History of Golf goes back to the 1300s when a game resembling golf was played with a stick and ball. The origin of golf is a great debate between the Scottish and the English. In England, there is a stained glass window in the Gloucester Cathedral of a man resembling a golfer. This is what the English claim to be their undeniable proof that golfing is a sport that they invented. On the other hand, the Scottish believe that the game of golf was their finding because of the rich history of golf they have contributed.

The History of Golf states that in 1457, golf was banned in Scotland because it was said to interfere with archery practice. King James IV was the ruler at that time and was part of the conspiracy to ban the sport in 1491. Just ten short years later, he became a loyal player of the game. In 1651, other heads of Scotland gave their royal consent for the game to be played freely throughout the region.

By the early 1700s , Clubs and organizations began to form. The world’s oldest golf club is the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh. It was formed in 1735. Others include the Edinburgh Golfing Society and the Gentlemen Golfers of Edinburgh. These organizations were the first to set rules and regulations for this most prestigious game.

The number of holes on the courses was a largely disputed issue in the beginning. Some clubs played with five holes while others would play as many as twenty-two holes. In 1764, it was agreed that there would be 18 holes.

In 1856 the first club of France was formed. In 1888, the St. Andrews club in New York helped bring popularity to the game of golf in the United States, and in 1894 the United States Golf Association was formed.

A man by the name of Allan Robertson is known as the first great player of the history of golf. He overlooked the 18th hole on St. Andrews golf course. He died in 1859 at the age of 44, and his death prompted the sport to find the next great; hence, the British Open was begun.

Tournaments like the British Open were soon being held to determine whom the greatest player of the game. The tournament was played over 3 days on a 12-hole course. In 1895, the United States held its first Open in Newport, Rhode Island.

Golf equipment has changed a lot over the years in the history of golf. Golf balls were first made of wood and were far from being perfectly round. In the mid 1800s, a man named Reverend Robert Preston came up with an idea for a new and more useful ball called the Gutty. This ball was made from a mold and therefore made all balls more uniform in size and weight. This creation of this ball soon led to another type of ball called the Haskell, which was made with dimples.

History of Golf shows the first golf clubs were made of wood. The shaft was glued to the head and supported with twine. Later, as the club evolved, more sturdy woods were used. Hickory became the wood of choice. Iron was used for the head of the club. Graphite, aluminum, and titanium were used to make more solid clubs and were sold in sets of 14.

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