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‘Golf is a good walk spoiled’ Mark Twain

Golf over the centuries has developed into one of the worlds most popular sports enjoyed by millions of people across the globe.

THE ORIGINS

How golf originated though, has never been clearly established. The Romans are believed to have played a game similar to golf by hitting a ball stuffed with feathers with club shaped tree branches during Julius Caesars reign as emperor.

Book illustrations record the Dutch in the 15^th century playing a similar game.

ROYALTY

In Great Britain, the first recorded mention of golf or ‘gouf’, was in 1497 when it was banned under Act of Parliament, by Scottish King James II. The reason – it interfered with archery practice.

This did not stop the Scots though and persistence paid off. In 1502 royalty again became involved, but this time golf received royal assent, James IV is recorded as purchasing clubs and balls from a bow maker in Perth. In addition the worlds oldest golf course at St Andrews was established during the 16^th century.

In the 17^th century the royal seal of approval continued with James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) recorded as playing golf. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews (the rule makers of golf as we know it) was formed in 1754.

OVERSEAS INTEREST

During the 19^th century golf really began to make its mark on the world stage. In 1829 the Royal Calcutta Golf Club established the first golf club outside the British Isles. In 1860 the first British Open took place in Prestwick and in 1873 the first golf club in North America was founded at Canada’s Royal Montreal Club.

1888 saw a 3 hole course opened in Yonkers, New York and this was eventually extended to 6 holes. The first 18 hole course in the USA was the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois in 1893.

The Open Championship was held in England for the first time in 1894 played at Royal St George’s in Sandwich Kent (still a venue to this day).

The first US Open was held at Newport Golf Club, Rhode Island in 1895.

The rest they say is history!

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN GAME

The 20^th Century saw golf develop into what it is today. The PGA (Professional Golfers Association) was established in 1901 and in conjunction with their American colleagues they helped organise the first Ryder Cup event between the 2 nations in 1929 and shape the professional game we know today.

Professional Tours now take place across Europe, North America and Asia with millions of dollars prize money up for grabs (for those good enough to win!).

The dream of every professional (and I dare say amateurs as well) is to win a ‘major’. This is a term used to identify the 4 key competitions of the professional golf circuit :-

· British Open

· US Open

· US Masters

· US PGA

Golf has truly captured the worlds imagination and has become big business with millions of pounds ploughed into golf equipment, golf course development, clothing, golfing holidays, memorabilia and so on.

It is still fashionable with royalty (Prince Andrew is a keen golfer), film stars, footballers, and even rock stars (Alice Cooper is rumoured to be a mean low handicap golfer)!

FAMOUS NAMES

The game has enabled many to become sporting legends and many are now household names across the globe :-

· Bobby Jones – the first person to win all 4 majors in the 1930’s

· Joyce Wethered – 4 x British Ladies amateur champion

· Ben Hogan

· Patty Berg – US Ladies amateur champion

· Arnold Palmer

· Gary Player

· Jack Nicklaus – only person to win 3 Grand Slams

· Tom Watson

· Curtis Strange – first golfer to win more than $1million

· Judy Rankin – first woman golfer to earn more than $100,000

· Laura Davies – perhaps the best known British woman golfer

· Tony Jacklin

· Nick Faldo

· Seve Ballesteros

· Pat Bradley – first woman who’s earnings have topped $3million

· Tiger Woods – the youngest player to win a major at 21