Your Golf Caddy
The History of Golf
While it may be difficult to visualize, today's gear centric game of golf originated with a modest start. Golf's history started in the Scottish Kingdom of Fife during the 15th century. Players would knock a small stone around a natural ungroomed course using a stick. While some people may argue that similar games played in Holland and Belgium a full century earlier hold the true birth right they are incorrect as the Scottish version differentiated itself by adding a hole in the ground.
The game quickly spread during the 16th century when royalty took up the clubs. Mary Queen of Scots brought the game to France and is actually responsible for the term caddie as the people who carried her bags were cadets in the french military. King Charles I holds no claim to any terminology but he did help popularize the game in neighboring England.
The game of golf really took flight when the first international golf match was played at the wildly popular Leith course on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Leith was the setting of the first formal golf club known as the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith who crafted a charter in 1744. The formation of this 'league' led to an annual competition which brought many competitors vying for the prize, a silver golf club.
Over the next 20 years the popularity of golf spread unlike any other sport. Courses and clubs sprouted up around the globe in exotic locations including India, South Africa, and China. While the popularity was growing it was still a game for those with means as all of the equipment was hand crafted. Things changed around 1847 when metal clubs were introduced and mass production became the norm and golf came within the reach of the common person.
As with any sport that grown in popularity, people like to get the game standardized with rules and formal associations. The United States Golf Association, or USGA, was formed in 1894 with the intent of regulating the game in North America. The USGA is tasked with not only maintaining rules but also does extensive research into grass hybridization.
In 1900 the sport had officially become an olympic sport and over 1100 courses were operating in the US and by 1916 the Professional Golfers Association had been formed. The PGA hosted over 22 events a year at that time. Long overdue, 1951 ushered in the Ladies PGA and with it a massive expansion of players and courses. While there have been many changes and modifications to the game and it's rules in recent years, the above should give you a sound overview of the birth of a sport that will haunt you forever. Damn those Scots and their hole~!