A History of Golf, Part 1

Living on the edge of a golf course brings a sense of quietude and serenity to your daily life. With beautiful scenery and greenery amidst the desert vistas, those of us who live here enjoy the many seasons and changing colors of the course.

How many of you have wondered about the history of golf? In a two-part series, we’ll take a look at this popular sport that plays out in our very backyards.

Historians are unclear on the exact origins of golf, but most people point to Scotland as the originator of the modern game as we know it. Throughout history, there have been various stick-and-ball games, but the difference with golf is the incorporation of the hole. The way we currently play golf, with 18 holes, originated from 15^th century Scotland.

During this time, golf was actually banned by King James II of Scotland. The English were preparing to invade Scotland, and King James believed that games such as golf – and equally as popular, soccer – were getting in the way of military training. In 1502, the ban on golf was lifted with the Treaty of Glasgow.

In the 16^th century, golf became increasingly popular due to its connection with royalty, such as King Charles I and Mary Queen of Scots. Mary Queen of Scots, who originally came from France, introduced golf to the French. In fact, the term “caddie” comes from the French word cadet, the word for helpers in the French military.

By 1744, official rules were recorded for golf by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, outlined in the “Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf.” This rulebook still exists at the National Library of Scotland, along with Muirfield Club, the oldest surviving club in golf history.

With the advent of sea travel, trade, and colonization, Scottish people began to travel. Golf first arrived in the British Isles in the 18^th century. By the 19^th century, with British colonization, golf spread worldwide. By 1880, golf was being played in different parts of Europe, Canada, Singapore (a former British colony), South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Some of the world’s oldest golf courses can be found in France, as well as in India (the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, 1829 and the Pau Club, 1856).

As a former colony of Britain, there are early traces of golf in America in the 18^th century. According to researchers at Keiser University, “A shipment of golf equipment to Charleston, South Carolina in 1739 aided in the founding of the South Carolina Golf Club in 1787, as well as an advertisement for golf clubs and balls in the Royal Gazette of New York City in 1779. However, much like other parts of the world who adopted the sport early, no real traction was gained until the early 19^th century. In 1894, the United States Golf Association was formed to become ambassadors for the game in the States, which by 1910 was host to 267 golf clubs.”

Next time, we’ll explore the spread of golf through the US, how it became a professional sport, and how it made its way to our very own backyards in Arizona.

When golf season actually rolls around, we want to make sure that our windows and sliding glass doors are safe. That’s where CC Sunscreens comes in – we provide high-quality protective anti-golf ball screens for your windows and glass doors. These not only protect your home, but also the people inside who may be injured by an errant golf ball. As an added bonus, CC Sunscreens anti-golf ball screens provide protection against UVA and UVB rays and helps reduce your energy bills during the warmer months of summer.

At CC Sunscreens, we are proud to be industry leaders in providing high quality window solar screens, patio shades and anti-golf ball screens. Whether you think you may be interested in one or all three of these screening options, reach out to our friendly team today. We look forward to answering all your questions and scheduling your free, no obligation, in-home consultation and quote with one of our knowledgeable specialists today. Reach out to us today to see for yourself how we have earned such a positive reputation throughout the valley for our friendly service, quality products and value.