📖 Reading Passage: The Game of Golf

Golf is a popular sport played by millions of people around the world, including many New Zealanders. The game involves hitting a small white ball into holes on a large outdoor course using special clubs. Each hole begins at a tee, which is a designated starting area where players place their ball on a small peg.

From the tee, players aim to hit their ball towards the fairway – the main playing area with short, well-maintained grass. The ultimate goal is to get the ball into a small hole located on the green, a very smooth area of extremely short grass. The final shot into the hole is called putting, and it requires great precision and a gentle touch.

A standard golf course has 18 holes, each with different challenges such as water hazards, sand bunkers, and trees. Players use various clubs depending on how far they need to hit the ball. Drivers are used for long shots from the tee, irons for medium-distance shots, and putters for rolling the ball on the green.

Scoring in golf is unique because the lowest score wins! Players count how many shots it takes to get their ball into each hole. If a hole is designed to be completed in four shots (called "par 4"), and a player does it in three shots, they score one under par. Golf courses often have a handicap system that helps players of different skill levels compete fairly against each other.

Golf requires patience, concentration, and good hand-eye coordination. Players must follow proper etiquette, which includes being quiet when others are hitting, repairing divots (chunks of grass), and playing at a reasonable pace. Many golf courses in New Zealand offer stunning views of mountains, coastlines, and native bush, making the sport both challenging and scenic.

The sport teaches valuable life skills such as honesty (players often keep their own scores), perseverance (improving takes lots of practice), and respect for nature (courses are designed to work with the natural landscape). Whether playing competitively or just for fun, golf provides excellent exercise and an opportunity to enjoy New Zealand's beautiful outdoors.

📚 Key Vocabulary

Tee: The starting area for each hole where the ball is placed on a small peg

Fairway: The main playing area with short, well-maintained grass

Green: The smooth area around the hole with very short grass

Putting: The final shot that rolls the ball into the hole

Handicap: A system that helps players of different abilities compete fairly

Etiquette: The proper behaviour and manners expected on the golf course

🎯 Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

✏️ Part 2: Written Response Questions

Players start each hole at the _______ and aim for the _______, which is the smooth area around the hole. The final shot is called _______.