History of Golf in Scotland
While many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf, the origins of golf are without a doubt routed in Scotland’s past. The fact is, golf probably derived from other countries and stick and ball type games. However, while these are stick and ball games, they are missing that vital ingredient that is unique to golf. The hole. It was the Scots who introduced the golf hole into the game we now call golf.
Over the centuries, golf has evolved into the game it is today. The first recognizable form being played in Scotland in the early 1400’s. Andrews, Scotland is the birthplace of the game golf. Originating on the east coast of Scotland, golf quickly became the Scots’ national pastime and passion, bound forever to Scotland’s history and people.
According to Scottish lore, the people of Scotland believes that Golf was invented by Scottish fishermen to amuse themselves on the way home from fishing.
In 1457 golf was banned in Scotland because it interfered with the practice of archery, which was vital to the defense effort. The ban on golf had been issued in a time when Scotland was preparing to defend itself from the English. Scotland can say that they are the founding fathers in regards to the oldest golf course. It was in
Scotland that the passion for golf came alive. There is general agreement among historians and golf fans alike that the Scots were the first golfers who became somewhat addicted and passionate about the sport. In the very early days of golf, each golf group in Scotland produced their own and unique rules, which was sometimes the cause for interesting discussions. Golf is still a very popular game today in Scotland today.
The game of golf soon spread to areas outside of Scotland. In one form or another, the variant games of present day golf were clearly enjoyed throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. In fact in seventeenth century Dutch landscapes commonly show golf being played on ice. The game of golf began its destiny in time towards becoming popular around the world.
Fran Black
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/history-of-golf-in-scotland-29811.html
what is the history behind the choice of exactly 18 holes for a golf course? Why not an even 20 or 24?
I was told once that it was because in Scotland where golf originated, one of the original architects of the modern game of golf said that it took exactly 18 shots of whisky to finish off a bottle while you played. As interesting as this sounds, I’m sure there has to be a better expalaination. After about 10 shots I’d be face down in the pond along with my clubs and the cart.
Scottish courses were only several greens with multiple approaches.
Some had only three holes, played at three different approaches or pin settings.
Players tried to make the courses more uniform in different areas and eventually came up with nine, as the most common.
Some of the longer play holes were broken into two.
They played nine out, and sometimes were far from the starting point so they play nine back, approaching from the opposite direction. There was no conflict with other groups except when sharing greens.
They felt that playing eighteen instead of nine would also average out more evenly.
Some say that the flask would last through nine holes, and more affluent players carried a spare, enabling them to plat nine holes back!
References :
Scottish courses were only several greens with multiple approaches.
Some had only three holes, played at three different approaches or pin settings.
Players tried to make the courses more uniform in different areas and eventually came up with nine, as the most common.
Some of the longer play holes were broken into two.
They played nine out, and sometimes were far from the starting point so they play nine back, approaching from the opposite direction. There was no conflict with other groups except when sharing greens.
They felt that playing eighteen instead of nine would also average out more evenly.
Some say that the flask would last through nine holes, and more affluent players carried a spare, enabling them to plat nine holes back!
References :
the standardization of 18 holes can be credited to St. Andrews.
Prior to the mid-1760s – and right up until the early 1900s – it was common to find golf courses that were comprised of 12 holes, or 19, or 23, or 15, or any other number.
Then, around 1764, St. Andrews converted from 22 holes to 18 holes. The reason? Well, everyone knows 18 holes are easier to take care of than 22!
Eighteen holes did not become the standard until the early 1900s, but from 1764 onward, more courses copied the St. Andrews model. Then, in 1858, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews atated a match would consist of 18 holes between members.In 1867, Old Tom Morris advised Carnoustie when they extended their ten holes to eighteen holes, apparently the second course to do so after St Andrews.
Montrose also dates to about this time. In 1810 it had at least 7 holes played as a round of 17 holes. By 1825, there were 14 separate holes, which became 11 holes played as a round of 17 holes, as detailed on a scorecard of 1849. However, by 1866 there were 25 holes, played in a recorded competition in 1866. So it would in theory have been possible to play 18 holes at Montrose at this time. Later, in 1871 the Town Council proposed alterations to the land use, which reduced the playing area , though these developments were not fully implemented until years later. The recompense they offered was a new golf course, referred to as the New Circular Course which was officially opened on Saturday 29th September 1888. There is a map, made in 1903, of the 18 hole course of 1896. This was after further course developments and with more being planned.
By about 1875, Old Tom Morris had, amongst other improvements to bunkers, greens and fairways, created separate teeing areas at St Andrews, which produced the present layout. Many credit Old Tom with the creation of the manicured golf course that we see today.
However, the Old Course, like most early courses, has the ninth hole as the furthest away from the clubhouse. The first nine are still the ‘out’ nine, then you turn to play back ‘in’. It was not until well into the twentieth century that the convention of two circles of nine holes, beginning and ending near the clubhouse, became fashionable.
From 1872, the British Open golf championship was held annually in rotation at Prestwick, St Andrews and Musselburgh, where the three sponsor clubs were based. The contest was over 36 holes and it was, therefore, three rounds when it was held at Prestwick, two rounds when at St Andrews and four rounds at Musselburgh. The competition must have created comparison of the courses and the 18 holes at St Andrews would have seemed the most appropriate.
Thus, in 1882, Prestwick expanded its course to 18 holes and in 1891 when the Honourable Company built Muirfield they created 18 holes in the first year. As they sponsored the Open, the championship moved with them from Musselburgh to Muirfield. With the three foremost clubs in the world using 18 holes, this set the norm for a golf round.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews were given control of the Rules of Golf in the UK in 1897, and this would have added further weight to the 18 hole round, although it does not appear to have been laid down as a ‘stipulated round’ in the Rules of Golf until 1950. (It was however the default round for a golf match from 1933.) As late as 1919, when the Royal and Ancient took over sole control of running the Open, half of all the golf courses in Britain were still built as 9-hole courses.
Other early 18 holes course include Gullane which extended the seven holes it had in 1840 to 15 holes in 1878 and finally to 18 holes in 1884. It was also the first to follow St Andrews in having three golf courses. The third course at Gullane (Gullane 3) was completed in 1910, a facility St Andrews had in 1897 though not all the St Andrews’ courses were 18 holes until 1905, when the Jubilee course was extended from 12 to 18 holes.
Therefore the reason why golf courses are 18 holes is partly at least an accident of history
References :
scottishgolfinghistory.net
you are right, it took exactly 18 shots (from the bottle) to finish the bottle and he took one shot (from the bottle) per hole
References :
I’m told the same story you do but with slightly different details. It is said that there four person within a group. The scothman will take a bottle of whiskey and pour four small whisky glasses one for each of them per one hole. After nine holes, they will finish a bottle and hence the nineth hole lead back to the club house where they would get another bottle for another nine holes. By which time the four of them finish up the second bottle, they all drunk and can’t play any more. That’s why there are 18 holes. I am really rather puzzled by the way Tennis is counted: i.e. 15 love, 30 love, 40 love and game???
References :
See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf
References :