| One of the most elegant and prolific games of this | | | | similar to golf were played in 14th century in the |
| century, golf has a fascinating trail of history running | | | | countries of France, Belgium, and Holland, apart from |
| behind. The word ''golf'' is actually a modification of the | | | | Scotland. However, the game was introduced in |
| Dutch word "kolf" which simply means a "bat," "stick,'' | | | | England by a keen Scottish Baron, James VI, after |
| or "club". If defined literally, the game is all about striking | | | | succeeding on the English throne in 1603. |
| a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole | | | | In the early years of golf, the players never thought of |
| by a stroke or successive strokes while complying | | | | forming a club or society until in 1744 a group of |
| with the rules of the game. It is one of those rare | | | | Edinburgh golfers united into a club named Honourable |
| games which do not require playing area; rather golf is | | | | Company of Edinburgh Golfers. It was here that the |
| played on golf "courses." The competitions of golf are | | | | first 13 rules of golf were drawn up for an annual |
| based on stroke play, where the individual or team | | | | contest. In 1766, Royal Blackheath Golf Club was |
| posts with lowest score on the most individual for a full | | | | formed in England - the first golf club formed outside |
| round, wins the game. Some other team games of | | | | Scotland. |
| golf such as fourball have been pioneered, and are | | | | Although traces of golf can be encountered in 18th |
| played either using matchplay format or stroke. | | | | century United States, however the game was still |
| Several alternative styles of golf playing have been | | | | waiting to be popularized. The history of golf in North |
| introduced like disc golf and miniature golf. However, it | | | | America began with its roots in Canada. In 1873, The |
| is still interesting to find out the History of golf. | | | | Royal Montreal Club was formed, which was followed |
| Most scholars agree with the "fact" that the Scots | | | | by the Quebec Golf Club in 1875 and the golf club in |
| were first to popularize the game of golf. However, | | | | Toronto a year later. It was in 1888 that golf |
| there exists no common consensus in the history of | | | | re-emerged in the United States. For the first time the |
| golf about the inventors of the classy sport. The | | | | "three-hole golf course" was built in Yonkers, New |
| records suggest a golf-like game was played in a city | | | | York by a Scotsman, John Reid on a 30-acre site. |
| called Loenen aan de Vecht, Netherlands, on 26 | | | | From a modest beginning, golf emerged as the new |
| February 1297. The Dutchmen played this game with | | | | national pastime in the United States. |
| leather ball and a stick. Actually, the game required the | | | | In the recent times golf has become a complete |
| players to hit the ball into a target situated several | | | | spectators' game, involving professionals at different |
| hundreds of meters away. | | | | levels and amateur tours across various terrains of the |
| The emphasis on golf's Scottish origin is contributed to | | | | world. Not only the game, but the golf players -Tiger |
| the fact that the game was mentioned in two | | | | Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus to name |
| 15th-century Acts of the Scottish Parliament. Further, | | | | a few, have gained worldwide recognition as great |
| there are evidences that in A.D 1456, the first game of | | | | sports personalities. Engrossingly huge sponsorships |
| golf was played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, | | | | and new technologies being developed to assist |
| Scotland, as recorded in the archives of The Royal | | | | golfers and dedication and raw talent from the |
| Burgess Golfing Society. | | | | emerging players all suggest a luminous new chapter in |
| There are some reports which record evidences of | | | | the "history of golf". |
| golf from continental Europe. Different forms of sports | | | | |