Golf has been a popular sport among affluent communities for well over a century, as its roots as a professional sport began in the late 1800s. The game itself can be traced back to 15th century Scotland, which is called “the home of golf.” Here are some important developments in the history of the game.
Early Golf
The earliest record of the game that resembles modern golf dates back to the 1400s on the eastern coast of Scotland. Earlier embryonic versions of the sport have roots during the Roman Empire involving hitting a stuffed leather ball with a stick. In 1457 the Scottish Parliament passed laws prohibiting golf and soccer as sports because they interfered with the established sport of archery.
Scottish Influence
In 1500 Scotland removed the ban as King James IV of Scotland began playing the game as it was soon embraced by the establishment. The first known reference to golf in America came in 1729 from the estate of William Burnet, who served as Governor of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, the rules of the game still developed overseas by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Afterward, the game was influenced by the Society of St. Andrews Golfers. In 1764 this elite club cut 22 holes to 18.
In 1860 the town of Prestwick, Scotland, located about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow, became the site of the first Open Championship. By the 1890s interest in the sport had grown to the level that manufacturers began to innovate and make golf club heads out of persimmon. In 1893 the Ladies’ Golf Union was launched in the UK, leading to the first British Ladies’ Amateur Golf Championship that year.
American Transformation
The New York-based United States Golf Association (USGA) was launched in 1894. At first, it served as a resource for answering questions about amateur status. The following year saw the first US Amateur Championship and US Open. Golf then became a sport at the Olympic games starting in 1900.
The following year marked the introduction of the rubber version of the golf ball made by Haskell, which revolutionized the game. The new ball traveled more distance, which elevated the game’s popularity. The PGA of America started in 1916, ushering in the first US PGA Championship. Golf entered the television age in 1953.