The History of Golf and Golf Equipment

Golf has been around since the 15th century. It wasevolution of golf balls. Balls had to be made tougher to
originally started on the coast of Scotland. Back thenwithstand the harder hits from newer clubs.
players would hit a pebble around the sand dunesCarrying & Caddies
using a stick or club. After 1750, golf evolved in to theIn the 1880s, golf bags were introduced. Then of
sport we know today. The first rule book was wrotecourse there were caddies that were paid to carry
in Edinburgh in 1774.these bags around the course. In 1962 the powered
Golf Ballsgolf car was invented by Merlin L. Halvorson.
Hitting pebbles was not the best way to play theGolf Tees
game. The first actual golf balls that were createdThe word "tee" in golf originated as the name for the
were made of thin leather bags that were stuffed witharea where the golfer played. In 1889 the first portable
feathers that did not go very far.golf tee was patented by Scottish golfers William
A ball called the gutta-percha was invented in 1848 byBloxsom and Arthur Douglas. This tee was made of
Reverend Adam Paterson. It was made from the saprubber and had three vertical rubber prongs that held
of the Gutta tree, and it could be hit for almost 225the ball in place. It laid on the ground and did not stick in
yards, very similar to today's golf balls.to the ground like modern golf tees.
Around 1898, a man named Coburn Haskell introducedThe Rules
the first one-piece rubber cored ball. These ballsIn 1774, the first standardized rules of golf were written
reached distances approaching 430 yards. In 1905 aand used in the first golf championship, which Doctor
golf ball manufacturer named William Taylor was theJohn Rattray won on April 2nd in Edinburgh, Scotland.
first to add dimples.This rule book has been the basis of the game of golf
Golf Clubsas we know it for over 200 years. Of course some
Golf clubs used to be wooden shafts and not veryrules have been modified for the modern game, but
technological. Today's clubs are made from steel orthe principles have pretty much stayed the same.
graphite and are much more durable and lighter thatI hope this has gotten you to appreciate the great
the old wooded clubs. Golf clubs evolved with thehistory of the game of golf.