The Fast-Growing Sport of Golf

“Golf is the fastest growing competitive sport in the United States today” (Fossum 87). This game is rapidly growing In the United States, but is also a very expensive game to play. Today, it is a $25 billion business in the United States. (Dobrian). Golf is a game of dedication and patience that has a very interesting history. There are three main parts when it comes to the history of golf and how it can about. The creator of golf along with its origin, the advancement in equipment over the years, and the first golfers and courses are all major things in the history of the game.

There are many places around the world that claim the creation of golf, but there are no records of who actual created it. Golf has the records of first being placed in Scotland during the fourteenth century (Fossum 84). During the fourteenth century, Scotland could have been the creator but there are many little games that were like golf that were played. Scottish Shepard’s played the closest thing to golf that we know of, the Shepard’s hit pebbles into crude holes in the ground with their crooks (Fossum). This little game transformed into a game that everyone would want to play and love. “In 1440 golf’s popularity began to spread. King James IV of Scotland became alarmed when he discovered that some of the Scottish people were spending more time practicing golf than archery. It was during this period that bows and arrows were used in warfare” (Fossum 84). Eventually King James IV banned the game of golf in Scotland, until people found out that the king himself had been playing golf. This ban for golf would now be ignored (Fossum 84). Scotland and Holland both had some of the same ideas that came together to create the game but France had a little d...

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...British Open allowed amateurs to join in 1861 (Fossum). The first male golfer to become a professional was Allan Robertson (Dorbian). He didn’t win many tournaments but was still a great golfer that was the first. Mary Queen also had a golf game along with ruling as a queen. She was the first woman to officially play the sport as a girl. Many men and women took part in the sport but only two people were the first to play it.

“People of all ages, engaged in nearly every occupation and including many retired individuals, enjoy the game of golf universally” (Fossum 87). Golf may take patience and dedication to learn but way back, it has a very interesting history. The origin of golf, equipment used, along with players and courses are all parts of golf in now and in the future. Golf can be a very fun and relaxing game is you put you effort into it and give it a try.