A Brief History of Golf

Where Did Golf Originate

The game of golf as we know it today can be attributed to the Scots, although there are records of several stick and ball games throughout history. As far back as the 13th century, the Dutch played a game where a leather ball was hit with the intention of reaching a target several hundred yards away. The winner would be the player who reached the target with the fewest shots. However, the Scottish sport, which was known as Golf, had one distinction that separates it from similar sports in history: the hole. When we’re talking about the modern game with 18 holes, golf history traces its origins back to 15th century Scotland.

While the Scots formalized the game, historians believe that various cultures had games similar to golf throughout history. The Chinese sport of “chuiwan,” which involved hitting a ball with a stick toward a hole, was played during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The Romans also played “paganica,” where they used bent sticks to hit a leather ball. Though these games are not direct ancestors of golf, they showcase humankind’s long-standing fascination with striking a ball toward a target.