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Golfing
with The Pure Malt
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PGA European Golf Tour |
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The origin of the game of golf has never been clearly
established.
The Romans during the reign of Caesar played a game resembling golf by striking a feather-stuffed ball
with club-shaped branches.
Book illustrations show the Dutch playing a similar game on their frozen canals about the 15th
century, whilst cross-country variations were popular in France and Belgium.
In 1457 golf was banned in Scotland because it interfered with the practice
of archery, which was vital to the defence effort. Nevertheless the Scots continued to brave the opposition of both Parliament and church by playing
the game on seaside courses called links.
Scotland is the home of the world's oldest golf course, St. Andrews, which
was used as early as the 16th century. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, the cradle of golf, was
founded in 1754.
Golf became firmly established in Great Britain by the 17th century when James VI of Scotland, later James I of England, was attracted to the sport.
During the 1800s the gutta-percha ball, or "gutty," replaced the feather-filled ball that had
been used for centuries.
In 1860 the first British Open was played at Prestwick, Scotland. The competition was opened to both professionals and amateurs the following
year.
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