Sassafras root is still used to flavor traditional root beer, although since sassafras was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of the carcinogenicity of its constituent safrole, most commercial recipes do not contain sassafras. Some commercial root beers do use a safrole-free sassafras extract.
There are usually 18 holes in a golf course; some have 9 holes or some multiplier of 9 holes. I have played at golf clubs with 9, 18, 27 and 36 holes. However, a standard round of golf at most golf clubs / courses involves 18 holes.
Par for a golf course is usually determined during the design phase. In essence, the course architect/designer lays out a mixture of 18 holes that (in general) add up to somewhere between 70-72, which is a common par for the majority of courses out there.