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Perhaps the most likely forerunner was the Dutch game of kolf,
documented as early as the end of the 13th century and
portrayed in many Dutch landscape paintings by the 16th
century. "Golfers" certainly played
cross-country with a stick and ball, not into a hole but to
certain landmarks, usually doors on specific buildings.
It was in Scotland, however that the game really
developed. Up and down the east coast, it apparently
became so popular a pastime that in 1457 King James II, in an Act
of Parliament, banned golf - and soccer too - because they
were interfering with archery practice. Skill with the
bow and arrow was crucial to keeping the English out of
Scotland. The game remained uniquely - perhaps with
its Dutch counterpart of kolf - until James VI of
Scotland also became King of England and took the game south
with him. At Blackheath in South London, the Scottish
noblemen laid out a seven-hole course so they could continue
playing their beloved game.
The early courses in Scotland bore little resemblance to those
of today. The game was played over public land - as in
places it still is - with natural hazards and obstacles to
negotiate Not only were walls and ditches part of
the game, but players often had to thread their way through
others out enjoying their various recreations - horse racing,
cricket, picnicking and so on.
Caddies were hired by the golfers, not just to carry the clubs
- golf bags were not invented until around 1870 - but to help
make a way through the other activities on the links and
presumably to watch out for the ball.
Courses were natural, manicured only by sheep and
rabbits. There were no formal tees as such; players
simply teed up a few feet from the previous hole.
Rules, of course, developed over the years, and golf clubs
were formed. The oldest of these, the Honourable Company
of Edinburgh Golfers - now based at Muirfield - was founded in
1744, while ten years later the Society of St. Andrews'
Golfers was created.
The rules
of various clubs and courses were standardized, following St.
Andrews' lead in using 18 holes. Before 1764, the course
at St. Andrews consisted of 22 holes, others had as few as 6
and as many as 25. But by 1858 it had been agreed.
the Society of St. Andrews Golfers, having become the Royal
and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in 1834 now ruled that a
round of golf should be 18 holes. And so it has
remained.
The game developed rapidly and began to be played
professionally in the mid-1800's. Allan Robertson, the
first great professional golfer, died in 1858. Some say
that his death prompted the first professional championship at
Prestwick in 1860 to find a new national champion. This
competition was opened to amateurs in 1861 to become the first
Open Championship. In 1863 it attracted prize money for
the winner of just 10 pounds. And from there, the
game of golf developed to the game we now know
today. |
