But the most commonly accepted etymology—the one endorsed by the British Golf Museum and United States Golf Association—is this: The medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club." It is believed that word passed to the Scots, whose old Scots dialect transformed the word into "golve," "gowl," or "gouf."
Why do golf clubs have different names?
By the turn of the 20th century, the old names of golf clubs did imply certain common characteristics. One clubmaker's mashie, in other words, was roughly the same as another's (but not necessarily identical in playing characteristics) by the early 1900s, and companies began making sets with the following names and relationships.
What are old golf clubs called?
There were clubs called mashies and niblicks (and mashie-niblicks); cleeks and jiggers; baffies and spoons, among others. Today, we call such clubs "antique golf clubs" or "historical golf clubs," or obsolete or archaic clubs.
Where do golf clubs come from?
As early as 1603, King James IV of Scotland commissioned a bow-maker, by the name of William Mayne, to craft a set of clubs for him, and he became the Royal Club Maker. In the early, to mid-1930s many of the clubs came from Scotland and later from America.
Who invented the first golf clubs?
Golfers soon turned to skilled craftsmen to produce higher quality equipment. The first record of commissioned golf clubs was by King James IV of Scotland, who hired William Mayne, a bow-maker, to craft him a set of clubs and made him the Royal Club Maker.
What were the original golf clubs called?
Back in the early days of golf history, and even into the 20th century, golf clubs in a set were not identified by number (e.g., 5-iron), but by name. There were clubs called mashies and niblicks (and mashie-niblicks); cleeks and jiggers; baffies and spoons, among others.
Why is a 3 wood called a spoon?
Spoons (3 woods) were so named because they had a concave face. It wasn't until the early 1930's that Spalding began putting numbers on their clubs and all of a sudden we lost the romance of the “baffing spoon” and the “rake club”.
What did a 7 iron used to be called?
Todays Comparison of the Old and the New SetsModern NameOld Name5 IronMashie6 IronSpade-Mashie7 IronLofting-Iron8 IronLofting-Iron10 more rows•Oct 23, 2020
What does S stand for on a golf club?
Drivers are available in a variety of lofts. Wedges typically don't have numbers. Instead that have letters such as P or PW for pitching wedge and S for sand wedge.
What is a jigger in golf?
Name of an old club with similar loft to a modern 4-iron. Confusingly, it was also sometimes used to describe a short pitching club for work around the green, otherwise called a pitching niblick, or lofting iron, roughly equivalent to a modern pitching wedge. JabJumper.
What is a five iron called?
Mid irons. The irons from 5 to 7 are typically called the "mid irons", and are generally used from the fairway and rough for longer approach shots, between 130-210 yards depending on the club, player and course.
What is a 2 wood in golf called?
Brassie is the old traditional name for a wood No. 2 golf club. Brassies have a loft that is higher than that of a driver, but less than a 3 wood.
Do any pros use a 1 iron?
One of the most famous shots in golf is Ben Hogan's 1-iron approach to the final green during the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion. Hogan made par and later clinched the championship in a Monday playoff. Costantino Rocca used a 1-iron to defeat Tiger Woods in a singles match during the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama.
When did woods stop being made of wood?
Metal “woods” came along in the 1980s and soon replaced wooden-headed clubs altogether. The introduction of the strong, lightweight metal titanium allowed clubs to be designed with larger heads that could promote both distance and accuracy. Cavity-backed irons were a major innovation at the end of the 1970s.
What does W mean on a golf club?
The term "pitching wedge" is now used by virtually all manufacturers and players to describe this club; Karsten Manufacturing (maker of the PING brand) simply labels their pitching wedges "W" for "wedge".
What does the N stand for on a Callaway driver?
N is for "neutral" and is for face angle...
What does E stand for on a golf club?
That "E" stood for Equalizer, which was the name of Ben Hogan's famous wedge that turn some of his errant misses into par saves and mind-blowing birdies.
What is the last club on the golf list?
The last club on the list is a putter, and I am sure if you are on a golf site then you have heard of one. The putter is used on the green and is the last club that you will use on every hole in most cases.
Why are woods used in golf?
The first reason is that they are great off of the tee if a golfer is struggling to keep their driver straight. The second reason that woods ae used is that they hit the ball a bit shorter than a driver, so there are situations for it. The third reason is that they can be used in the fairway if you are a long way out.
What is a hybrid golf club?
A hybrid is a type of golf club that has become popular relatively recently and it is a mix between a wood and a long iron. The point of them is to be more forgiving and able to use in rougher lies compared to woods.
What woods are in a golf bag?
A wood can be a 1-wood all the way up to a 7-wood. But, the most common woods that you are going to find in a golf bag is a 3-wood and a 5-wood.
Why do you tee the ball up for a driver?
The reason that you tee the ball up for a driver is that the sweet spot is higher up off the ground and no touching the ground. The driver ball flight is usually medium to high in trajectory and rolls out very nicely.
What were the names of the golf clubs after World War II?
The traditional names of the clubs, like “niblicks” and “spoons”, were replaced by the standard numbering system used to this day. There was little development and advancement for the next few decades. After World War II development of golf clubs were influenced by research into synthetic and composite materials.
When were feathered golf clubs invented?
With the introduction of the “featherie” golf ball in 1618 golf clubs continued to be made with wooden heads, although forging iron into the head was possible, because of the delicacy of the featheries. The wooden clubs were expensive due to the time and effort that went into making them and they were prone to break.
What wood is used for golf clubs?
Hickory quickly became the standard wood of choice for club-makers due to its availability and better durability. In 1848 the “guttie” ball was introduced by Rev. Adam Paterson, which quickly made the “longnoses” or drivers obsolete. Bulgers emerged to replace the longnoses which had a bulbous head, resembling modern woods.
How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?
Up until 1939 it was common for a golfer to carry 20-30 clubs in their bag. However with the advancement of the steel shafted clubs the R&A introduced the 14 club rule in 1939, which limited players to only be allowed to carry 14 clubs. The traditional names of the clubs, like “niblicks” and “spoons”, were replaced by the standard numbering system used to this day.
What were the clubs made of in the 1500s?
In the 1500s a set of clubs consisted of: a set of play clubs, “longnoses”, for driving; fairway clubs or “grassed drivers”, for medium range; “spoons” for short shots; “niblicks” similar to wedges; and a putting “cleek”. These golf clubs were made up of wood with the shafts being made from ash or hazel and the club heads being made ...
What is the evolution of golf?
The Evolution of the Golf Club. Since the inception of the game of golf, players have continually tried to improve upon their equipment. The earliest golf clubs were initially carved by the golfer themselves and typically out of wood. Golfers soon turned to skilled craftsmen to produce higher quality equipment.
What is the R&A golf club?
The R&A, named from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, is the governing body of the game of golf. The R&A finally legalized the use of steel shafted clubs after the Prince of Wales used them on the Old Course at St Andrews in 1929. The steel shaft provided for greater accuracy and durability.
Who invented the golf ball?
He owes his invention to Howard Hughes, who was a good friend of his and owned an airplane. One day while taking off on a trip he noticed how the wing flaps were lowered to create lift at take-off. He believed that if he followed this idea, he could lift the golf ball out of the sand much easier and consistently.
What are golf clubs made of?
Clubs were all made of wood and designed by the players themselves, who created their shapes. The wooden clubs generally had a metal-base plate and a lead-weight added to the back of the head with face inserts of ivory or bone to reduce wear.
What does Niblick mean in golf?
Hence the name Mashie Course. Niblick is a diminutive of neb/nib and means “a little nose.”. The niblick was used to “gouge” out golf balls from ruts and tight places. During the latter part of the 1800s, an iron-headed niblick became popular and had high-loft.
What was the first golf ball made of?
The first golf ball was manufactured out of beech wood, which is hard, and this took its toll on the club-face. It was not perfectly round. The featherie followed, made from leather and stuffed with bird feathers. After this, the guttie was introduced and was made from sap. It was heated and molded into a round ball.
Who made the first bow and club?
As early as 1603, King James IV of Scotland commissioned a bow-maker, by the name of William Mayne, to craft a set of clubs for him, and he became the Royal Club Maker. In the early, to mid-1930s many of the clubs came from Scotland and later from America. Clubs were all made of wood and designed by the players themselves, who created their shapes.
When did Spalding introduce the number system?
In the 1930s Spalding Sports Goods Company introduced its number system into sets of golf irons and standardized the numbering from 1 to 10. Eventually, this would see the demise of the names within traditional sets as they all graduated to the number system.
Where did golf originate?
However, the officially documented invention of golf was in the 1400s in Scotland . No matter its origin, one fact remains: use clubs to hit balls into holes to score and, ultimately, win.
When did golf clubs become more popular?
Metal and the Modern Era. The history of golf clubs took a turn when the casting method of mass production began in 1963. Metals like steel and iron became cheaper to produce, nearly eliminating individual craftsmen. With industrialization, clubs became more affordable and greatly expanded the popularity of the game.
What are the different types of golf clubs?
At that time, there were five main styles of clubs from which to choose: 1 Play Clubs or Longnoses, for driving 2 Fairway Clubs or Grassdrivers, for medium-range shots 3 Spoons for short shots 4 Niblicks, which are similar to wedges 5 Putting Cleek
What wood is used in golf clubs?
Woods were typically made with popular persimmon wood due because it was both durable and powerful. Until 1991 when the first “metal” wood emerged, persimmon was the wood of choice for most golfers. Wedges had already been fused with metals since the late 1800s.
What is a Haskell golf ball made of?
It was made from a solid piece of rubber called gutta-percha. Greater distance and durability gave this golf ball precedence over others. Later in 1898, the Haskell three-piece ball was invented and became the standard for the next ninety years.
When was the featherlite golf ball invented?
Other metals were cheaper and more desirable but were prohibited due to the type of ball used. The Featherlite golf ball was invented in 1618. It was made from leather and feathers. If golfers hit the Featherlite with anything other than wood, it would occasionally explode upon impact.
What are golf clubs made of?
Most clubs were made with a solid piece of wood, but some were fused and connected by leather straps. While wood/iron fusions worked for shorter range clubs like wedges, longer drivers became too heavy to maneuver. Other metals were cheaper and more desirable but were prohibited due to the type of ball used.
What are the earliest golf clubs?
The earliest known clubs date from around the 15th and 16th centuries and consisted of “longnoses” for driving, fairway clubs, “spoons” for the short game, precursors to modern wedges known as “niblicks”, and a putting “cleek” that resemble blade putters. These clubs were constructed of European hardwoods like apple or beech for the heads with ash or hazel shafts, and would have been handmade often by a local craftsmen and golfer. When the game came to America in the early 1800s, hickory became the preferred wood for shafts due to its superior durability. These early clubs generally had small heads compared to modern clubs, and would’ve needed a freat amount of swing control to cause the ball to fly straight.
What were the most important changes in golf in the early 1900s?
Notable examples were giant wedges that were a half-foot wide and Walter Hagen’s infamous sand wedge featuring a curved face. The most important changes of the early 1900s were the introduction of steel shafts to replace older hickory ones and the invention of grooved irons. The new shafts allowed for even faster swing speeds, while grooved surfaces allowed golfers to get more distance through increased backspin and gave greater control when shaping shots.
What are the different names for golf clubs?
For a long time different clubs were known by a variety of names, such as: Longnoses - for driving. Bulgers - like today's woods as they have a bulbous head. Fairway clubs (or grassed drivers) - for medium range shots. Spoons - for short range shots . Niblicks - like a wedge. Cleek - for putting.
What were golf clubs made of?
Early Clubs. For hundreds of years, golf clubs were made out of wood, and it was not until late last century that the wooden shaft was replaced by other materials. Players initially carved their own clubs and balls from wood, though they soon turned to skilled craftsmen to produce competitive equipment.
What woods were used for golf clubs?
The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like ash or hazel. Club heads were made from tough wood such as beech, holly, pear and apple. The heads of the wooden clubs were long and thin, resulting in them being known as "long-nose woods".
What are wood and iron made of?
They are also made using advanced materials such as titanium, graphite and zirconia.
When did golf clubs change to grooves?
One of the most important changes was the move in around 1908 from smooth faces on the irons to the grooves that are used today. The grooves enabled more backspin on a ball, resulting in more distance.
When were iron clubs invented?
The early iron clubs, made by blacksmiths until about the 1870s, were quite crudely made, making them heavy to wield and difficult to control. The advent of drop forging technique in the late 1800s resulted in lighter and better made clubs that could be mass produced in factories. The early 1900 was a period of experimental golf club designs, ...
What wood was used in the early 1800s?
The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like Ash. The introduction of golf into America in the early 1800s lead to hickory wood being used in the shafts, which was found to be far more durable than other woods. Hickory became the standard material for golf club shafts until steel shafts were introduced in about 1925 in ...
Where did golf originate?
The modern game of golf is generally considered to be a Scottish invention. A spokesman for The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, one of the oldest Scottish golf organisations, said "Stick and ball games have been around for many centuries, but golf as we know it today, played over 18 holes, clearly originated in Scotland." The word golf, or in Scots gowf [gʌuf], is usually thought to be a Scots alteration of Dutch " colf " or " colve " meaning " stick, " club ", " bat ", itself related to the Proto-Germanic language *kulth- as found in Old Norse kolfr meaning " bell clapper", and the German Kolben meaning " mace or club". The Dutch term Kolven refers to a related sport where the lowest number of strokes needed to hit a ball with a mallet into a hole determines the winner; according to the "Le grand dictionnaire françois-flamen" printed 1643 is stated the Dutch term to Flemish: "Kolf, zest Kolve; Kolfdrager, Sergeant; Kolf, Kolp, Goulfe."
When was golf invented?
A golf-like game is, apocryphally, recorded as taking place on February 26, 1297, in Loenen aan de Vecht, where the Dutch played a game with a stick and leather ball. The winner was whoever hit the ball with the fewest strokes into a target several hundred yards away. Some scholars argue that this game of putting a small ball in a hole in ...
How did golf evolve?
The evolution of golf can be explained by the development of the equipment used to play the game. Some of the most notable advancements in the game of golf have come from the development of the golf ball. The golf ball took on many different forms before the 1930s when the United States Golf Association (USGA) set standards for weight and size. These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second. Since this time, the golf ball has continued to develop and impact the way the game is played.
When was the first round of kolf played?
In December 1650, the settlers of Fort Orange (near present-day Albany, New York) played the first recorded round of kolf (golf) in America. The Dutch settlers played kolf year round. During the spring, summer and fall it was played in fields. In the winter it was played on ice with the same rules.
What are the factors that contributed to the evolution of golf?
Another notable factor in the evolution of golf has been the development of golf clubs. The earliest golf clubs were made of wood that was readily available in the area.
What is the oldest golf course in Europe?
The Royal Calcutta Golf Club (1829), the Mauritius Gymkhana Club (1844) and the club at Pau (1856) in south western France are notable reminders of these excursions and are the oldest golf clubs outside of the British Isles. The Pau Golf Club is the oldest in continental Europe.
How many golf courses were built in Japan in 2009?
The 1987 Resort Law that reduced protection on agricultural land and forest preserves created a further boom in course construction and by 2009 there were over 2,400 courses. The popularity of golf in Japan also caused many golf resorts to be created across the Pacific Rim.
The History of Golf Clubs: A Look-Back
Original Club and Ball Designs
- Clubs were often crudely made from carved wood.Early in the history of golf, players designed and crafted their own clubs. Most clubs were made with a solid piece of wood, but some were fused and connected by leather straps. While wood/iron fusions worked for shorter range clubs like wedges, longer drivers became too heavy to maneuver. Other metals were cheaper and more de…
Golf Gains in The 20th Century
- Great gains in golf happened in the early 1900s. After a solid ball was brought forth, it led to other adaptations in club design. Former “Longnoses,” or drivers, were too heavy when fused with iron. Bulgers or woods then replaced them. Woods were typically made with popular persimmon wood due because it was both durable and powerful. Until 1991 when the first “metal” wood emerged, …
Metal and The Modern Era
- The history of golf clubs took a turn when the casting method of mass production began in 1963. Metals like steel and iron became cheaper to produce, nearly eliminating individual craftsmen. With industrialization, clubs became more affordable and greatly expanded the popularity of the game. As access to more materials like fiberglass, titanium, and graphite became available, club…
Clubs of The Future
- As technology advances, so does the game of golf. While the clubs we use today look quite different from golf clubs used earlier in history, one fact remains. A golfer is only as good as the tools he uses. Standard wooden clubs have evolved the most. Actual wood was replaced with lighter titanium and graphite shafts, and head size expanded to its maximum 460cc. Having a m…
A Hole in One
- The history of golf clubs is fascinating, but Our Golf Clubsis most excited about the future of golf. We are here to provide you interesting and useful content to enhance and simplify your own golfing experience. Our Golf Clubs provides you with everything best in golf. Stay tuned to Our Golf Clubs for all your golfing needs. If you’d like more information on clubs and which style is right f…