A Brief History of Golf

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This is an interesting story about the origins of golf. There are many other places that have there sports but none as popular as golf. Want to learn why a golf ball has dimples.

Out of all the games of the world golf is one of the most popular. Irrespective of class or wealth golf is open to all sectors of the community but it is a game that generates massive incomes for television companies, golfing resorts, professional golfers and lots of other people. Out of all the luxurious golf resorts many golfers would class the Scottish town of St Andrews as the most important place to play at least one round. Scotland is known throughout the world as the home of golf.

Besides Scotland there are a few other places that claim to be the home of golf. The French have two games which many like to think of as a forerunner to golf, chole and jeu de mail, but no real evidence exists to back up the theory. Kolven, which is a Dutch game still played today has some interesting points but, again, it fails to withstand scrutiny as the source of the modern game of golf.

Paganica was a game played by the ancient Romans across Europe. What makes this game stand out from the others is that the ball used in the game was made from a small pouch made from leather and stuffed tightly with feathers. The early golf balls were made in a similar fashion and were commonly referred to as featheries. Unfortunately, for the games mentioned, it is only in the game of golf that you need to sink the ball into a hole in the ground using a club.

Few would dare to question the fact that it is the Scottish game of gowf that is the true forerunner of modern golf. It not only sounds the same it is the same in every sense. First played as early as the 12 century gowf was widely played, on ground known as links, all along the east coast of Scotland.

Links got their name because they linked the beaches to the rich farmland further inland. The soil was far to poor for anything except for grazing sheep and cattle. The effects of grazing livestock and the grazing of plenty of rabbits, meant that the grass was kept short. This created the correct environment for all forms of recreation but the fact that it was also rather lumpy or hilly meant that it was perfect for use in golf.

We know for a fact that, by 1457, golf had become a very popular pastime. It was so popular that the king of Scotland, James II, attempted to ban the sport by act of parliament. He was convinced that the men of Scotland would be far better off devoting their time in practicing for war and wished that they would take up archery and the likes instead. A fact that could be said to be supported by the Scottish defeats of later years.

Less than a century later, in 1552, there is further evidence of golf’s popularity. It was in this year that the townsfolk of St Andrews were granted, by charter, the right to use the nearby links for recreation purposes including the playing of golf. Another source of good evidence are the church records which contain a multitude of entries listing the punishments bestowed upon those naughty members of society that had been caught playing golf on Sunday.

Another documented historical event, relating to golf, was when, in 1744, the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith (a club which still exists today under the name of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers) petitioned the Edinburgh City Council for a silver club. This club was to be used as a trophy for an annual golf compition on Leith Links.

After hundreds of years of Scottish golf it wasn’t until 1897 that an official set of rules was produced. Created by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews the rules haven’t really changed much at all. However, in 1951, the R & A, together with the United States Golf Association, settled upon a set of rules which could be used to ensure that everywhere in the world had the same set of official rules and modern golf had been created.

Now that you have enjoyed this brief history of golf, I am sure that you would like to improve your game. I have developed a putting method that has lasted over time and still works to this day. So if you are looking for some putting instruction click the link.
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