15 Interesting Facts
1. Golf is the world’s tenth most popular sport.
Golf’s popularity has soared since its origins in the early 15th century, and it is now the world’s tenth most popular sport.
It has a global viewership of over 450 million viewers, with over 6 million expected to tune in for the 2020 PGA Championships, one of the sport’s most renowned events.
2. There is no set playing space in the game.
The ground on which golf is played is extremely varied. There are no two courses alike, as they differ in terms of physical geography, hazards, and grass type.
This adds to the game’s difficulty by forcing players to immediately examine the terrain and decide the best club and shot for the course and hole at hand. All calculations are thrown out the window when it’s windy.
3. The terrain itself can be a big stumbling block for players.
While no two courses are same, every shot taken is also unique. The environment in which your ball lands can have a significant impact on the trajectory of your shot, with rocks, water, and sand being some of the most common hazards on the course.
A fairway shot will always be easier than one from a sand bunker, where the granularity of the sand can cause surprising strokes, which are the torment of golfers all over the world.
4. The word “golf” originates in the Netherlands.
Despite the fact that the game originated in Scotland, its name is derived from the Dutch word for ‘club.’
The phrase, which is pronounced ‘kolve’ or ‘kolf’ in Dutch, was first used by the Scots in the 14th century. Over time, the Celtic accent changed its pronunciation to ‘gouff’ or ‘goff,’ and eventually transformed into the word we know today.
5. Shepherds used to play golf to pass the time.
Scottish shepherds used to play golf to pass the time and break up the monotony of long, exhausting days.
Long before the advent of balls and clubs, the tools of the trade were rocks and sticks, with Scotland’s topography providing an ideal challenge for bored herders. That is why Scotland is known as the “spiritual birthplace” of golf, as it was founded here.
6. The first golf balls were made of leather and feathers.
Unlike today’s meticulously made golf balls, the initial design was a leather ball packed with common bird feathers.
Surprisingly, these were surprisingly effective, moving far further than many of the designs that came after them. They were last employed in the nineteenth century before being phased out in favor of more modern options.
7. Wooden balls, such as beech, were also used.
Other lightweight materials, such as beechwood, were used in place of leather and feather in post-leather/feather designs. Because these were hand-carved, it was extremely difficult to make uniformly round balls.
They also increased the difficulty of the game by making each shot extremely unpredictable. Wooden balls, on the other hand, did not last long!
8. Golf holes must adhere to certain guidelines.
To be eligible for competitive play, golf facilities must adhere to strict guidelines. Golf holes must be 4.25 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep to be considered legal.
With specifically developed hole-cutters that remove the required soil in one pull and are ready to play, ensuring holes satisfy regulations is no longer an issue.
9. Golf holes move on a regular basis.
Golfers are aware of the sport’s environmental impact, and they help to mitigate it by rotating the holes on a course on a regular basis. This is especially critical during busy seasons when the grass is at risk of becoming worn out.
Changing the holes allows the terrain to recover and keeps players from becoming too familiar with the courses.
10. The mother of golf is Mary, Queen of Scots.
While Mary, Queen of Scots, is definitely our most strange golf fact, many regard her to be the mother of the game.
She is thought to be the first woman to play golf, and she was such a fan that she reportedly played a few rounds just days after her own husband was murdered! Needless to say, not everyone found this as amusing as we did, and her reputation was never the same after that.
11. Golf was formerly prohibited.
Even though Mary approved of the game, not all of the royals agreed. In 1457, King James II outright prohibited the game, claiming it was a source of diversion for Scottish military soldiers and thus needed to be addressed.
Despite the fact that it was outlawed for a while until peace was restored, the public widely disregarded the rule. This is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating golf facts that few people are aware of!
12. It wasn’t until the 19th century that women were permitted into the sport.
While Mary, Queen of Scots, was an early golfing legend, other women were unable to play the game for centuries after her death.
Golf was seen as an aristocratic sport, and even high-society ladies were believed unfit to participate. The creation of The Ladies Club by St. Andrews in 1867 revolutionized everything, allowing millions more people to participate in the sport.
13. The lucky balls aren’t washed.
Yes, you read that correctly. Golf, like every other sport, has its fair share of superstitions. Many players still feel that a ball that has given them a successful game should be left unclean in order to avoid washing away their luck.
14. The longest recorded drive was almost 500 yards.
Michael Hoke Austin, an English-American professional golfer, hit the longest recorded drive of 515 yards during the 1974 U.S. National Seniors Tournament. This record has yet to be broken, despite many attempts. Is this Bryson DeChambeau’s year to finally win it?
15. The most valuable golf club ever sold is also the oldest club that has been verified.
The world’s most expensive golf club was sold for $181,000!
The ‘Long-Nosed Putter Club,’ as it is known, was made by Andrew Dickson in the early 18th century, making it both the oldest and most expensive club ever sold. Dickson’s stamp can still be seen today, attesting to its longevity.
