| A golf-like game is recorded as taking | | | | it was much more affordable to play. |
| place on 26 February 1297, in the | | | | Golf clubs began cropping up throughout |
| Netherlands, Here the Dutch played a | | | | the world and the sport was at an all |
| game with a stick and leather ball. | | | | time high in popularity. |
| Whoever hit the ball into a target | | | | In 1894 the USGA was established and in |
| several hundreds of meters away the most | | | | 1900 golf was introduced as an Olympic |
| number of times usually won. | | | | event. Then 1914 the PGA was formed. |
| However, golf is generally considered to | | | | As a matter of fact, golf courses did |
| be a Scottish invention, as the game was | | | | not always have eighteen holes. The St |
| mentioned in two 15th-century Acts of | | | | Andrews Links in Scotland occupy a |
| the Scottish Parliament, prohibiting the | | | | narrow strip of land along the sea. As |
| playing of the game of 'gowf'. | | | | early as the 15th century, golfers at St |
| The oldest playing golf course in the | | | | Andrews established a customary route |
| world is The Old Links at Musselburgh | | | | through the undulating terrain, playing |
| Racecourse. Evidence has shown that golf | | | | to holes whose locations were dictated |
| was played on Musselburgh Links in 1672 | | | | by topography. |
| although Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly | | | | The course that emerged featured eleven |
| played there in 1567. | | | | holes, laid out end to end from the |
| The people of Scotland had a game where | | | | clubhouse to the far end of the |
| they would hit stones through the sand | | | | property. One played the holes out, |
| and rabbit holes using sticks. There are | | | | turned around, and played the holes in, |
| those who argue this as there was other | | | | for a total of 22 holes. |
| games played involving sticks and balls | | | | In 1764, several of the holes were |
| but the essence of golf, putting the | | | | deemed too short, and were therefore |
| ball in the hole, began in Scotland. | | | | combined. The number was thereby reduced |
| When the Royal Family of the day took up | | | | from 11 to nine, so that a complete |
| the sport it spread to other countries | | | | round of the links comprised 18 holes. |
| throughout the world. So by the 1800's | | | | The major changes in equipment since the |
| golf was quite popular among both men | | | | 19th century have been better mowers, |
| and women. | | | | especially for the greens, better golf |
| By this time the design of golf clubs | | | | ball designs, using rubber and man-made |
| was very similar to what they are | | | | materials since about 1900, and the |
| now.There were also many similarities to | | | | introduction of the metal shaft |
| the game then and the way it's played | | | | beginning in the 1930s. |
| now. The clubs and balls were handmade | | | | Also in the 1930s the wooden golf tee |
| and very expensive and could only be | | | | was invented. In the 1970s the use of |
| purchased by the wealthy, making it an | | | | metal to replace wood heads began, and |
| exclusive game for the rich. | | | | shafts made of graphite composite |
| When metal clubs and mass production | | | | materials were introduced in the 1980s. |
| came along in the late nineteenth | | | | Today we have a huge selection of ultra |
| century this opened up the game of golf | | | | moderb golf equipment available from |
| to ordinary folk. | | | | both US and Overseas manufacturers. |
| Now, more people could enjoy the game as | | | | |