Golf History Of A
Game In Constant
Evolution
The true origins of the game now known as golf have been hotly debated over
the years, as almost every civilisation has played some form of club and ball
game at some point in history. Various competing theories have been proposed
as to its origins, and there have been many different ways to play over the
years. The original essence of the modern game can be traced back to the
pastime of "gowf," which was played on the links lands of the East of Scotland
long before the 15th century, and has since evolved into the great game of
"golf" as we know it.
It was in the seaside towns of Aberdeen, St. Andrews, and Leith on the
outskirts of Edinburgh, with their expanses of rolling sandy grounds, or links,
which lie between the sea and the town, that a game resembling today's golf
really took hold and formed the discernible start of an evolutionary process that
still continues to this day, that a game resembling today's golf really took hold
and formed the discernible start of an evolutionary process that still continues
to this
Since then, the game has seen several modifications, with the regulations
altering multiple times throughout the years (http://www.ruleshistory.com/),
ever since the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith wrote the first surviving written rules
in March 1744. The balls have also evolved, with the introduction of an
affordable and more durable rubbery ball at St Andrews in 1848 to replace the
formerly costly and unpredictable feathery balls, which would often not last
even one game.
Another major event in golf history was the construction of the first
purpose-built golf course in Prestwick on the Monkton parish links in 1851,
which was followed by the first open tournament on the same course in 1860.
Since then, the game has expanded throughout the globe, from Europe to
America, and even to China and Japan. Although American courses have leaned
toward larger fairways and smoother greens, the courses still tend to follow
those early of Scottish designs. Following recent sponsorship arrangements and
the addition of television coverage, competitions have witnessed a significant
increase in popularity.
These days everyone seems to want to play. During the summer, courses
become heavily used and parks throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK are
filled with people knocking a ball about. There are purpose built golf courses all
around the country, and there are specialist companies offering short golfing
holidays (http://www.superbreak.com/search/golf-breaks.htm ) who are now
tapping in to the desire to play on some of the world’s finest courses which are
to be found in Britain.
Today the game of golf has significantly evolved from the primitive, haphazard
and casual game it started out as, with the very earliest players initially having
to carve their own clubs and balls from wood. Now modern casting methods
mean that clubs can be made much stronger and more affordably making the
game open to all who want to play, while research into synthetic and composite
materials has lead to top end performance clubs using titanium heads and
graphite shafts for those who can afford them. While most designers have
sought to improve performance through subtle developments such as materials
changes, other ingenious entrepreneurs have tried making clubs which contain
a built in gyroscope or created a single reusable shaft and a selection of
changeable screw in club heads, in order to out wit the rules.
Changes in ball design, official rules, the introduction of more competitive
equipment produced by skilled craftsmen such as forged metal heads for niblick
clubs which were prone to breakage, increases in the number of courses, and
promotion by the media, have made what was a simple pastime in Scotland into
a multimillion pound worldwide phenomenon.
