History of Golf is NOT Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden

History of Golf

The history of golf… is it Scottish? Is it actually Roman? Is it Chinese? It is not that clear!

Modern golf originated in Scotland but may have evolved from ancient Roman or Chinese stick-and-ball games such as “chuiwan” (捶丸; “chui” means striking and “wan” means small ball).

To be fair, it is all about hitting a ball with an implement, which is a very common theme in sports, generally, but golf is unique in so many ways.

We generally associate golf with gentlemen of a certain age, nattily dressed, discussing business on the course.

Golf has evolved, and continues to evolve, as an inclusive, rather than exclusive, sport that anyone of any age can enjoy as long as they can swing the club.

According to Wikipedia the modern game of golf originated in Scotland, but its roots are international:

While the modern game of golf originated in 15th-century Scotland, the game’s ancient origins are unclear and much debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica… One theory asserts that paganica spread throughout Europe as the Romans conquered most of the continent, during the first century BC, and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others cite chuiwan (捶丸; “chui” means striking and “wan” means small ball) as the progenitor, a Chinese game played between the eighth and fourteenth centuries.

While it may seem preposterous to some to think that golf could have originated in China, think again! Check out this image from the Ming Dynasty in 1386 and decide for yourself:

Golf in Ming Dynasty 1386 – from Wikipedia

All over the world nowadays, golf is considered Scottish, however.

The word “GOLF” – is it an acronym?

There is a persistent belief that “GOLF” is an acronym for “Gentlemen Only; Ladies Forbidden.” Hilarious as that may be, and it may have worked well for gentlemen of yore, but it is not fact.

In fact, the word “golf” probably derives from old Scottish, and even Dutch, origins.

Golf is NOT an acronym for “Gentlemen Only; Ladies Forbidden” (nice try though, gentlemen)

According to USGA.org:

The word ‘golf’ is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word ‘kolf’ or ‘kolve,’ meaning quite simply ‘club.’ In the Scottish dialect of the late 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became ‘goff’ or ‘gouff,’ and only later in the 16th century ‘golf.’

Is it true that Canada had Golf before the U.S. had it?

Haha, yes. according to AthleticScholarships.net:

“The first permanent golf club in North America was founded in Montreal, Canada, in 1873 and was named “Canada’s Royal Montreal Club.” The US caught wind of this and decided to embrace the golf craze as well. The first 18-hole course in the United States was in The Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1893.”

Here is a link to the historic Royal Montreal Golf Club… looks like they could use a new website. Maybe we can work something out! In 2024 they will be hosting the Presidents Cup Tournament!

In conclusion, the history of golf may well originate in China, but surely goes back to Scotland. It is becoming more diversely-enjoyed as time marches on, and there is every reason for everyone to try it out for fun!