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A Brief History of Golf 

Golf – at least something similar to what we understand to be golf – originated on the east coast of Scotland. Players would supposedly look to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick of club. 

It wasn’t too long before the sport received a royal seal of approval, King James IV of Scotland became the world’s first golfing monarch, and the popularity of the game quickly spread throughout much of Europe. King Charles is thanked for bringing the game to England and Mary Queen of Scots introduced the game to France when she studied there. 

Golf officially became a sport when the Gentleman Golfers of Leith formed the first club in 1744 and set up an annual competition with prizes for the winners. 

Golf is without question experiencing an undeniable surge in popularity, this surge is somewhat attributed to a new group of players – drawn to the fairways by the sport’s glorious blend of tranquility, challenge, outdoor splendour and occasional frustration. Thankfully, the sport’s demographic is shifting away from a more mature audience and now also appeals to a younger crowd and diversified audience. 

The United States would argue that they were responsible for regulating the game of golf and ushering in its professional era. The United States Golf Association (USGA) was established in 1894 and by 1900 more than 100 golf clubs had been formed throughout the USA. Through access, viewership and inevitable commercial sponsorship, the United States quickly became the centre of the sport. 

Everything you need to know about golf in one place! News, updates, insights and opinions easily accessible and ready for your reading pleasure. 

The club-and-ball sport everyone loves (and at times hates), golf doesn’t discriminate between the players and the plebs…it takes, and it takes, and it takes, but we still play golf anyway. 

Here is everything you need to know about one of the oldest sporting codes in the world. 

A Brief History of Golf 

Golf – at least something similar to what we understand to be golf – originated on the east coast of Scotland. Players would supposedly look to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick of club. 

It wasn’t too long before the sport received a royal seal of approval, King James IV of Scotland became the world’s first golfing monarch, and the popularity of the game quickly spread throughout much of Europe. King Charles is thanked for bringing the game to England and Mary Queen of Scots introduced the game to France when she studied there. 

Golf officially became a sport when the Gentleman Golfers of Leith formed the first club in 1744 and set up an annual competition with prizes for the winners. 

Golf is without question experiencing an undeniable surge in popularity, this surge is somewhat attributed to a new group of players – drawn to the fairways by the sport’s glorious blend of tranquility, challenge, outdoor splendour and occasional frustration. Thankfully, the sport’s demographic is shifting away from a more mature audience and now also appeals to a younger crowd and diversified audience. 

The United States would argue that they were responsible for regulating the game of golf and ushering in its professional era. The United States Golf Association (USGA) was established in 1894 and by 1900 more than 100 golf clubs had been formed throughout the USA. Through access, viewership and inevitable commercial sponsorship, the United States quickly became the centre of the sport. 

The Rules of Golf 

One of the more intricate sports in the world, reflected accurately by the intricate rules, etiquette and scoring that goes along for the ride. Let’s unpack the layout, the course and rules.

The Golf Course and Its Layout 

The first-ever 18-hole course was first put together at St Andrews in 1764! Alongside royal recognition from King William IV in 1834, St Andrews has long been established as the world’s premier golf club. Interestingly, the expansion of golf closely followed the rise of the British Empire. The first golf course established outside of Britain was the Bangalore, India in 1820. 

At their inception, golf courses were not designed as we know them to be today. The number of holes were not consistent, and early courses were really just public spaces. Old Tom Morris is largely considered the pioneer of golf course design. It was Tom who introduced a strategic planning and placing of hazards and greens to ensure that players planned their shots and approaches. 

Today, a golf course is set with 18-holes. That is often made up of four par three holes, four par five holes and 10 par four holes. That adds up to a par of 72 (number of shots set to be required for the entire course) and is widely accepted as the norm. 

Golf Clubs and Equipment 

The earliest golf clubs were made entirely of wood. They were likely made by the golfer themselves and had no real set design. The first major step was seen when club makers began to experiment with different materials, this included leather, metal and even bone. 

Today, clubs are metal and made for durability and longevity. The last major shift was the introduction of hybrids – a hybrid between wood and iron – these replaced long irons which became unbearable to carry around. 

Golf Scoring System and Etiquette

Golf is a sport known for its precision and strategy, and its scoring system is no different. The most common scoring format is stroke play, where each player counts the number of strokes taken to complete each hole and the entire round. 

There are some interesting terms used to describe your performance relative to par. Achieving a score of one stroke under par on a hole is called a “birdie”, while two strokes under par is an “eagle”. A score of one stroke over par is a “bogey” and two strokes over is a “double bogey” – very creative! 

All of these terms celebrate the tradition of golf and add a layer of excitement and achievement to the scoring process. Motivating players to strive for lower scores. 

Major Golf Tournaments 

Golf is made up of many tournaments, but the majors are what most players strive for in their career. They are championships who see the victors etched into the pages of sporting history.

The Masters Tournament 

Starting in 1934, The Masters came about as a result of an amateur golfer named Bobby Jones and investment by Clifford Roberts. At its inception, the tournament was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, but Roberts suggested it be renamed to The Masters – a reference to the “masters of golf who would compete in it”. 

The US Open

Another one of the world’s major tournaments, the US Open is available to both amateur and professional golfers. It’s been held annually since 1895 and conducted under the auspices of the United States Golf Association. The scoring of the tournament is stroke play, and the winner is simply the player with the lowest total number of strokes. 

The Open Championship (British Open)

The Open, otherwise known as the British Open or The Open Championships, is the oldest major in professional golf. Founded in 1860, The Open is played outside of the United States and is administered by the governing body of golf outside the United States and Mexico. 

The PGA Championship 

The fourth and final major, the PGA Championship is – as the name suggests – run by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. It’s held at a different American course each year and features the greatest players in world golf. 

Golf Legends 

It’s a sport littered with talent and personality. Afterall, it’s the reason for the continued growth and popularity of the game and continues to intrigue fans around the world. Rory McIlroy is one such personality. Hailing from Northern Ireland, his rise in golf has been something to behold. 

By 23 he had already won two of the sport’s four major championships (the US Open and PGA Championships) and in 2012 achieved the ranking of number 1 in the world. A child prodigy, but one who has kept their feet on the ground and not drifted from the hard work and commitment required of a professional golfer. 

Tiger Woods is a name which is almost engraved into the very fiber of golf. Born in 1975, the American dominated professional golf into the turn of the millennia and became the first player to win the four major tournaments consecutively. 

Woods has won The Masters on four occasions and is now only behind the legendry Jack Nicklaus for Masters victories. A naturally gifted player, Woods has without question influenced the landscape and pioneered the game for future generations. 

The Future of Golf 

Looking at the next generation, it is exciting to see that golf is no longer exclusively dominated by experienced and mature players. the new generation is a confident and bold one, challenging the societal norms often associated with Golf and holding their own on the circuit. 

Collin Marikawa burst onto the scene in 2020, capturing the world’s attention and by 24 years old, he had already won the PGA Championship in his debut performance. Nelly Korda has emerged as a rising star in the women’s game. At just 23 years of age, she has already claimed multiple victories on the LPGA Tour and climbed to the summit of the world rankings. 

Many argue that the rise of young golfers in the modern era can be significantly attributed to the advancements in technology and training methods. Innovations will no doubt have an effect on training methodologies and make high-level coaching far more accessible.