Where Did the Game of Golf Start?
It was way back in 1297 that the game of golf was first recorded. It was quite surprising to hear that it had evolved from the Netherlands. The game was played with a crude stick and a leather ball. Whoever hit the ball the furthest and in the least number of times was considered the winner.
The modern game of golf is however thought to have started in Scotland. The word golf may have been derived from the Dutch word “kolf” meaning stick or club. The first 18 hole golf course was also in Scotland. Also the very first written rules were said to have come 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 in 1567.
It is not the case that golf courses have always been made up of 18 holes. Early golfers at St Andrews made a trench through the rough land playing eleven holes which were laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. Once reaching the end they would turn round and play their way back therefore making a total of 22 holes. It was decided that some of the holes were too short so they became integrated and ended up as 18 holes as we know it today.
Golfing equipment has developed a great deal over the years. It was in the 1930’s that the US Golf Association set a weight and size for standard golf balls. It was stated that the velocity of the golf ball should not exceed 250 feet per second and since this time it has continued to develop and make an improvement on the way the game is played.
Another major factor is of course the evolution of the golf club. The very early ones were made of wood. Hickory became the standard wood used for shafts and Persimmon was the choice of wood for the club head because of its hardness and strength. As the golf ball developed and became much more durable it was then that the iron headed clubs were introduced to the game. It was in the 1890’s that steel shafts were developed .
In the early 1970’s shaft technology was introduced to the use of graphite shafts with lightweight titanium heads which allowed the head to 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 probably has stood the test of time is the drink at the 19th hole at the end of a round of golf!
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