A Brief History of Golf – The Early Years

Being a Scotsman myself, I would have to concur that the great game of golf began in Scotland. It is true that many countries and cultures throughout history have hit a ball or stone with a stick curved at the end but it was the Scots that “invented” the most important element of all – the golf hole.

The game of golf had its beginnings on the east coast of Scotland on the flat sandy land between the towns and the coast in the 15th century. These lands, called links, were generally well trampled by people and horses coming and going to the coast which made for smooth areas among the vegetation. As I have mentioned, other countries, like Holland, were also hitting pebbles with sticks along the seashore, but it was in Scotland that someone had the bright idea of making a rabbit hole the destination for the pebble or stone which brought about the whole point of golf – victory to the person who got his pebble into the hole first.

With a target to play towards, golf developed into a game played by gentlemen that became so popular that King James banned the game for a while in the 15th century because it took time away from the practice of archery. Eventually, though, royalty took to the game as well; even King James started to play and Mary Queen of Scots enjoyed the game as well. The first recorded purchase of custom made golf clubs was made by King James in 1502.

In the early 18th century, The Gentleman Golfers of Leith laid out the first formal golf course and wrote the first set of golf rules in 1744.They were also the first to create a trophy for a club championship. Ten years later, the St. Andrews Society of Golfers was established and St. Andrews later became the home of golf. It is interesting that most of these rules from 250 years ago are still in effect today.

At this time, golf equipment started to improve greatly. Golf clubs were hand made from hardwoods like oak and hickory by skilled craftsmen. Pebbles and stones were replaced by the greatly improved leather ball which was tightly stuffed with feathers. Golf courses were planned and designed to include sand traps and greens instead of just playing the land as it was. Still, most of the links courses in Scotland today, still retain the original feel of the original links where golf was first played.

In the early years, there were many “golf courses” used by local players. The original courses had a varying number of holes, depending on the location and on local ground conditions. Reference to golf in Edinburgh, St. Andrews and Leith, indicates the game being played as early as 1461 on courses ranging from 8 holes to 22 holes. But the 18-hole course (The Old Course) constructed at St. Andrews in 1764 may have set the standard for modern golf. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, is one of the two organizations that control golf worldwide today.