The game of golf as we know it today can be attributed to the Scots, although there are records of several stick and ball games throughout history.
As far back as the 13th century, the Dutch played a game where a leather ball was hit with the intention of reaching a target several hundred yards away.
The winner would be the player who reached the target with the fewest shots.
However, the Scottish variation of the sport was distinguished by the aim of getting the ball into a hole.
When talking about the modern game with 18 holes, golf history traces its origins back to 15th century Scotland.
The game is first mentioned in an Act of Scottish Parliament in 1457, which called for it to be banned alongside football.
King James II of Scotland prohibited playing games as it was a distraction from military training, so he felt perfecting archery was more worthwhile.
After several more bannings throughout the 15th century and golf being lambasted as an unprofitable sport, restrictions on playing the game were removed with the Treaty of Glasgow coming into effect in 1502.
The oldest recorded rules for the game date back to the year 1744, where The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers published ‘Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf’.
This ancient piece of golf history, which now remains in the National Library of Scotland, gave fame to the Muirfield club being the longest surviving club in the history of golf.
Scottish soldiers, immigrants, and expatriates played a pivotal role in the history of golf.
They were responsible for spreading the game around the British Isles during the 18th century.
However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the game started to gain an international presence, including in the British Empire.
The oldest golf courses outside of Britain are to be found in nearby France, with the establishment of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1829 and the club at Pau in 1856.
By 1880, golf had spread to Ireland, many other parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and South Africa.
Meanwhile, back in Britain, the game enjoyed increased popularity. By 1880, England had 10 golf courses, which rapidly increased to 1000 by 1914.
Source: College Of Golf at Keiser University
