Where did golf originate?

March 23rd, 2009 by articles

The game was first recorded way back in the year 1297. This was surprisingly said to have been in the Netherlands. The game was played with a rough stick and a leather ball. Whoever hit the ball the furthest and in the least number of times was considered to be the winner.

The modern game of golf is however thought to have started in Scotland. It is thought the word golf may have come from the Dutch word “kolf” which means stick or club. The first 18 hole golf course was in Scotland also. Also the very first written rules were said to have originated from the Scots.

It wasn’t long before the game had spread to England. The oldest playing golf course in the world is the Old Links at Musselburgh in East Lothian. It was reputed that Mary Queen of Scots in fact played there back in 1567.

However courses have not always been made up of 18 holes. Early golfers at St Andrews made a trench through the rough land playing just eleven holes which were laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the furthest end of the property. Once reaching the end they would turn round and start to play back therefore making a total of 22 holes. Gradually it was decided that some of the holes were in fact too short so they became integrated and ended up as 18 holes as we know it today.

Golf equipment has developed markedly over the years It was in the 1930’s that the US Golf Association set a standard weight and size for golf balls. It was stated that the speed of the golf ball should not exceed 250 feet per second and since this time it has continued to develop and make an impact on the way the game is played.

Another big factor is of course the evolution of the golf club. The really early ones were made of wood. Hickory became the standard wood used for shafts and Persimmon was the choice of wood used for the club head because of its hardness and strength.As the golf ball developed and became more durable it was then that the iron headed clubs were introduced to the game. Steel shafts were said to have been developed in the 1890’s .

In the early 1970’s shaft technology was introduced to the use of graphite shafts with lightweight titanium heads which meant the head could be made much bigger.

The equipment has been developed massively with the help of modern day technology and now we have more golf equipment than you would have imagined possible. Our forbears were not lucky enough to have such things as golf trolleys and golf buggies to transport them round the course. However one thing that has withstood the test of time is the sociable drink at the 19th hole at the end of a round of golf!