The golf sport is becoming more and more popular especially amongst ordinary German people. Martin Kaymer has had in 2008 a great deal of success winning in Dubai and also in Munich at the BMW open. Martin Kaymer still only 23 years old is now fighting for a Ryder Cup place at Walhalla in September. The German public are buzzing with excitement at last a new world star to replace the amazing Bernhard Langer. Even so the sport is still just beginning to become popular and is still along way from being as popular as in the United or in Great Britain. Alot of the reason why is that in Germany it necessary to take a test to be allowed to play on a golf course, Golfers in Germany must not only prove to have the necessary playing ability, but must also take a written test over the rules and the etiquette, this test is known as the´Platzreife.The golf player must then play 9 holes within a period of two hours and twenty minutes with not more than 60 shots.

Even after completing all the necessary tests the golf sport is still very expensive a normal Golf membership ( Golfmitgliedschaft) costs on average around three to four thousand dollars. Even the golf equipment in Germany is at least fifty percent more expensive a normal iron set for example from Callaway costs at least 1500 dollars. All these reason stop the golf sport popularity increasing at a bigger rate, with luck Martin Kaymer will qualify for the Ryder cup and the publicity will enable Germany to add considerably to the 900 golf course that already exists. Golf on the whole of Europe has increased amazingly over the last 20 years and I am sure it will eventually become as popular as in the United States.