Golf has been played for a long, long time, even now it’s exact origins are unclear. The origin of golf is a much discussed topic and is open to debate as to to whether the Chinese, Dutch or Scottish were the first. Some historians trace golf history back to a Dutch game called het kolven, then there’s the French and Belgian game called chole, another French game called jeu de mail, and would you believe an English game called cambuca.
Another theory put forward is that golf evolved from croquet, sorry but i don’t believe that one, it’s more likely to be the other way around. Discussions and debates still rage as to who first played golf, but the one indisputable fact concerning the origins of golf is, that golf was first played in the form we know it in Scotland.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in a village called Gullane, near Edinburgh Scotland, is recognized as the first organized golf-club, they reside at Muirfield and claim their club was already formed in 1744.
The first British Open was played in 1860 and was won by Willie Park snr at Prestwick Golf Club with a score of 174. The oldest championship in all of golf, the British Open – which is commonly known simply as “The Open,” is the third event to be played in the rota of the four major Championships in golf. The Open Championship still holds tight the roots of its prestigious history; spending its formative years exclusively in Scotland, the tournament retains a rich Scottish vein.
The Open Golf Championship was first played 35 years before the U.S. Open arrived and has been a global event since the turn of the century with the U.S. Open moving in that direction for the last decade. But “The Open” will always have the honour of being the most prestigious and most sort after trophy in the history of golf.
Many historians believe that golf was played in America during the colonial period, but no documented proof can be found anywhere. When the golf boom got a grip of the USA in the 20th century, America became the world leader in great players. By 1900, the explosion of the game in America was complete. As proven by the fact that at the turn of the century, there were more golf-clubs in the USA than there were in Britain.
In 1996 a young Phenom called Tiger Woods arrived upon the scene. He won eight times in 1999, nine fold in 2000, and won the four major championships in succession in 2000-2001, starting with the U.S. Open in 2000, this later became known as the “Tiger Slam”. Should his career be as outstanding in his 30s and 40s as it has been in his 20s, he will assume the mantle of “best player ever.” And take over from jack Nicklaus as the greatest golfer in the history of this amazing game.
There are not many who thought anyone would come along and challenge Jack Nicklaus’s Major Golf Championship record, but it may well be that in the not too distant future, Tigers Record in Majors will be the one all Professional Golfers have to aspire to.