Origins of Golf

Though many people assume golf originated from Scotland, there are various argument against this. Historians said that golf was derived from the paganica game. In paganica, the feather stuffed ball is hit with a curved stick by the player. The Romans invented paganica and introduce it to Britain. Some histories argued that golf is associated with a Dutch game called het kolven. They come into this conclusion after seeing the 18^th century paintings that is drawn by Dutch painters. The Dutch paintings feature a game that resembles to the modern golf.

The term golf come a Scottish word called to gowff. To gowff means hit it hard in the Scottish language. The earliest evidence about golf is a manuscript written by King James II in 1457. In the manuscript, King James II mentions that football and golf should never be played in Scotland. King James doesn’t want its citizens to play football and golf because he did not want them to neglect the important sports such as archery. In 1502, King James IV set up the Treaty of Perpetual peace and allows the Scottish people to play golf in their free time. King James IV also had played the game.

Sometimes, Mary Queen of Scotland would play the game in her free time. The people like the game so much that they miss church attendance.  After the Union of the Crowns was established in 1603, golf was introduced to Blackheath in London. Andrew Dickson from Edinburgh is the first caddy to carry a golf club. He works as a caddy for the Duke of York. In the early days, golf balls are made of wood. Later, people invented a handmade ball that is stuffed with feather was invented. In 1848, the gutta perca made from the juice of a tree in Malaya was made. By the 20^th century, the golf balls made with tensioned rubber thread is introduced.