外國人最想和你聊的文化話題：高爾夫

     When most people think of golf, they probably think of Tiger Woods jet-setting to golf courses around the world winning prestigious tournaments and making a lot of money.
     大多數(shù)人一想到高爾夫球，可能就會想到泰格·伍茲乘噴氣客機到世界各地的高爾夫球場贏得備受注目的錦標賽，并賺進大把的鈔票。
     It is generally agreed that golf was first played in Scotland in the 15th century.
     普遍認為高爾夫的第一場比賽是15世紀時在蘇格蘭舉行的。
     Its popularity spread throughout the 16th century, and the first international golf match took place in 1682 between players from England and Scotland.
     它從16世紀開始普及起來，首場國際性高爾夫球賽就是在1682年舉行的，選手均來自英格蘭及蘇格蘭。
     The Industrial Revolution brought a period of change for golf. Suddenly, with the mass production of golf clubs and balls, the average person could afford to play.
     工業(yè)革命為高爾夫運動帶來了一段變革時期。突然間，隨著高爾夫球桿及高爾夫球的大量生產(chǎn)，普通百姓也可以玩這項運動。
     Golf was made an Olympic sport in 1900, by which time there were already more than 1,000 golf courses in the United States.
     1900年，高爾夫球正式成為奧林匹克的運動項目，那時美國已有上千個高爾夫球場。
     The famous PGA was formed in 1916, and by 1944, the equally famous PGA tour consisted of 22 events and was held throughout the year.
     著名的職業(yè)高爾夫球員聯(lián)盟于1916年成立；到1944年，同享盛名的職業(yè)高爾夫球員聯(lián)盟巡回比賽，在1年內(nèi)會舉行22項比賽。
     Legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player dominated the game from the 60s' into the 70s', wowing fans by winning almost all of the events they competed in.
     高爾夫球界的傳奇人物──杰克·尼克芬斯，阿諾德·帕爾默，及加里·普萊耶一直稱霸于60到70年代的高爾夫球壇。他們幾乎囊括了所有的比賽獎項，使球迷們大為贊嘆。
     These days, it is up to current stars like Tiger Woods and David Duval to keep spectators glued to the TV set.
     現(xiàn)在，高爾夫則靠當(dāng)紅球星泰格·伍茲和大衛(wèi)·杜瓦的魅力吸引球迷通過電視觀看比賽。
     More than 23 million players exist in the United States alone, and they are all likely to tell you the same thing about golf: There's nothing like it!
     僅僅在美國就有2300萬人從事高爾夫運動，對于高爾夫，他們可能會異口同聲地說："沒有比它更好的運動了！"
     A typical golf course consists of eighteen holes but nine-hole courses are common and can be played twice through for a full round of eighteen holes.
     一個典型的高爾夫球場有18個洞，但9洞球場組成是常見的，可以玩兩次，一次性全滿十八洞通過。
     The first shot to hit, "a hole" (Hole in One), that is, wood tee off the credit limit.
     第一桿就打出"一桿進洞"，那就是開球木桿功勞的極限。Golf is more of a family activity than it has ever been.
     與以往不同的是，高爾夫球現(xiàn)在更多的是一種家庭活動。
     The ways in which people consume golf is evolving, as are the ways in which golf is impacting our lives.
     人們進行高爾夫消費的方式，同樣也是高爾夫運動影響人們生活的方式。
     Now there is a popular and acceptation by most scholars version that it originated in the 15th century or earlier in Scotland. So far, it may have five hundred years of history, and golf has become the world's most popular sports from casual games that people spend time.
     現(xiàn)廣為流傳并為大部分學(xué)者接受的說法是它起源于15世紀或更早的蘇格蘭，迄今為止已有500多年的歷史，已由當(dāng)初人們消磨時光的民間休閑游戲發(fā)展成為當(dāng)今世界上最為風(fēng)行的體育項目之一。
     A sand trap serves as an obstacle on a golf course.
     沙洞在高爾夫球比賽中用作障礙物。
     In addition to the officially printed rules, golfers also abide by a set of guidelines called golf etiquette.
     除了正式印制的規(guī)則，球員也遵循高爾夫禮儀準則。
     Etiquette guidelines cover matters such as safety, fairness, pace of play, and a player's obligation to contribute to the care of the course.
     禮儀準則涉及諸如安全、公平、打球速度的問題和球員的義務(wù)，以促進比賽順利進行。
     A golf handicap is like a ranking, the lower your handicap is, and the better player you are.
     Golf handicap有點像排名，是指高爾夫比賽中的標準桿數(shù)，標準桿的桿數(shù)越少，選手的水平就越高。
     Golf etiquette is one of the most important parts of the game of golf. That is the reason why golf is called the sport of gentlemen.
     高爾夫禮儀作為高爾夫運動最重要的組成部分，是區(qū)別于其他運動項目的特點之一，因此高爾夫也被稱為"紳士運動"。
     The love of the game, the understanding of the traditions and the respect for those with whom you play, all come together in the golf etiquette you exhibit on the course.
     通過你的場上表現(xiàn)，人們可以觀察到你是否熱愛這項運動，理解它的傳統(tǒng)，并尊重一起打球的同伴，進而對你個人的教養(yǎng)和人品做出評價。