Origins Of Golf

Historians have long debated that early forms of golf predates Christ. The Roman game of Pacanica which used a bent stick and wool or feather stuffed leather ball, dates back to 100 BC. It is thought that golf origins began in the games of ball-and-stick in ancient times. But the modern game can be traced back to Scotland in the early 15th century. We will explore origins of golf, its equipment, the old courses, four major tournaments and the players that have paved the way to its popularity.

In 1457 King James II and the Scottish Parliament outlawed the games of golf and soccer because the sports were interfering with archery practice, which was necessary for national defense. King James IV of Scotland later removed the ban in 1500 after

Each ball was handcrafted and extremely difficult to make. There were very few ball makers with the skill to make quality golf balls. The cost per ball was equivalent to $14 in today’s currency. It was not until the introduction of the Gutta Percha ball or “Guttie” and the spread of the railways that directly contributed to the expansion of golf. The Guttie ball was made from the rubber like sap of the Gutta tree found in the tropics (A History of…, 2015). The introduction of the Haskell balls with a one-piece rubber core were mass-produced and made golf balls more affordable. In 1905 the Haskell balls took on a more modern form when introduced with the now familiar dimple pattern. Early golf clubs were primarily made of wood and iron. The woods shaft were made of ash or hazel while the club heads were made of hardwood such as apple, beech or pear. The biggest difference between modern clubs and earlier clubs were the way they were used. Originally irons were used only to get out of difficult spots. They were rarely used because it would often damage the golf

He later toured the U.S., playing exhibitions as well as tournaments. In 1900, he won the U.S. Open Championship on his first visit. His style of play, significantly impacted one of America’s greatest golfer, Bobby Jones.

In 1916, as professional golf gained more ground in the U.S., players wanted an organizational body to govern the game: U.S. amateurs had the USGA and British players had the R&A (taking its name from the Royal and Ancient Club), so they wanted one of their own. That January, the Professional Golfers Association of America was born. Seven months later, they established the first PGA Championship, played at a course in Bronxville, New York, with $2,500 awarded to the winner (History Of the…, 2015).

The Masters Golf Tournament, also known as The Masters was the last of the four championships in professional golf. The tournament was started by Augusta National Golf Course designers Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The first Augusta National Masters Invitational Tournament was played in 1934 and won by Horton Smith, his earnings was $1,500. The Masters, unlike other major championships, is held at the same location every year. The traditional green jacket was first awarded in 1949 to Sam