What is the history of golf courses in America?
While the Downers Grove Golf Club might not come up when searching for the history of golf courses in America, the golf course is one of the oldest and is actually the site of the original Chicago Golf Club – one of the founders of the United States Golf Association (USGA).
What is the oldest golf club in the United States?
1894 The Otsego Golf Club, Springfield Center, New York, officially opened with 12 holes. Founded by Henry L. Wardwell and Leslie Pell-Clarke, the Otsego Golf Club has operated continuously since 1894 and is a nine-hole course today. Tacoma Golf Club is founded, the first golf club on the US Pacific Coast.
How many golf clubs were there in 1910?
By 1910 there were 267 clubs. During the Roaring Twenties the game expanded greatly in popularity and by 1932 there were over 1,100 golf clubs affiliated to the USGA. In 1922 Walter Hagen became the first native born American to win the British Open Championship.
When was the first golf club in the UK?
In 1864 the golf course at the resort of Westward Ho! became the first new club in England since Blackheath, and the following year London Scottish Golf Club was founded on Wimbledon Common. In 1880 England had 12 courses, rising to 50 in 1887 and over 1000 by 1914.
How long is the average golf course?
around 7,200-7,300 yardsOn the PGA Tour, the average golf course length these days is around 7,200-7,300 yards. On the LPGA Tour, average golf course length is around 6,200 to 6,600 yards. On the Champions Tour for over-50 pros, average golf course length is around 6,500 to 6,800 yards.
Was golf popular in the 1800s?
' 'Both in Britain and the U.S., amateur golf was as highly regarded and popular in the 1800s and into the 1900s as professional golf. The Amateur Championships of Britain and America were extremely well attended and well thought-of events.
How long have golf courses been around?
The modern game of golf originated in 15th century Scotland. The 18-hole round was created at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1764.
How long is a typical 18-hole course?
A regulation 18-hole golf course should be between 6,200 and 7,000 yards.
Why is a golf course 18 holes?
Andrews formalized the rules and stated, “One round of the Links, or 18 holes is reckoned a match, unless otherwise stipulated.” Legend has it that the reason for 18 holes is that a bottle of whiskey contained the same number of shots as holes on a course, thus providing just enough drink for a shot on each hole.
What does golf stand for?
The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club.
What is oldest golf course?
The Old Course at St Andrews LinksThe Old Course at St Andrews Links in Fife, Scotland, UK, is the oldest golf course in the world. Archbishop Hamilton's Charter in 1552 is the earliest documentary evidence that allowed the people of St Andrews to play golf on the Links.
Which country invented golf?
ScotlandSt. Andrews, Scotland. It was here at the St. Andrews Golf Links that the R&A was formed and where the 18-hole round was established.
When was old course built?
Old Course at St AndrewsClub informationLocationSt Andrews, ScotlandEstablished1552 (469 years ago)TypePublicOwned byFife Council12 more rows
How many miles is 9 holes?
Golf can be great exercise. It is said that walking 9-holes on the course is the equivalent of walking over 3 miles! But if you do walk, you still want to be able to play at a decent pace to keep up with the 15- minute a hole standard.
How many calories do you burn when you walk 18 holes of golf?
1,200-3,000 caloriesFor an 18-hole round of golf, which can run from 4-5.5 hours, a walking golfer can burn anywhere from 1,200-3,000 calories. A golfer won't burn quite as many calories if they're walking the course but using a push cart, but the energy expended to push or pull a walking cart will come close to making up the difference.
How long is a round of golf?
4 hours and 30 minutesThe answer to how long a round of golf takes varies from course to course, day to day. There are tons of factors that go into it, but an average round is 4 hours and 30 minutes. A longer round of golf is considered slow day. A shorter round of golf means a good pace of play.
When did golf start in America?
First Golf Played U.S.A. 1788. It is thought that the first organized golf played in America was on Harleston Green, undeveloped pastureland near the corner of Pitt and Bull streets. In 1743, Charleston merchant David Deas received a shipment of 432 golf balls and ninety-six clubs from Scotland.
Was golf popular in the 1920s?
Like other sports there was an extraordinary increase in the popularity of Golf in the 1920s. In the past, golf had been viewed as a sport exclusively for the upper class, but in the 1920s the game appealed to the middle class. Between 1916 and 1920 the number of weekend golfers doubled to one-half million.
Who was the first famous golfer?
Bobby Jones (golfer)Bobby JonesBornMarch 17, 1902 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.DiedDecember 18, 1971 (aged 69) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)Weight165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st)21 more rows
What was early golf like?
Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club.
What golf course was built in 1961?
1961: Pine Tree Golf Club | Boynton Beach, Fla. - Dick Wilson, who worked with great Canadian architect Stanley Thompson, turned the profuse flanking bunkering and runway tees that marked "Dark Age" golf course design into high art. The tee box on the par-5 16th at this private club in Boynton Beach is 147 yards long. Sam Snead used to bet visitors that they couldn't hit a 7-iron from end to end. He cleaned up. Hogan called the course "maybe the best flat golf course in America." He's not far off; it's a wonderful example of post-war architecture.
What golf course was built in Scottsdale in 1990?
1990: Troon North Golf Club (Monument) | Scottsdale, Ariz. - Troon North helped accelerate the development of high-end golf in the desert surrounding the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, and it also helped institute the country-club-for-a-day model, where daily fee golfers started to be treated to perks like cushy locker rooms, personalized service, immaculate course conditions and triple-digit green fees. Architects Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, who had considerable success in the last two decades of the century and the early 2000s, added to their successful Troon North debut with the 1995 opening of the Pinnacle Course.
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 ...
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."
How fast can a golf ball go?
These standards were later followed by a USGA regulation stating that the initial velocity of any golf ball cannot exceed 250 feet per second.
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.
What year was the first 18 hole golf course in the US?
The new Chicago Golf Club course hosted the 1897, 1900 and 1911 U.S. Opens, the 1897, 1905, 1909 and 1912 U.S. Amateurs and the 1903 U.S. Women’s Amateur. The Chicago Golf Club is still going strong today and considers itself the first 18-hole golf course in America.
Which golf course in America has the oldest golf course?
However, these 9-holes were destroyed during the 1938 hurricane and were never rebuilt. 9. Saint Andrews Golf Club. Although this list shows otherwise, the Saint Andrews Golf Club claims it is the oldest golf club and has the oldest golf course in America.
How many holes are there in the Clyde Squirrel Golf Course?
The course slowly evolved over the years and today, there are 27 holes called the Clyde, Squirrel and Primrose nines.
How many acres are there in Foxburg Country Club?
Area: 61 acres (24.7 ha) photo source: Wikimedia Commons. The Foxburg Country Club is another golf club that’s brought up any time there is a discussion over which golf course is the oldest in America. The club’s founder was Joseph Mickle Fox, a descendant of the land and oil rich Fox family from Philadelphia.
Where did Montegue build his golf course?
Montegue had learned about golf in Scotland and decided to build his own golf course right outside of his home, which served as the Oakhurst Links Clubhouse for many years. The first competition at Oakhurst was held in 1888. Although Oakhurst is the oldest golf course, it has not been in continuous operation.
When was Quogue Field Club founded?
The Quogue Field Club is an old private golf course in New York, which dates back to 1901. However, the club was founded in 1887 , but they did not initially play golf. A rough 9-hole course was laid out in 1896 by RB Wilson, who has head pro at nearby Shinnecock Hills.
When did Chicago Golf Club move to Downers Grove?
The Chicago Golf Club continued to play golf at the Downers Grove course until 1895, when it moved to a new course built again by MacDonald in nearby Wheaton, Illinois. After this, the golf course was passed around to different owners before it was purchased by the Downers Grove Park District in 1968.
Where is the oldest golf course in the world?
The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland is the oldest golf course in the world, dating back to 1552. Every golf aficionado knows that St. Andrews is the “home of golf” as the game was played on the links as far back as the 15 th century. St. Andrews is essentially, the world’s first golf course.
Where was golf invented?
10 Oldest Golf Courses in the World. Although the exact origins of golf have been lost to history, it is generally accepted that modern golf developed in Scotland in the Middle Ages. There is some evidence of games very similar to golf dating to the late 13th century. However, the game that modern golf is based on became popular in the 16th century.
How long is the Kingsbarns Golf Links?
Length: 7,224 yards (6606 m) photo source: Wikimedia Commons. The Kingsbarns Golf Links have hosted golf games since at least 1793 when it was originally called the Cambo Links. The Kingsbarns Golfing Society continued to play on the original links until it was closed in 1850 in favor of using the area as farmland.
How many holes are there in Carnoustie Golf Course?
The original Carnoustie Golf Course featured 10 holes and was designed by Allan Robertson with assistance from Old Tom Morris. The course was modified in 1926 by James Braid. Carnoustie Golf Links is one of the venues in the Open Championship rotation and has hosted golf’s oldest major on eight occasions.
Where is Scotscraig Golf Course?
Originally, the Scotscraig Golf Course was located within the Garpit racecourse. The outline of this old racecourse are still present. In 1893, the Scotscraig Golf Course was expanded to nine holes and eventually to its present 18 holes in 1904.
When was Kingsbarns Golf Club resurrected?
The Kingsbarns Golf Club and the links were not resurrected until 1922. Scottish pro golfer Willie Auchterlonie laid out the course in 1922 near Kingsbarns Bay. Unfortunately, the links were shut down again due to the onset of World War II.
When was Carnoustie Golf Club founded?
Records of golfing in Carnoustie go all the way back to the mid-16 th century, but the current Carnoustie Golf Links only dates to 1842, when the Carnoustie Golf Club was formed. There is evidence that there were earlier golf courses on what is now Carnoustie’s Burnside course prior to 1835.
What was the craft of club making in the 1800s?
The craft of club and ball making was very lucrative in it’s day. Only the very wealthy in both America and Europe could afford the clubs and balls required to play the game. In the early 1800s, Scotland was known for fine club making much as Switzerland is known of fine watch making today.
When was graphite first used in golf clubs?
The first graphite shaft was introduced in the early 1970s.
How long has the featherie golf ball been around?
After 1618, the “Featherie” golf ball was introduced which endured for more than 200 years. The featherie was made from three pieces of leather filled with “one Top Hat’s worth of fine feathers” and then sewn together.
Why are shafts important in golf?
New shafts may offer the biggest opportunities for the future because their technology is still evolving. And of course golf club fitting may be the most important innovation in golf. Short of lessons, proper fitting may be the most important thing you can do to improve your golf game.
What woods were the clubs made of?
They were made of “hard” woods like apple, beech, and pear.
When were irons made?
Early “irons” were made by local blacksmiths until around the late 1800s. As a result they were very crude and heavy with massive hosels and were very difficult to use. That and the fact that they easily damaged the featheries led to their limited use.
When was hickory wood used in golf clubs?
When golf was introduced in America in the early 1800s, hickory wood began to be used in shafts, due to it’s availability. Hickory was far more durable and became the standard until steel shafts were introduced in 1925. Hickory became so popular for shafts that it was exported to Scotland and used by the premier club makers of the day.
Why have golf courses increased in length?
The simple reason for the increase in length is due to golfers being able to drive a ball much farther than they did in years past. In 1980, only six PGA golfers could hit the ball 270 yards from a tee shot.
What does it mean when a golf course is bigger?
An increase in golf course size also means potential increases in the costs to run a club. It will take more money to pay for the water and the fertilizer to maintain the course. While courses are getting longer, and technology in golf is evolving, some are afraid of what could happen to the game. However, there are others who are open to ...
How many yards can a golfer hit from a tee shot?
In 1980, only six PGA golfers could hit the ball 270 yards from a tee shot. Today, most professionals are able to drive a tee shot 290 yards. Thanks to players’ ability to drive a tee shot so far, courses have had to increase their lengths. In 2011, 21 PGA pros could drive a golf ball 300 yards or more. That was a number unheard of in 1980.
Why are safety areas on golf courses compromised?
The safety areas on a golf course can become compromised due to players being able to hit the ball so far. The possibility of golf courses not fully putting safety measures in place when the course size is increased is a concern to architects. An increase in golf course size also means potential increases in the costs to run a club.
Does the slope change with the length of a golf course?
It is also making it difficult for courses to keep players from reaching the green too quickly. By increasing the length of a golf course, the slope and rating of a course will change, too. However, in most cases, it will stay the same.
Does golf attract more interest from non-fans?
But there is the argument that golf could attract more interest from non-fans by having players who are able to, not only hit the ball long distances, but reach the cup quickly. In an article published by The Telegraph newspaper, golf course architects expressed their fright in the continued increase in driving distances.
Will golf be the same in 20 years?
With the continued increase of courses, and the ability to drive the ball so far, golf won’t resemble the game it currently is in 20 years’ time.
Overview
1890–1900
1890
John Ball, an English amateur, becomes the first non-Scotsman and first amateur to win The Open Championship.
The concept of playing a match under handicap against the number of shots a hypothetical golfer playing perfect golf at every hole was conceived by Hugh Rotherham, a member at Coventry Gol…
1851–1860
1851
The Prestwick Golf Club is founded.
1856
Pau Golf Club is founded, the first in continental Europe.
A rule change is enacted that, in match play, the ball must be played as it lies or the hole be conc…
1860–1870
1860
The Prestwick Club institutes a Professional Championship played at Prestwick; the first Championship Belt is won by Willie Park, Snr.
1861
The Professionals Championship is opened to amateurs, and The Open Championship is born. Th…
1870–1880
1870
Young Tom Morris wins his third consecutive Open Championship, thus winning permanent possession of the Belt.
The Royal Adelaide Golf Club is founded, the first golf club in Australia.
1871
1880–1890
1881
Royal Belfast is founded.
The use of moulds is instituted to dimple the gutta-percha ball. Golfers had long noticed that the guttie worked in the air much better after it had been hit several times and scuffed up.
1882
1900–1910
1900
Walter Travis wins the first of his three U.S. Amateurs. Harry Vardon wins the U.S. Open, the first golfer to win both the British and U.S. Opens.
Golf is placed on the Olympic calendar for the 2nd Games at Paris.
1901
1910–1920
1910
The R & A bans the center-shafted putter while the USGA keeps it legal - marking the beginning of a 42-year period with two official versions of The Rules of Golf.
Steel shafts are patented by Arthur F. Knight.
1911
Overview
The origins of golf are unclear and much debated. However, it is generally accepted that modern golf developed in Scotland from the Middle Ages onwards. The game did not find international popularity until the late 19th century, when it spread into the rest of the United Kingdom and then to the British Empire and the United States.
Origins
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 the ground using golf clubs was also played in 17th-cent…
Spread
In 1603 James VI of Scotland succeeded to the throne of England. His son, the Prince of Wales and his courtiers played golf at Blackheath, London, from which the Royal Blackheath Golf Club traces its origins. There is evidence that Scottish soldiers, expatriates and immigrants took the game to British colonies and elsewhere during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In the early 1770s, the firs…
Golf course evolution
Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. As early as the 15th century, golfers at St Andrews established a trench through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography. The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. One played the holes out, turned around, and played the holes in, for a total of 22 holes…
Equipment development
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 e…
Etymology
The word golf was first mentioned in writing in 1457 on a Scottish statute on forbidden games as gouf, possibly derived from the Scots word goulf (variously spelled) meaning "to strike or cuff". This word may, in turn, be derived from the Dutch word kolf, meaning "bat" or "club", and the Dutch sport of the same name.
The Dutch term Kolf and the Flemish term Kolven refers to a related sport where the lowest num…
Museums
The history of golf is preserved and represented at several golf museums around the world, notably the British Golf Museum in the town of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, which is the home of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and the United States Golf Association Museum, located alongside the United States Golf Association headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey.
The World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida, also presents a history of the sport, as doe…
See also
• Timeline of golf history (1353–1850)
• Timeline of golf history (1851–1945)
• Timeline of golf history (1945–1999)
• Timeline of golf (2000–present)