An Introduction to the game of Golf
Today, Golf is a popular sport played by many different types of people all over the globe. Many do not realize that the game has a long history and has been around for centuries. The actual birthplace of the game of golf is unclear to some historians. There is much information regarding its development. However, most endorse the idea that the game of golf actually originated in Scotland in the 15th century. Still other references to games similar in nature to golf appear in other venues.
A reference is made in the Netherlands during the later part of the 13th century to a game played with a leather ball and stick. The object of this game was to be the player to land your ball the most times in a hole that was a good distance away. Yet other information has been discovered in China. This evidence points to a golf game being enjoyed by the Chinese during the Southern Tang Dynasty. Again the game described involved hitting balls into various targets. However, this information also shows that the clubs used in this game varied significantly from one another. Players typically used 10 of these clubs. Some point out that the clubs using in this Ancient Chinese game are analogous to the current types of golf clubs one might have in their bag.
Despite all of this information, historians assert that the game of golf as we enjoy today with 18 holes was founded in Scotland. Perhaps these other versions of the sport served as an influence to the development of the game as we know it.
In Scotland, the first golf course was built as well as the establishment of the first golf clubs. The game became popular all across Scotland. Eventually, tournaments were held between residents of various Scottish cities. In 1744, the official rules of golf were written paving a path for uniform play. Soon the game spread to England and then to other places around the world. The rest as they say is history as golf has become a common pastime for many players to enjoy.