Golf
Philosophy of Golf

A Centuries-Old Noble Passion: Golf

One of the oldest games in the world called as the game of the nobles, golf is the only sport that can be played alone without a partner in which you compete with the court.
There are various opinions about the history of golf. Although China, France and Scotland compete with one another claiming to be the inventor of golf, France falls behind this competition with strong evidences that it emerged in China and Scotland.

Golf in China

There are academics asserting that golf was derived from a stick-and-ball game called “Chuiwan” during the Ming Dynasty in the first half of 1300s. According to this opinion, the game was disseminated from China to Europe via merchants in the medieval period.

In the early 2000s, another academician supporting this opinion showed evidences that the game was played in China approximately 500 years before Scotland and had similarity with today’s rules. The game in China was played by the upper class, like it is with the golf today, because of the materials that were used in the design and production of sticks.

Golf in Scotland

One of the most common opinions about the roots of golf is that it emerged in Scotland. Although there are different opinions on how did the game emerge in Scotland, it is known that Scotland is the first country to use the word golf as “gowf” in the 15th century. Additionally, Saint Andrews, one of the oldest golf courses, is in Scotland.

Royal And Ancient Golf Club was established in Saint Andrews, Scotland in 1754. In response to the academics placing the origins of the game in China, the spokesperson of the club explained in the 2000s that there were many games using clubs and balls but 18-hole golf was born in Scotland.

Both courses and balls used in the games started to develop in the 19th century and turned into what is played today.