| The incredibly popular game of Golf is said to | | | | into a small hole in the ground using little more |
| have it's home in Scotland, more specifically it | | | | than a fancy stick. |
| developed along the east coast on patches of | | | | The first documented evidence shows that in |
| ground known as 'links'. These links got their name | | | | 1457 King James II of Scotland tried to ban the |
| because it was an area of hilly grassland linking the | | | | game of 'gowf' (through an act of parliament) |
| sand dunes and beach areas to the arable farm | | | | because he believed that people played it far too |
| areas situated further inland. This ground is pretty | | | | much at the expense of more important things |
| useless for arable farming as the soil is very thin | | | | such as archery. Further evidence appears in 1552 |
| and just below the surface is sand. More stable | | | | when the people of St Andrews were granted |
| than the dunes the links are covered in a fine | | | | the right to use the links for recreational purposes |
| grass which was kept short by the effects of | | | | such as playing golf (by charter). Other |
| grazing from rabbits, cattle and sheep. Altogether | | | | documentary evidence can be found in church |
| the ground was superbly springy and perfect for | | | | records which show many people receiving |
| a game such as golf and other forms of | | | | various punishments for playing golf on the |
| recreation. | | | | Sabbath (Sunday). |
| The exact roots of the game of golf are highly | | | | As the popularity of the game increased the |
| debated with both Holland and France also laying | | | | competition also increased and, in 1744, the |
| claim to it's creation. However, to understand the | | | | Gentlemen Golfers of Leith (now known as the |
| game's development all cases need to be | | | | Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers) |
| examined closely and, simply put, the differences | | | | petitioned Edinburgh City Council for a prize of a |
| are just too great to give the claims any | | | | silver club to be awarded to the winner of the |
| credence. Interestingly an ancient Roman game | | | | annual golf competition held on Leith Links. |
| called paganica holds a curious resemblance in that | | | | However it was not until 1897 that the Scottish |
| it included the use of a ball made from a leather | | | | game of golf acquired an official set of rules. |
| pouch crammed full of feathers. In the not too | | | | The job of drawing up the official rules fell upon |
| distant past the balls used in golf were also made | | | | the famous Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St |
| using feathers and were known, for this reason, | | | | Andrews who were also to have the final say in |
| as featheries. | | | | such matters. However it was not until 1951 that |
| The Dutch game of kolven is still played today | | | | the global rules of golf were unified with the Royal |
| and is general discounted as the source of golf. | | | | & Ancient and the United States Golf |
| and the French games of jeu de mail and chole | | | | Association settling many of the differences |
| are equally discounted. The thing is that only the | | | | between the Scottish and American rules of the |
| ancient Scottish game of 'gowf' (played since, at | | | | game. Today the rules are the same the world |
| least, in the twelfth century near St Andrews) | | | | over but many golfers visit St Andrews to play a |
| sounds anywhere near golf and it is the only | | | | round or two on the many courses in the area, |
| game that has the requirement of hitting the ball | | | | especially on the old course. |