Golf

While the exact origins are uncertain, the game of golf was first recorded as taking place in 1297 in the Netherlands where players used a stick with a leather ball for gameplay. Additionally, new evidence has been found that would suggest a golf-like game was played in China between 1000 and 1200. The modern game of golf is considered a Scottish invention. The word “golf” comes from the Scottish alteration of the Dutch word “colf” or “colve” meaning “club.” The first mention of golf appears in a 1457 Act of Scottish Parliament where King James II banned the sport, as he believed it was a distraction for military archery practices. Since those bans, golf in Scotland has had a rocky path to popularity. In 1471 and 1491, golf was banned again, being described as “an unprofitable sport.” Mary, Queen of Scots came under fierce political attack for being accused of playing golf just after her husband’s death in 1567. Suffering through a rough century after this incident, the sport gained popularity in the late 1600s and early 1700s and eventually boomed in the late 19th century. With the building of Balmoral Castle by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the famous writings of Sit Walter Scott, Scotland became a tourist destination, and golf became an exotic sport of leisure. Today, golfers continue to spend Sunday afternoons on the links and some even plan vacations around playing the sport. Despite having a rocky start in Scotland, the game of golf is one of the most popular sports in the world today.