Golf's Actual Origins"With th' exciption maybe iv th' theery iv infant damnation, " said Mr Dooley, "Scotland has given nawthin' more cheerful to th' wurruld thin th' game iv goluf." Golf appeared in 1350 in St Andrews, Fife. It was forbidden by the king thrice during the 1400's, as it was considered to distract young men from their archery and Church, but was re-legalised in 1502. It is a common misperception that it began in the 1600s; as early as 1567, Mary Queen of Scots played golf on the St. Andrews Links. The oldest remaining club here is the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, dating back to 1834, which still accepts only male members, with the exception of once in the year for the Women's Open.

Golf originated in Scotland in the 1600's.

"Gentlemen Only, Ladies Prohibited" is, of course, an backronym for the game, but the reality is that there were games similar to golf played as far back as the 1100's in China. Golf as a western sport began in the late 1500's in Scotland, but the name "golf" has nothing to do with the above acronym.

The "Gentlemen Only; Ladies Forbidden" explanation is an Urban Legend. You can learn more here: http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/golf.htm

Did the word "golf" originate as an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden"? That's a common old wives' tale. Or, in this case, more likely an old husband's tale. No, "golf" is not an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." If you've ever heard that, forget it immediately. Better yet, find the person who told you and let them know it's not true.

Like most modern words, the word "golf" derives from older languages and dialects. In this case, the languages in question are medieval Dutch and old Scots.

The medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club." It is believed that word passed to the Scots, whose old Scots dialect transformed the word into "golve," "gowl" or "gouf."

By the 16th Century, the word "golf" had emerged.

Sources: British Golf Museum, USGA Library

The origin of golf is open to debate among Chinese, French and Scotish. Golf is widely believed to be a Scottish invention, as the game was mentioned in two 15th-century laws prohibiting the playing of the game of "gowf". Some scholars, however, suggest that this refers to another game which is much akin to shinty or hurling, or to modern field hockey. They point out that a game of putting a small ball in a hole in the ground using golf clubs was played in 17th-century Netherlands. The term golf is believed to have originated from a Germanic word for "club".

The oldest playing golf course in the world is The Old Links at Musselburgh. Evidence has shown that golf was played on Musselburgh Links in 1672 although Mary Queen of Scots reputedly played there in 1567.

Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. As early as the 15th century, golfers at St. Andrews established a customary route through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography. The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. One played the holes out, turned around, and played the holes in, for a total of 22 holes. In 1764, several of the holes were deemed too short, and were therefore combined. The number was thereby reduced from 11 to nine, so that a complete round of the links comprised 18 holes.

The major changes in equipment since the 19th century have been better mowers, especially for the greens, better golf ball designs, using rubber and man-made materials since about 1900, and the introduction of the metal shaft beginning in the 1930s. Also in the 1930s the wooden golf tee was invented. In the 1970s the use of metal to replace wood heads began, and shafts made of graphite composite materials were introduced in the 1980s.

In January 2006, debate provoked again over who invented golf again. Recent evidence unearthed by Prof. Ling Hongling of Lanzhou University, China suggests that a game similar to modern-day golf was played in China since Southern Tang Dynasty, 500 years before golf was first mentioned in Scotland.

Dongzuan Records (Chinese:�|܎��) from the Song Dynasty describe a game called chuiwan (��) and also include drawings. It was played with 10 clubs including a cuanbang, pubang, and shaobang, which are comparable to a driver, two-wood, and three-wood. Clubs were inlaid with jade and gold, suggesting golf was for the wealthy. Chinese archive includes references to a Southern Tang Dynasty official who asked his daughter to dig holes as a target. Lin suggested golf was exported to Europe and then Scotland by Mongolian travellers in the late Middle Ages.

Spokeman for Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, one of the oldest Scotland golf organization, said "Stick and ball games have been around for many centuries, but golf as we know it today, played over 18 holes, clearly originated in Scotland."

Golf was invented in the 15th century by the Scots.

A little know fact about golf: Golf was banned in Scotland in 1457. The reason for the ban was that the game interfered with archery. Archery, then, was a much-needed practice because the country's defenses depended upon it. However, the Scots continued to play despite the ban from Parliament and the church. The Scots played golf on courses laid out by the sea. These courses are called links.

There is an urban legend that says the word "golf" stood for "Gentlemen Only; Ladies Forbidden." This is false. We know this, to some degree, since Mary, Queen of Scots, the mother of James VI of Scotland and who later was James I of England, was known to have participated in the "sport" of golf.

Golf was originated in Scotland near the 1600's and St. Andrews was the first course ever played. The queen of Scotland was so happy that golf was invented but many were not. The men were not happy because she was going to allow the women to play. The guards killed the queen just because of that. So that's why only men could play before and now in present time women can too which is AWESOME! I am so glad that the rule changed that women can play too!! in my backyard. I don't like mii gym teacher! he plays golf ewyy. Haha.*Cupcake&Babii Boo*

golf started in Ireland. the balls were rocks and the clubs were sticks

Golf was first found in the year of 1340.

There is no certain answer to that question. Historians are still trying to find out when and where golf was created.

Scotland

Ask tiger Woods!!! =P

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