Golf Information

History of Golf- How it all Started


Since before the time Mary Queen of Scots was disciplined for playing golf two Sundays after the murder of her husband Lord Dernley in 1567. Golf is known to have been played at St. Andrews before the founding of the university in 1411. It is a safe bet to say that golf was played in some form or another as much as a century before this.

Golf is the only game whose objective it is to hit a ball across a course of some kind that had sand traps, bunkers, and other obstacles to prevent you from accomplishing this. The ball is balanced in mid-air and hit to another spot below the ground.

It was the Scots who introduced the golf hole into the game. It was a national pastime more than four hundred years before Prince Charles fled Culloden in defeat at the hands of the English in 1513 at the Battle of Flodden Field.

At Flodden the Scots were no match for the English in the first assault and were defeated 50 years earlier. King James II banned the game of Golf because he believed it was interfering with archery practice and he did this with a Scottish Act of Parliament. The first documented record makes references to modern golf. James III also banned the game in 1471.

The origin of Golf is a mystery however there is a few theories out there. The first theory says that fisherman on their way back from their boats would pick up a piece of driftwood and whack a pebble to see how far it would go. They would do this repeatedly until they reached the river. Golf is thought to have been played in Kirk Session (Church Court). The only evidence of it is found in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Golf is still a very popular game today. A time line is presented below that will provide you with a general idea of the evolution of Golf into the game we know today.

16th century - Gold became established on the east coast of Scotland and began to spread. Golf was played by James the VI before he acceded the throne as James the 1st did in 1603.

1501 - James the IV had his treasurer pay 14 Shillings to a bow-maker in Perth to supply them with clubs. Golf became associated with royalty, The Church, and education (i.e. St. Andrews)

17th century Golf was pursued from the south east to as far north as the Orkney Islands.

1754 - The beginning of construction of new courses.

1880 - The arrival of the gutter perch ball was a major influence on the popularity of golf. Little has changed in the past 250 years.

1925 - In Texas the Bark Hollow Golf Club becomes the first club with a complete fairway irrigation system. The British Open is played for the last time at Prestwick Golf Club. The Royal Canadian Golf Association makes a ruling that the use of steel-shafted clubs is legal. They joined the United States Golf Association.

1973 - Johnny Mailer shoots 63 at Oakmont Country Club to win the U.S. Open. Arnold Palmer wins the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, his fifth win in the event and his 62nd win in the PGA Tour.

1985 - Europeans win the Ryder's Cup for the first time in twenty-eight years.

1995 - Ben Crenshaw won his second Master's. Tiger Woods wins second straight U.S. Amateur. The Golf Channel makes its debut in television.

1997 - Tiger Woods in his first year Championship had a 12 stroke win at the Masters. Jack Nicklaus tees off at the US Open for his 150th consecutive major championship appearance.

1999 - Aree Wongluekert (now known as Aree Song) wins the Girls Junior Amateur. At 13 she is the youngest winner of the USGA Championship.

2001 - The term "Tiger Slam" was coined after Tiger Woods wins the Master's making him the first person to hold all four of Golf's major professional titles at the same time. Annika Sorenstam shoots 59 in the LPGA Tour. The attacks of 9/11 caused the Ryder's Cup to be delayed for a year.

2003 - Mike Weir wins the Masters becomes the second left-handed person to win a major championship. Michelle Wie won women's amateur Public Links. She is the youngest winner of an adult USGA Championship. Michelle Wie played in every men's event on the Canadian and the nationwide tour. She didn't make either cut.

2004 Michelle Wie is given an exemption into the PGA Tour Sony Open. She shoots 72-68 missing the cut by one stroke! Arnold Palmer plays The Masters for the fiftieth and very last time.

Golf has given us centuries of physical activity, excitement, and it has been and is exciting to watch a game in progress. Within the last 250 years Golf hasn't changed all that much. For those who play the game, there are all kinds of resources available to improve their game.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Golf Apparel. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.


MORE RESOURCES:

Voice of America

A Few Words About Golf With Condoleezza Rice
Washington Post, United States - 2 hours ago
As she did last year, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came out to the AT&T National, in this case spending time watching the golf with several Marines ...
News explains hole truth about drug testing in pro golf New York Daily News
Golf: Ben Briscoe is the new top gun WalesOnline
Sports on TV Today TV Sports Daily
Lake County Record-Bee - Oakville Beaver
all 415 news articles


BBC Sport

Golf-Veteran Frost stays cool in gusting winds
Reuters.uk, UK - 2 hours ago
By Tony Jimenez ASH, England, July 5 (Reuters) - Winds gusting up to 50 kph meant patience was a virtue in the European Open third round on Saturday and few ...
Golf fans turnout in force for European Open Yourcanterbury.co.uk
Jeev slips to tied 17th at European Open golf Thaindian.com
Record-breaker Fisher reveals golf tournament pull-out debate AFP
ABC Online - European Tour
all 506 news articles


BBC News

Trump’s Adventures in the Land of Golf
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
Environmentalists say the site of Donald Trump's proposed golf resort on the northeast coast of Scotland, near Aberdeen, which includes miles of rugged ...
Donald Trump Will Have To Wait For Scottish Golf Course Decision Showbiz Spy
Rejecting Trump plan 'would be a tragedy' Scotsman
Trump golf resort inquiry reaches final stages Aberdeen Press and Journal
Scotsman - Aberdeen Press and Journal
all 38 news articles


Boston Globe

Marino leads AT&T National Golf Tournament at 5 Under Par
Voice of America - Jul 4, 2008
By David Byrd American Steve Marino has a one-stroke lead over four other players after the first round of the AT&T National golf tournament. ...
Marino leads by one shot GOLF Detroit Free Press
Connecticut Rooters for Marino Hartford Courant
Local kid Marino leads Woods-less AT&T National The Associated Press
Washington Post - Voice of America
all 353 news articles


TVNZ

Pernice, Overton Share Lead at AT&T National Golf
Voice of America - 9 hours ago
Tom Pernice, Jr. during the second round of the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., 04 Jul 2008 Pernice had the ...
Golf Capsules USA Today
UPDATE 1-Golf-Pernice fires 63 to grab share of AT&T lead Reuters.uk
Golf Roundup Leaders Ahead by 3 at AT&T New York Times
Washington Post - Reuters.uk
all 383 news articles


City solicits ideas for golf course's future
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 13 hours ago
By Lola Sherman All of those are ideas that have been put forward for the future of the Center City Golf Course, 75 prime acres of city-owned land just east ...
OCEANSIDE: O'side looks at options for Goat Hill site North County Times
all 2 news articles


Houston area becoming a hotbed for young golf talent
Houston Chronicle, United States - 15 hours ago
Lisa McCloskey, 17, who recently graduated a year early from Montgomery High School, is headed to Pepperdine on a golf scholarship after winning the Class ...


Telegraph.co.uk

Golf 'ruining our green and pleasant land'
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 1 hour ago
By Patrick Sawyer The spread of golf courses threatens Britain's traditional landscapes, a report from the leading conservation authority will warn this ...


SLAM! Sports

50-year-old Joey Sindelar says he is loving his new golf life
The Canadian Press,  N.Y. - Jul 3, 2008
The prospect of playing the Champions Tour can have that effect on newcomers to pro golf's senior circuit. "It was probably less stressful because in our ...
Aches and pains too much for Eaks Press & Sun-Bulletin
A strong fan following for Horseheads’ Sindelar News Item
Ozaki forced to speak about his lead at En-Joie The Associated Press
United Press International - Scranton Times-Tribune
all 111 news articles


Sharer follows his famous uncle from afar
Mail Tribune, OR - 12 hours ago
Or who is as interactive with his television set while the golf star closes out another victory, as he did Sunday in the Buick Open. ...
Quick 9: This week's big news in golf Detroit Free Press
Park's US Women's Open victory brings up age-old questions - Golf ESPN
Golf roundup: Perry backs into 2nd Buick Open crown Salt Lake Tribune
BunkerShot.com - Reuters.uk
all 590 news articles

Golf - Google News

home | site map
© 2006