History of Golf
By Kevin Cotter, PGA
How and where the history of golf originated is for the most part unknown and continues to be the subject of much debate. Although, for the most part it is widely understood that the Scots during the middle ages where largely responsible for creating the game of golf we play today, a claim that has undergone substantial scrutiny and numerous challenges over many centuries.
There are several forerunners to the history of golf dating back as far as early 1297 to the Netherlands, leaving the Dutch to appear to have the closest ties to the origin of golf. Further evidence is supported by early 13th Century Dutch literature which contained numerous references to “golf like” games with medieval names such as “spel mitten colve” (play with club). Additionally, Dutch master painters of the day created numerous paintings and sketches of early participants playing a game with a club and ball in Holland, most certainly resembling what we know today as golf.
Commerce between Scotland and Holland blossomed throughout the North Sea trade route during the beginning of the middle ages. Sailors and traders often became stranded or delayed due to bad weather and became perfect candidates to become introduced to a new and better way to enjoy their leisure time and began to participate in the favorite local sports of the day. In many instances, some of the players shown in Dutch pictures wore kilts giving a clear indication they were Scottish visitors.
The first written word of golf in Scotland was referenced back to 1457, which at the time declared golf as illegal. In Holland the earliest written record dates back to 1297 and describes a cross-country version of a game with four players to a side, playing four holes with the objective being to strike the doors of pre-selected buildings with the ball along the way, the equivalent today of “holing out.” The prize for the winning side was often a barrel of beer, giving a clear indication that celebrating at the “19th hole” is a long-standing time-honored tradition.
The history of golf also shows Scottish and Dutch people jointly attending many festivals, fairs and large market gatherings, where among the countless items sold were leather-covered balls stuffed with feathers or cow hair. The only other early style golf ball we know of was made of wood. Interestingly, during the middle 1600’s the Scottish king appointed a “golf ball maker” in an effort to better balance the trade deficit because the feathery golf ball was quite expensive.
One might assume from this information that a reasonably strong case could be made for Holland being tagged “the true founder of golf.” But looking beyond the Dutch border, historical records tend to indicate that Belgians played a similar stick and ball game called “chole,” which was derived from Italy. But, these were one-club contests, with some of those clubs being used to perform more than one type of shot. Modern day golf as we know it today is played with a variety of clubs, up to fourteen according to the official USGA Rules of Golf and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Also, the game today is played over a large area frequently exceeding 100 acres using a small ball with the primary object being to stroke the ball into the hole in the fewest strokes possible from a designated starting area (teeing ground) which for the most part was developed by the Scots and propagated by them around the world. Clearly, they deserve much of the credit for the game of golf as we know it today.
If you want to learn more about the wonderful game of golf and learn how to play please visit http://www.KRCotter.com