Scotland Golf History

From the earliest times, many--maybe most--cultures have enjoyed some type of game that involved hitting an object with a long, sturdy piece of wood. People rarely strayed far from the safety of clansmen, so the games were probably played right "in town" at first. That is, until someone became annoyed enough to banish them to the outskirts. We can easily imagine the reaction of an irate homeowner or tradesperson, who has just been hit by a flying chunk of wood or a rock, for the third or fourth time.

Those who truly love to golf know that the game originated in Scotland, on the East Coast. That particular region of the country has sandy, rolling land that is quite suitable for golf links. It is said that by the 15th century, "gowf" or golf in Scotland was cause for an Act of Parliament that forbade the playing of the game on Sundays. This was not due to the Scots being so pious. Rather, the Act was passed to preserve the ancient skills of archery. Someone had to keep practicing those somewhen!

By the mid-18th century in Scotland, golf had really come into its own in the recognizable form that is known today. Club-makers and ball-makers gained tremendous respect and fame for the quality of products their skills produced. Outside of written materials, we tend not to think of forgery as being deeply entrenched in western civilization. However, the imitators of the families who crafted such great balls and clubs couldn't resist the opportunity to make money. Such was the demand of a hungry public for equipment that looked just like the real thing.