by Barbaraanne Helberg

Created on: July 10, 2010

Although specific evidence of the origins of the modern day sport of golf is sketchy, illustrations and accounts lead historians to the Romans and Caesar, as well as to the 15th Century Dutch, as the earliest players of the game. The Romans played a scoring game with feather-stuffed balls and club-like branches. Dutch illustrations display the playing of a similar game which they called "kolf".

In 1457, Scottish golf was banned. Its play at seaside course locations called "links" was said by Parliament to interfere with national defense edicts. The Scots, however, played on, and eventually gave birth to an organized game they named golf.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, Scotland, founded in 1754 and orginally called the Society of St. Andrews, is the site of the world's oldest played golf course. St. Andrews is fondly referred to as the "cradle of golf".

Golf in Great Britain evolved from the ancient era of James IV of Scotland, who later reigned as James I of England (1603-'25). His enthusiasm for the sport led to its firm establishment with the Brits.

In the 17th Century feather-filled balls were cast to the wayside in favor of the "guttie", a gutta-percha ball of more substantial material.

General Historical Timeline of the Sport of Golf

*1766 Golf began to be played in England with the opening of Blackheath Club.
*1767 A record score of 94 for 18 holes was set by James Durham at St. Andrews course in the Silver Cup.
*1834 The reign of William IV renamed the Society of St. Andrews the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
*1894 America founded its United States Golf Association.
*1916 The United States founded the PGA (Professional Golf Association of America).
*1927 Match-play competition for teams from Great Britain and America was organized in the form of the Ryder Cup.
*1947 The U.S. Open became the first televised golf competition.
*1950 Britain's R & A and America's USGA met in a conference format and agreed to standardized rules and a governing body for the sport of golf.
*1971 The PGA Tour, a series of annual golf tournament championships, was established.

Golf Rapidly Changes and Evolves

By the time the first British Open was played in 1860 at Prestwick, Scotland and won by Willie Park Sr. over Tom Morris Sr. with a score of 174, the game was drastically changed in the way of more appropriately competitive equipment and rulings. More solid balls and hardier striking clubs were

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