, immersed in a detailed universe which is warfare of the future.

One gamer exclaimed, "This game is a pure showcase of next gen gaming. the graphica are downright gorgeous and this actually helps to immerse you into the story. and the story is riveting enough to actually make you care about mexico city... do your self a favor and buy this game."

3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - RPG

Like earlier games in the Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion is designed to present a living fantasy world that gamers experience on their own terms. The game is populated with over 1,000 NPCs, each leading a fully realized life, following regular schedules according to their individual wants, needs, and positions. Players are encouraged to interact in the world as they choose, as noble heroes, greedy villains, or anything in between. The game's main story and its sidemissions provide plenty of fast-moving adventure.

Advised one fan: "This Game Is Like Crack. Massive enivornment; Beautiful graphics; Great ambient music and sound; Totally engrossing gameplay. This game is unbelieveable. If you like RPG's in the SLIGHTEST, buy it."

4. Fight Night Round 3 - Sports

Easily beating the competition, Fight Night Round 3 brings the most intense boxing videogame experience ever to the virtual boxing ring. Film-quality graphics establish Fight Night Round 3 as one of the best looking and playing Xbox 360 sports games ever produced. The graphics feature devastating punch impacts unparalleled in any game or film.

Outside of the ring, gamers can establish intense rivalries through pre-fight events and trash talk, putting more purpose and passion behind their every hit. The visuals in Fight Night Round 3 are so excellent that they actually enhance the gameplay. The gameplay has been revamped from what was already an excellent experience in Round 2.

5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent - Action

The bestselling Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell" game takes on an entirely new direction. You play as a double agent for the first time ever in Splinter Cell Double Agent. You'll take on the dual roles of covert operative and ruthless terrorist, where your choices of whom to betray and whom to protect actually affect the outcome of your game.

Experience the relentless tension and gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double agent. Lie. Kill. Sabotage. Betray. But above all, save and protect the innocent. How far will you go to gain the enemy's trust? As covert operative Sam Fisher, you'll infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and seek to destroy it from within. Carefully weigh the consequences of your actions--kill too many terrorists and blow your cover. Hesitate and millions will die. Do whatever it takes to complete your mission, but get out alive.

6. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Action

The war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance has left the galaxy far, far away a huge mess! But luckily with LEGOs, rebuilding is easy! Play through the original trilogy, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, as all three movies are re-created using LEGO bricks. You can play as one of 50 different characters and can even get out of vehicles and ride on various creatures.

Our recommendation: If you liked the first Star Wars game, this one should definitely be on your list. If you've never played the first game, then this one must be on your list! So really, there isn't any reason not to own and play this game.

7. Madden NFL 07 - Sports

With Madden NFL 07, innovative rushing controls allow you to control the running game like never before, with all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of your favorite backs.

For the first time, in a football video game, you can step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, and then take control of the tailback to smash through, jump over, or tear away from any would-be tackler as you head for the end zone.

One fan raved, "Overall it was exactly what i was looking for, ... the new features are all fun, and the individual camera view for every position in superstar mode gave u a feeling of really playing as the character. This will be a great game to play alone or with a group of friends."

8. Dead Rising - Action

Dead Rising follows the harrowing saga of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance photojournalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a clue, he makes his way to a small suburban town only to find that it has been overrun by zombies. He escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be a bastion of safety, but it turns out to be anything but.

In the intense struggle to survive the endless stream of zombies, players have full reign of a realistic shopping center, utilizing anything they find to fight off the flesh-hungry mob. The variety of stores in the mall offers players an endless supply of resources including vehicles, makeshift weapons and more. Players encounter other survivors along the way, and by helping them, acquire valuable clues as to what has happened and how to survive.

I couldn't say it better than one fan: "Thousands and thousands of zombies to kill in a myriad of ridiculous ways; tons of things to see and try throughout the mall; great sense of style; a plot that manages to be intriguing without intruding too much on the action; and fantastic sound effects."

9. Saints Row - Action

Welcome to Stilwater, an open-world city with attitude, a city controlled by rival gangs, a city you are about to take over in Saints Row. As a low-level thug in the Third Street Saints, you'll do whatever it takes to get the money and build the respect and power you need to muscle your way to the top. Be careful, though. Your actions have consequences within the game, and around every corner lurks a new threat.

Numerous vehicles are available to "borrow," pedestrians can be slugged or robbed at gunpoint, and there are an assortment of missions to advance the game's primarily storyline. Some features include: fun, responsive driving controls; excellent on-foot shooting action; impressive presentation, featuring amazing explosions and great audio; and a well-written, well-acted story to compel you to keep playing.

10. Hitman: Blood Money - Action

On the run from rival assassins, Agent 47 hops a plane to take care of business stateside in Hitman: Blood Money. Players will guide Agent 47 through a number of locales, including New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas as he performs hits. It's up to the player to determine the manner in which a hit is executed, but the "rookie training" mode can show amateur assassins how to help targets have "accidents," by pushing the victim over a ledge or pinning him underneath a heavy object.

The amount of money earned from completed jobs varies depending on the cleanliness and professionalism of the hit. Agent 47's paychecks can be spent in a number of ways including bribing reporters, customizing weapons with one of 15 upgrades, or paying pedestrians for information. Open-ended stealth action gameplay lets you sneak around, or run and gun; beautifully crafted mission set pieces seem appropriately big and complex; large variety of realistic weapons; and great combination of action and strategy.


About The Author

Jason Purnell is a gamer providing valuable tips and advice on gaming systems, cheats, and especially Xbox 360 games. He is the author of the new book, Winning Xbox 360 Games: Strategies and Tips from Some of the World's Best Video Gamers. An avid gamer himself, Jason also writes articles on gaming. For more free tips on Xbox 360 games, go to: http://www.Xbox-360-Game-Reviews.com.

MLB Tickets Will Be Available For Five More Games - Tigers Will Win World Series

Chances are that if you’re a Tigers fan, you’ve been thinking that MLB tickets would still be available at this point. If you live in or root for St. Louis, the fact that the Cardinals are still alive may be a bit of a surprise. What’s no surprise, however, is that the World Series is off to a competitive start, tied at a game apiece, and it’s beginning to look like it’s going the full seven. A breakdown of what to expect will explain why this could shape up to be one of the all-time fall classics.

Pitching

Each team’s “ace” has been identified, but both the Tigers and Cardinals have been getting unexpected results from their other starting pitchers throughout the postseason. Kenny Rogers stoned the Cardinals in game two, and Chris Carpenter takes the mound in game three. Each of them should win their starts, which basically gives each team a win and sets up a potentially dramatic game seven if they face each other in the deciding game.

The Cardinals have been getting great performances from the likes of Jeff Suppan, who was scorned in Boston, and the Tigers have gotten quite a bit of mileage from Jeremy Bonderman. Neither is seen as a “stopper,” but both have been nearly untouchable in crucial stretches.

Managers

When’s the last time the managers were catching the attention of general fans in a World Series? Managers don’t normally move MLB tickets on their own, but Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland are both masters of their craft, and watching them match wits has already been a pleasure in the first two games.

Neither of them is perfect, but neither ever needs to learn a lesson more than once. For instance, it’s a good bet that the Tigers won’t be pitching to Albert Pujols any more if first base is open, as they learned the hard way in game one. On the other side of the diamond, it’s already apparent that the Cardinals have figured out that the Tigers have been concentrating on plate patience, which is why so many first-pitch fastballs over the plate are beginning to appear.

It’s these subtleties that make this match up so intriguing, and also why neither team is going to run away and hide with the series before either Leyland or La Russa makes the adjustments to keep everything close.

Momentum

Neither team is one of those “on a ridiculous roll” teams that we’ve seen sweep through the series in the recent past, including the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and the Chicago White Sox last year. These are evenly-matched teams, both of whom struggled badly down the stretch and both of whom nearly choked away their spots in the postseason.

They’re not feeling lucky to be here, but they’re not feeling invincible, either, and given that competitive edge along with good pitching and top-notch game management and preparation, this World Series is going to go the distance.

However, MLB tickets in Detroit are going to take on historical value in a few days, as the Tigers will win it in seven games.

The Mental Game And Your Burning Desire

Everyone has great ideas, goals, un-started business concepts, dreams and unwritten books inside of them. You have to realize that your mind, skills and talents are not limited natural resources. Don’t be denied of your dreams and what you are supposed to accomplish. Remember that you are responsible for fulfilling your dreams.

THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF PEOPLE

Take a look at those around you and reflect on those who have influenced your life the most. What are they doing to your dreams, your esteem and your potential? They are either being destructive or constructive to your future plans. There are four types of people in this world: the Living Dead, the Dreamers, the Achievers and the Exponentially Successful. We have all met the Living Dead. They tend to suck the energy right out of us. They have given up on life and figure that if they can’t be happy, you shouldn’t be either. They will often do everything in their power to impede you from achieving your goals. They love to burst your dreams and remind you of all the inherent impossibilities, your past mistakes and why you can’t achieve what you are aiming for. They point fingers and seek to pull you down because they see you getting closer and closer to what they wish they had themselves. Many don’t tear down your dreams consciously, and they may not even realize why they feel the need to do so. Even in the face of the most intense criticism, you need to have the courage to do the things you know you need to do.

Then there are the Dreamers. Dreamers are full of great ideas. They make many noble attempts at success, but their zeal fizzles before they’ve solidified that success. They have a plethora of projects perpetually hanging in the midway zone. They tend to say “if only…” and “someday…” and “when such-and-such….” These people go through life stuck in first gear. They’re moving, they’re plugging along, but it sure is hard on the engine. They turn up the radio so the thrill of the vision drowns out the groan of the struggling machine.

The Achievers have reached a moderate level of success. They are accomplished, they are skillful, but they have not yet forged into the fire. They’ve climbed the ladder and found a pleasant view, so they’ve stopped short of the thrilling vistas only a few rungs away. They’ve found a comfortable spot, so why risk toppling to the bottom now? They’re satisfied with the success and accomplishments they’ve already gained. Living on past success is easy to do. They think, Why rock the boat? It’s nice to take a breather, but then that breather often grows more and more into their way of life. Let’s just settle for mediocrity, they decide. They refuse to think that there is more to learn. They have made it in their own minds and can’t see themselves going to the next level.

The Exponentially Successful are doing what they love. They enjoy life and others enjoy being around them. Life is exciting and they love all that life entails—the challenges and the joys alike. The Exponentially Successful constantly strive to improve themselves. They learn from their mistakes and from the experiences of others. They read, they learn, they risk, and all along the way, they grow, no matter the situation. They are self-confident and well balanced. They have a passion for life. They know who they are, why they are here and where they are going. These are the people who make massive success look easy. Exponential success is where I want to take you. Now is the time; this is your year.

Take a look around you. Are the people in your life pulling you up or pulling you down? Are they constructive toward your future plans or destructive toward your goals, dreams and aspirations? An important trait exponentially successful people possess is their ability to follow their hearts. It does not matter what other people say or do. They know they are on the right track in pursuit of their dreams. Think what would have happened if Abraham Lincoln had listened to his critics, if Thomas Edison had taken to heart everyone who said his inventions were impossible. What if Bill Gates (while going to Harvard) listened to his counselors and stayed in school? What if Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield listened to the over 100 publishers that turned them down for Chicken Soup for the Soul and hadn’t gone on to sell over 100 million copies? I could list volumes of similar stories. Ask anyone you know who is successful and I guarantee you will hear a similar story.

THE MENTAL GAME

As I said earlier, it is important to learn and take clues from others who have gone before you and experienced what you hope to experience. But make sure your study and observation of such individuals is only part of the full plate of information you’re trying to absorb. Then step back and view the big picture. It’s easy to get swept up in one person’s energy and enthusiasm, so you have to be careful that you don’t get too excited and follow them mindlessly. Even if duplication of a few successful people’s patterns yields good results, doing so is not going to be the same as if you had drawn the best advice from as many sources as possible and cultivated a personalized success pattern of your own. The more tools in your tool belt, the more equipped you will be to propel yourself higher and higher. Only then will you allow yourself to continuously maximize your present success potential while simultaneously expanding your boundaries to even greater heights. When you unearth this pattern, your passion will kick in like never before and you will begin to recognize the taste of true greatness.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you have chosen the right direction in your own life, don’t panic. We’re going to work through that together. As you read this manual, you will become more and more able to determine your focus, your passion and your direction. There are things in this life you are here to accomplish. Everyone has great ideas, goals, un-started business concepts, dreams and unwritten books inside of them. You have to realize that your mind, skills and talents are not limited natural resources. They are not like a computer hard drive or RAM with limited storage potential. They will never run out and are only wasted if you don’t use them. If you don’t fulfill the mission you’re here to fulfill, somebody else will have to do it for you. Don’t be denied of your dreams and what you are supposed to accomplish. Remember that you are responsible for fulfilling your dreams. No one else will perform them the way you could have, and no one else’s accomplishment of them will give you the joy and satisfaction that could have been yours. Until you hold yourself totally responsible, you don’t own your dreams—you are only renting them.

BURNING DESIRE: THE FIRST STEP TOWARD EXPONENTIAL SUCCESS

When you learn to channel your energy and emotions into a burning desire, you are laying the foundation for exponential success. Desire is the first step toward ultimate achievement. Your desire will be so great that even subconsciously you will be giving every ounce that is in you toward accomplishing what you were meant to achieve. There will always be those who scoff and scorn you, calling your dreams “impractical” or “irresponsible,” but in all actuality, it is embracing what’s closest to your heart that will unleash within you your greatest energy and imagination. And just like striking oil, you will experience a surge of greater productivity than you have ever had in your life. It is desire that will allow you to transform mediocre abilities into mind-boggling success that is maximized to heights above and beyond what you ever thought possible. Another word for desire is conviction.

I like this word because it suggests an emotion that is even deeper within, even more driving. Soul-filled conviction has the power to pull you through every possible challenge and give you the strength to scale the highest peaks. So how do you find this conviction and tap into it? As you hone the skills in this manual and use them diligently in your daily life, your conviction will rise within you and become ever clearer. Right at this very moment, you have within you a power plant burning with potential energy. You have the potential to light a whole city, but you are only burning one bulb or lighting one house. The potential is there, and now is the time to tap into it.

Just as a space shuttle expends the most fuel in creating the momentum to leave the atmosphere and soar into orbit, kicking off a new plan towards exponential success also demands the greatest amount of energy and effort up front. Once the shuttle is in orbit, it expends less energy. Similarly, once you’ve acquired the Exponential Factor, exponential success will naturally follow and success will be yours.


About The Author

Kurt Mortensen’s trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; you should attract customers, just like a magnet attracts metal filings. Claim your success and learn what only the ultra-prosperous know by going to http://prewealth.com/mistakestoavoid and get my free report "10 Mistakes that Cost You Thousands."

Where To Find Best Arcade Games

Arcade games, historically, emerged as early as the late 1920's where you could find theme parks which combined mechanical form of gaming machines and a great fun atmosphere. This was the beginning of modern gaming. The first video game machines appeared in the and were mainly coin-operated. To play the game, you sloted in your coin or token and when that run out the game ended. You then had to purchase further tokens if so desired. Now, most video game machines use solid state electronics to operate. Scores and bonuses are all electronically controlled.

Atari, which started in 1972, was now dominating the market with popular arcade games such as Pong (electronic version Ping Pong), Pacman, Space Invaders, Battlezone, Donkey Kong and the Galaxian. Video arcade games started appearing everywhere including shopping centers, public houses such as bars, supermarkets, college dormitories, bowling alleys and dedicated amusement parks. However, with video arcade games located in seedy places like casinos and gambling houses, their reputation waned. The sales of arcade games further took a hit with the advent of home video game consoles in the early nineties. People rather preferred to buy or rent out the exact games they used to play in these amusement parks and enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.

With this decline in fortunes, dedicated arcade games businesses started to suffer and many had to close down or diversify. Diversification involved offering other attractions such as rides with arcade games being only a small part of the business and at least offering arcade lovers to still indulge in their passion. Most of these centers are so different, they are no longer what they used to be.

Playing arcade games is now even easier. With most dedicated venues closed due to advances in the gaming console technology and the internet, you do not need to uproot yourself and find a physical venue. If you are into gaming consoles, all you need is to buy or rent your game and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. On the other hand, if you wish to play free arcade games with a bit of social interaction, you can choose from many internet gaming platforms where you can play as well as chat or interact with other game lovers in the forums.

In spite of the many milestones arcade games have come, the basic essence of the "arcade" is still present in most modern games. Most arcade games offer the game lover different levels of play, starting with the easiest. Once that level has been mastered or maximum points have been scored, you are allowed to move to the next level. Each higher level is progressively more difficult. You stay in the game if you stay "alive" or your "virtual" tokens get finished. Obviously, physical tokens are not needed for online arcade games but the general theme is always present. Newer games such as Street Fighter I and King Fighters offer a two player game mode which futher enhances the gamers experience.

Arcade games have survived, mainly because they are so addictive and they offer a good recreation time for kid, teens and adults alike and they are likely to be with us for a long time to come.


About The Author

By Jake Jenkins
Pro Gamer
http://www.gamerevolt.com/game/10029/Space-Invaders.html
http://www.gamerevolt.com/game/287/Pacman-2005.html
http://www.gamerevolt.com/game/33/Galaxians.html

Kids' Games

Kids love to play, so games are a major part of their lives. Choosing the right games for you kids can be a challenge. It needs to be fun, but you also want them to "get something" from the games. There are new games coming out all the time, but sometimes the classics are still the best.

Outdoor games - Outdoor games are a great way to encourage teamwork and get exercise at the same time. Softball, baseball, wiffleball are always a hit. Badminton and volleyball are inexpensive, and a lot of fun for everyone. There are also games that require no equipment, like Tag and Duck, Duck, Goose, that are always favorites.

Board games - Board games are a great way to spend family time, and encourage taking turns and playing by the rules. There are the classic board games, like Candyland for younger children. Then games like Clue, which encourage logic and puzzle solving and Monopoly, where they can learn about money. There are also many trivia games that help test knowledge and have a little fun, too.

Card games - Card games are always a fun family activity. Simple games like Go Fish and Old Maid help kids learn to match. Other card games, like Cribbage, can help with math skills. There are other specialty card games, like UNO, which are also good for matching and following directions.

Computer/video games - There are an almost unlimited number of computer and video games, with new systems coming out all the time. Not all the games are bad. There are quite a few educational games, as well. The best games encourage creative thinking, puzzle solving and help improve hand eye coordination. The key is checking out games, through reviews and other parents, before buying a new game for your children.

On-line games - There are several websites that provide kid-friendly and educational games. PBS Kids, Nick Jr. and others have games that feature the kids' favorite characters, and help them learn skills while having fun. Parents always need to supervise the sites to make sure they are safe for kids.

If all else fails, give them an empty box, some crayons and see what happens.


About The Author

Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. If you are looking for Tips for Raising Great Kids, or need to De-clutter Your Life make sure you visit http://www.busy-moms-online.com

(C) Adriana Copaceanu

Did The Game of Golf Come From Outer Space ?

The exact origins of the game of golf remain a subject of continual debate. Although Scotland is generally considered as the birthplace of the game, as it is played today. This claim is due in large part to a number of specific historical references dating as far back as the mid 1400s.

The most commonly cited of these references is a written record that a games called either geoff, gowf or gawd , this is a hard game was played during the reign of James II of Scotland. In 1457 King James proclaimed by royal decree that the playing of “fluteball : and “gowf” were forbidden so that the men of Scotland could concentrate on their archery practice.

Thus the pursuit of golf remained outlawed until the signing of the Treaty of Glasgow in the year of '1501 m which brought peace between the warring parties. At this point even Scotland James IV took up the game of golf himself. A long relationship between golf and royalty ensued – although both commoners and gentry alike frowned upon Mary Queen of Scots when, in 1567 was found to be playing golf just days after the death of her husband Darney.

In an alternate theory of golf’s beginnings, a Dutch historian, Steven von Hengel, has argued that golf originated in Holland around 1297. A form of the game called spel metten kove and also called Colf. Colf, it is believed, was played primarily on ice. Nevertheless golf may have grown out of this game and another game that was popular in Holland, called Jeu De Mail. This letter carrying game was played in wooden shoes with soft spikes.

Without question golf’s major growth occurred in Great Britain, primarily in Scotland. Golf became an accepted part of the culture as early as 1604, when William Mayne was appointed Royal Clubmaker, although the game was still reserved for the elite who had the wealth and leisure to enjoy it. Early golf was played with a feathery golf ball - a stitched leather ball stuffed with boiled goose feathers. A feather ball cost three times as much as a club and because feathery balls were so delicate, players had to carry three to six balls In addition the balls flew poorly in wet weather, a fact that further dissuaded the working class who, unlike the gentry did not possess the flexibility of flexible time and leisure for scheduled games of golf.

The ball, as it has throughout history, dictated other matters pertaining to the development of the game. Because the feathery ball performed so inadequately when damp, early golf was played predominantly on the relatively arid eastern side of Scotland. Furthermore the eastern seaside location was popular because the underlying sandy soil drained more rapidly than the and the grass was naturally shorter. It must be noted that the invention of the lawn mower is a relatively current occurrence. Along the way this short grassed seaside golfing location came to be too referred to as links.

If the debate over whether the Scots or Dutch created the game of golf, the Scots certainly had a hand in creating the golf club. Leith is considered the birthplace of organized golf, and the golf club called the Honorable Company of Gentleman Golfers was founded by William St. Clair in Leith in 1744 and later became the Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Ten years later, the Royal and Ancient Golf Company was founded under it original name, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club runs the British Open and British Amateur duties that it assumed in 1919 , and since 1951 has administered the rules of golf in cooperation with the United States Golf Association . The R & A also established 18 holes as the standard golf course. In 1764, the Old Course at St. Andrews consisted of 22 holes with golfers playing 11 holes out and 11 back. Eventually the last 4 holes on each side, all short converted into 2 holes leaving 18 to be played.

Thus is the history and origins of our modern game of golf that we treasure today.


About The Author

Syd Nohcud
billys_office@yahoo.com
http://www.tratfor.com
All About Golf
Glendale CA
http://www.glendalegolfs.com

Did The Game Of Golf Originate From Outer Space ?

by: Cy B. Nohcud


Art Bell I live by the golf course and almost eveynight there are UFOs at the links . I have it figured out why the UFOs come back everynight. It is for the 9th hole on the golf course.

The exact origins of the game of golf remain a subject of continual debate. Although Scotland is generally considered as the birthplace of the game, as it is played today. This claim is due in large part to a number of specific historical references dating as far back as the mid 1400s.

The most commonly cited of these references is a written record that a games called either geoff, gowf or gawd , this is a hard game was played during the reign of James II of Scotland. In 1457 King James proclaimed by royal decree that the playing of “fluteball : and “gowf” were forbidden so that the men of Scotland could concentrate on their archery practice.

Thus the pursuit of golf remained outlawed until the signing of the Treaty of Glasgow in the year of '1501 m which brought peace between the warring parties. At this point even Scotland James IV took up the game of golf himself. A long relationship between golf and royalty ensued – although both commoners and gentry alike frowned upon Mary Queen of Scots when, in 1567 was found to be playing golf just days after the death of her husband Darney.

In an alternate theory of golf’s beginnings, a Dutch historian, Steven von Hengel, has argued that golf originated in Holland around 1297. A form of the game called spel metten kove and also called Colf. Colf, it is believed, was played primarily on ice. Nevertheless golf may have grown out of this game and another game that was popular in Holland, called Jeu De Mail. This letter carrying game was played in wooden shoes with soft spikes.

Without question golf’s major growth occurred in Great Britain, primarily in Scotland. Golf became an accepted part of the culture as early as 1604, when William Mayne was appointed Royal Clubmaker, although the game was still reserved for the elite who had the wealth and leisure to enjoy it. Early golf was played with a feathery golf ball - a stitched leather ball stuffed with boiled goose feathers. A feather ball cost three times as much as a club and because feathery balls were so delicate, players had to carry three to six balls In addition the balls flew poorly in wet weather, a fact that further dissuaded the working class who, unlike the gentry did not possess the flexibility of flexible time and leisure for scheduled games of golf.

The ball, as it has throughout history, dictated other matters pertaining to the development of the game. Because the feathery ball performed so inadequately when damp, early golf was played predominantly on the relatively arid eastern side of Scotland. Furthermore the eastern seaside location was popular because the underlying sandy soil drained more rapidly than the and the grass was naturally shorter. It must be noted that the invention of the lawn mower is a relatively current occurrence. Along the way this short grassed seaside golfing location came to be too referred to as links.

If the debate over whether the Scots or Dutch created the game of golf, the Scots certainly had a hand in creating the golf club. Leith is considered the birthplace of organized golf, and the golf club called the Honorable Company of Gentleman Golfers was founded by William St. Clair in Leith in 1744 and later became the Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Ten years later, the Royal and Ancient Golf Company was founded under it original name, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club runs the British Open and British Amateur duties that it assumed in 1919 , and since 1951 has administered the rules of golf in cooperation with the United States Golf Association . The R & A also established 18 holes as the standard golf course. In 1764, the Old Course at St. Andrews consisted of 22 holes with golfers playing 11 holes out and 11 back. Eventually the last 4 holes on each side, all short converted into 2 holes leaving 18 to be played.

Thus is the history and origins of our modern game of golf that we treasure today.


About The Author

Cyd B. Nohcud glendalegolfs@yahoo.com http://www.tratfor.com Tratfor All About Golf Glendale California http://www.glendalegolfs.com