It is that time of year when the game of golf is in, pardon the pun, full swing. Bags are being dusted off, clubs are being inspected and cleaned, and new and used balls are being purchased. This is the perfect opportunity to take a look at some historic, old, new, and unusual American golf courses and the players who played on them. Take a trip with us across the country and through time for a nostalgic look at some of the links that have made this great game even more exceptional.

Image Source: http://www.today.com/health/boy-6-play-100-holes-golf-one-day-raise-money-t25496 Golf is one of those sports where a large number of players and organizations are dedicated to giving back to society--in a big way. The PGA tour has raised about 2 billion dollars to date. It also teaches fundamental values such as good sportsmanship, integrity, and respect. Children who learn the game carry these values with them for the rest of their lives. This has proven true, as evidenced by the story of 6-year-old Ryan McGuire, who lost a kindergarten classmate to cancer and decided to honor his friend by playing his favorite game--golf. With his grandfather, a cancer survivor himself, acting as his caddy, Ryan played 100 holes in his friend's honor and has since raised more than $30,000. The proceeds of his efforts will be donated to cancer research. Here are some stories of other young men and women who have been impacted by or used golf, other sports or sports-related subjects, to make a difference in their world and the lives of others.

“I haven't looked for a golf ball since mulligans were free, which was a law I passed in 1995.” - Dan Jenkins (an American author and golf journalist). For those in the business of operating a golf venue, there is profit on the green, in the rough, and in ponds. A staggering 300 million golf balls are lost by golfers every year. As a result, millions of dollars are lost as well. Every make and condition can be found when retrieving abandoned golf balls. From high-end Titleist Pro V1 to lesser-known brands, banged up pretty badly or in mint condition. Recycling, reconditioning and reselling used balls is estimated as a $200 million per year enterprise. Recycled golf balls--or “pond balls” as they are sometimes called--sell at a range from as little as 25 cents per ball to as much as $3 each for high-end brands in excellent condition. Golf courses that send their retrieved balls to LostGolfBalls.com can take advantage of this revenue stream.

The British Open (often referred to as simply “The Open”), is the oldest major professional golf championship in the world. It is held in the United Kingdom annually, and it is the only major golf tournament held outside the United States. Although it is called the British Open, the championship has its origins in Scotland.

If you're new to the wonderful world of golf, you might feel as though this is one tricky game to get down. Well, that is not the case at all. In fact, learning golf is not as difficult as you might imagine. Here in America, there are loads of academies and schools, where you can learn all you need to know about the sport. Whether you're a child or an adult, you'll be teeing off in no time at all! Let's take a look at what the US has to offer.

With summer well and truly upon us, it's time to start planning our vacation days. When it comes down to it, we all know that it can be super expensive to play golf. There are many places out there that will charge you a small fortune for a simple round of golf.

You wouldn’t walk onto the course with a hat that’s too small or a club that’s too long, but have you ever thought about how well your golf ball fits you? Savor the peace of mind and confidence that comes from playing with the right golf ball by learning about the four basic types, and finding the one that corresponds to your game qualities like handicap and swing speed.

Bridgestone & Callaway 2015 Models Choosing the right golf equipment for your game is vital. As you know, a driver can affect performance a great deal when out there on the green. In the same respect, you have to make sure you select the perfect balls for your golfing style. Some players don't believe these two things are important, but they are. These days, there are many giants in the golf gear industry, so who should you trust? Well, each of the models suit a different skill set and technique, which is why you need to do your research. Whether an amateur or a pro, you need to be sure that the equipment purchased suits your needs and helps on the way to victory. You should ensure you are always at the forefront of the game. You need to know what the latest models can offer you before you make a decision. Let's take a look at the Bridgestone and Callaway 2015 models.

How to Prevent a Slice The bane of every golfer’s existence, the slice can be a real nightmare. You might think that you did everything perfectly. You lined up your shot, checked the distance and area, and then swung at the ball. For some reason, the ball starts to curve and spin out of control. It can ruin your entire game. The ball goes in the wrong direction, and you have to pick up the pieces. Of course, many people have tried to explain why slice happens to golfers. The truth of the matter is that the driver you use could have a massive impact on the spin of your ball. Some golfers believe that they can counteract any slicing by leaning to the left when they take their shot. While doing so seems the logical course of action, it is not the right one. In fact, much of the time, this move results in a sharper curve than you already had. That is to say that you can make your golf game worse if you try to plan for the slice. Instead, you need to make sure that you get the right equipment and use it to its best advantage. Only then, can you make sure that you continually improve your game no matter what. As you may already know, each driver has different advantages and disadvantages. You need to learn to work with each of these so that you can enhance your skills and avoid ruining a shot. Let's take a quick look at three of the best drivers on the market right now and how they can help your game.