Golf is a game where various clubs hit a ball into a series of holes in a course. And the player who dumps his golf ball in the fewest stroke is declared as the owner. In this game’s history, we get two types of playing: ancient golf and modern golf. Many variations for the rules and regulations are found in contemporary golf comparing the earliest golf.
There is no specific information on when and how the game of golf originated. Some golf writers get little information about the playing of the golf-like match before the 13th century. However, it is well-established that modern golf started the journey from the 15th century in Scotland. Modern golf became famous when it spread in the other part of the United Kingdom in the late19th century. Nowadays, it is the aristocratic people, but most people worldwide like to play golf as a recreational game.
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Origins of golf or Where Was It First Played?
Scotland is the birthplace of modern golf, but where the ancient golf invents is still unknown. However, some historian gave their findings on this game. During the first century of B.C., some Romans played a game where they hit a feather-stuffed ball with a bent stick. And some believed that modern golf evolved from this Roman sport. Within the mid-19th century, this feather-stuffed ball turned into solid feathery golf balls. Gradually, the current golf ball got the rubber-core golf ball shapes with dimple patterns.
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, Chinese people played a sport named Chui Wan, where “Chui” means striking, and “wan” means small ball. Some historians also thought modern golf came from this game because they got a record of a Chinese magistrate about driving a ball toward the goals that look like rabbit holes, digging by his daughter. Besides, the National Galleries of Scotland cited an early game which had a scenario like Cambuca in England, Persian game Chowkan, and Chambot in France also resembled a modern game of golf.
According to the National Library of Scotland, the golf game evolved from a similar sport played in Scotland in the 15th century. However, golf was banned in 1457 by the King of Scotland, James II, because he practiced soccer and interfered with archery practice. In 1502, King James III and James IV lifted the ban for golf. The more exciting thing was that James IV became an enthusiastic golfer. And King James VI granted permission to craft the golf ball. In Scotland, there is a long history to establish it as a sport. Despite various ups and downs, at last, golf was set as a prestigious game and spread worldwide.
Who Did Invent Golf?
There was no exact information on who invented the playing of golf and how it spread worldwide. In 1552, Archbishop Hamilton Charter permitted St Andrews people to play golf in the old golf courses, and enthusiastic golfers continued to play throughout the 16th century. In 1754, 22 golfers of St Andrews formed a society, and by the time of 1834, this society became the Royal and Ancient golf club of the world. In 1744, the dedicated group of Edinburgh Golfers set the rules for playing golf for the first time. According to the Historical Dictionary of Golf, in 1636, a Latin master Aberdeen, David Wedderburn, made a list of Latin terms for the golf ball, club, and links.
For the time being, this rule gets the scenario of today’s rules & regulations, even for competition, and every golf course follows it faithfully. However, in 1729, the introduction of the Scottish game of golf happened in the new world. The golfers of St Andrews played this game in 22 holes, but they reduced it to 18 holes in 1764, and that condition becomes the recognized format of today’s golf. In 1860, Prestwick hosted the first open championship, and Willie Park Senior became the winner.
In 1864, with the Royal North Devon Golf Club’s formation, golf got a secured position in England, and it was the first course outside Scotland. In 1919, The R&A got the authorization to organize The Open Championship (Particularly in the USA as The British Open) and The British Amateur Championship. In 1893, U.K. emerged as the first country to form a women’s golf union. The Royal Lytham & St Annes was the first British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship venue, and the female legend golfer Margaret Scott won the competition.
Golf In The United States of America
The recorded insight on golf equipment evidence of early golf in The USA is – in 1739, a shipment of golf equipment to William Wallace in Charleston, South Carolina, an advertisement for golf clubs & golf balls in the Royal Gazette in 1779 in New York City In the 17th century, the South Carolina Golf Club established and opened for the golf player. After that incident, the golf ball manufacturers started to make them commercially.
However, golf became well-establish in the late 19th century in The United States of America. Though it claims that golf descends in The USA from Scotland, there is also some evidence of playing the Dutch game of Kolf before the Scottish golf started to play. Besides, the Dutch term Kolven referred to the rules for choosing the game-winner like today’s golf.1894 marked the founding of the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The first five charter members of The USGA were St. Andrew’s Golf Club of Yankers, Newport (R.I.) golf Club, Shinnecock Golf Club of Southampton, The Country Clun in Brookline, and Chicago Golf club in Wheaton. The United States had more than 1100 golf clubs in the 19th century. And these clubs started to affiliate with the USGA during the Roaring 20th century. Walter Hagen was the first native-born American who won The British Open Championship.
History of U.S. Open
Founded on October 4, 1895, the U.S. Open is the oldest professional tournament in the golf world. It was arranged at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island, and played in a nine-hole golf course. Besides, this championship was played in a single day and was a 36-hole competition.
Ten professionals and one amateur golfer participate in that fantastic golf championship. Horace Rowlins, a 21-year-old Englishman, won that competition and received $150 cash out of a prize fund of $335 and a $50 gold medal.
In golf history, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, and Babe Zaharias are the richest and famous golfers. Tom Morris is the first professional golfer among professional golfers, and Babe Zaharias is the first female PGA Tour golf player in the golf world.
Moreover, USGA presented The Open Championship Cup Trophy and The Host Club, Horace’s Club, received it. For the time being, many changes occur in modern-day golf and this professional golf tournament, and now a day it is one of the Major championships of golf.
Golf: The History of The Game
Final Words
Whenever golf was invented or played first does not matter today, it is a worldwide famous and friendly game. Not only men but women and youngers also enjoy this game and participate in different tournaments. Although from Scotland to America, golf had to pass a long journey with many memorable experiences. And improvement of golf instruction. All of those happenings are not happy stories; A few pathetic incidents have also surrounded its establishment. Whatever the invention history, the present-day golf industry becomes more prestigious, and the prize money and other facilities provided for the winner secure their entire lives.