
It is believed by some that the reason behind all courses having 18 holes is that it (allegedly) takes 18 shots of whiskey to consume a fifth of it. That means that for every hole played, you would need to drink a shot of whiskey. Thus, after 18 holes were played, the bottle would run empty.
Do golf courses have 18 holes because a bottle of Scotch?
Rumor: Golf courses have 18 holes because 18 shots makes up a bottle of scotch. Claim: Golf courses have eighteen holes because a bottle of Scotch contains eighteen shots. Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes, and not 20, or 10 or an even dozen?
Why do golf courses have 18 holes?
Claim: Golf courses have eighteen holes because a bottle of Scotch contains eighteen shots. Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes, and not 20, or 10 or an even dozen?
How many holes are there in the Old Course?
This ban was carried forward by preceding monarchs until 1502, when James IV canned it, then becoming a golfer himself. This original course, which is now reverently known as the Old Course, consisted of 22 holes: eleven out and eleven back.
How many shots in a bottle of Scotch whisky?
Sometimes one golfer will try to tell another that the reason for 18 holes is that there are 18 shots in a bottle of Scotch whisky. And it's possible — perhaps it is even likely — that some golfers, somewhere, downed one shot of Scotch for every hole they played.

Are there 18 shots in a fifth of whiskey?
Andrews old-timers, who noted that it took exactly 18 shots to finish a fifth of scotch -- a shot per hole.
What does 18 holes mean in golf?
18 holes mean 18 short games What it actually means is that the golfer will need to play 18 games. Each game will be scored using a separate hole. Starting from the first hole, the golfer will try to complete the hole with the shortest shots possible.
Why are there 9 holes on a golf course?
Andrews ultimately made the choice to turn the Old Course into an 18-hole course in 1764, making two longer holes from four shorter holes. There would be nine holes going out from the clubhouse to the farthest point on the property. Then golfers would turn around and play another nine holes toward the clubhouse.
What is an ostrich in golf?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six.
Why is golf 9 or 18 holes?
In 1764, the golfers at St Andrews decided to combine the first four short holes into two, to produce a round of 18 holes, though it was still 10 holes of which 8 were played twice. Thus was born the 18-hole round, though it would be hundred years before there were eighteen holes and other courses followed suit.
Why are golf named after birds?
Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.
Is there such a thing as a 12 hole golf course?
Jack Nicklaus has a 12 hole course called Red Ledges that he built in 2007. On their website they describe it as: “One part 'Golf,' one part 'Park,' and countless parts 'Fun.
How did golf end up with 18 holes?
The Old Course was made up of 22 holes until 1764, when golfers came to the unanimous decision to combine the first 4 short holes into 2. Thus, they created an 18-hole round.
What country invented golf?
ScotlandGolf 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 is a snowman in golf?
In golf, a snowman is something you very much want to avoid. That's because "snowman" is a slang term golfers use for a score of eight on any individual hole. Use eight strokes to play a hole and, sorry bud, you just made a "snowman." A golf snowman won't melt anything but your scorecard.
Why do golfers wear a glove on one hand?
The main reason golfers wear a glove is because of the added grip. If you're a right-handed golfer you'll wear a glove on your left hand. The reason golfers only wear one glove is that you won't get any added benefit from wearing two.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
When was golf banned in Scotland?
Fun fact – In 1457, King James II of Scotland decided that golf was becoming too popular, and banned it outright. He wanted his subjects to focus on archery practice instead! This ban was carried forward by preceding monarchs until 1502, when James IV canned it, then becoming a golfer himself.
Where is the 18 hole standard set?
Until such a time, however, we will gladly continue to pay homage to the 18 hole standard that was set in the Scottish holy land of golf.
Where did golf start?
It all started in Scotland – or, more specifically, St. Andrews . Here, at this legendary links course, we can actually trace golf right back to the 15th century, when the locals hacked a course through gorse and heather, creating a new, St. Andrews-specific, golfing way of life. Fun fact – In 1457, King James II of Scotland decided ...
Will the 18 hole standard ever change?
It seems unlikely that the 18 hole standard will ever change. It is rooted firmly in the history of the game and is widely accepted to be the correct amount of holes. However, there are those who would argue that it might be time for a change.
Why do golf courses have 18 holes?
Rumor: Golf courses have 18 holes because 18 shots makes up a bottle of scotch. Claim: Golf courses have eighteen holes because a bottle of Scotch contains eighteen shots.
How many shots does it take to polish off a fifth of Scotch?
Andrews in 1858, one of the members pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when ...
Why do golf courses have 18 holes?
Rumor: Golf courses have 18 holes because 18 shots makes up a bottle of scotch.
How many holes are there in golf?
Many people have asked why golf courses have eighteen holes.
How many holes were there in St Andrews?
St Andrews (Old Course) had 12 holes by 1764, and probably much earlier. The holes were laid out in a line and 10 holes were played twice - once 'out' and once back 'in', making a 'round' of 22 holes. However, in 1764, the golfers decided to combine the first four holes into two, which produced a round of 18 holes, though it was really 10 holes of which 8 were played twice.
How many holes does Blackheath have?
Blackheath followed Leith in having 5 holes and expanding to 7 holes.
