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Golf - badly played by many since 1457
"Golf is an exercise which is much used by a gentleman in
Scotland......A man would live 10 years the longer for using this
exercise once or twice a week."
Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745 - 1813)
 Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland,
in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early
days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and
around tracks using a bent stick or club.
During the 15th century, Scotland prepared to defend itself, yet
again, against an invasion by the ‘Auld Enemy’. The nation's
enthusiastic pursuit of golf however, led many to neglect their
military training, so much so that the Scottish parliament of King
James II banned the sport in 1457.
Although people largely ignored the ban, it was only in 1502 that
the game gained the royal seal of approval when King James IV of
Scotland (1473 -1513) became the world's first golfing monarch.
 The
popularity of the game quickly spread throughout 16th century Europe
thanks to this royal endorsement. King Charles I brought the game to
England and Mary Queen of Scots introduced the game to France when
she studied there; the term ‘caddie’ derives from the name for her
French military aides, known as cadets.
One of the premier golf courses of the day was at Leith near
Edinburgh which hosted the first international golf match in 1682,
when the Duke of York and George Patterson representing Scotland,
beat two English noblemen.
The game of golf officially became a sport when the Gentlemen
Golfers of Leith formed the first club in 1744 and set up an annual
competition with silverware prizes. The rules for this new
competition were drafted by Duncan Forbes. Rules that even now sound
so familiar to many;
…’If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at
liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and
teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a
stroke for so getting out your ball.’
The first reference to golf at its now recognised historic home town
of St Andrews, was in 1552. It was not until 1754 however that the
St Andrews Society of Golfers was formed to compete in its own
annual competition using Leith's rules.
 The first ever 18-hole course was constructed at St Andrews in 1764,
establishing the now recognised standard for the game. King William
honoured the club with the title 'Royal & Ancient' in 1834, with
that recognition and its fine course the Royal and Ancient Golf Club
of St Andrews was established as the world’s premier golf club.
At this time golfers were using hand-crafted wooden clubs usually
made from beech with shafts of ash or hazel, and balls were made from
compressed feathers wrapped in a stitched horse hide.
During the 19th century as the might of the British Empire
expanded to encompass the globe, so golf followed closely behind.
The first golf club formed outside Scotland was the Royal Blackheath
(near London) in 1766. The first golf club outside Britain was the
Bangalore, India (1820). Others quickly followed included the Royal Curragh, Ireland (1856), the Adelaide (1870), Royal Montreal (1873),
Cape Town (1885), St Andrew's of New York (1888) and Royal Hong Kong
(1889).
The Industrial Revolution of the Victorian era brought with it many
changes. The birth of the railways allowed ordinary people to
explore outside of their towns and cities for the first time, and as
a consequence golf clubs began to appear all over the countryside.
Mass production methods were adopted to manufacture the clubs and
balls, making the game more affordable to the average person.
The
game's popularity exploded!
The forerunner to the British Open was played at the Prestwick Golf
Club in 1860 with Willie Park victorious. After this other legendary
names of the game were born such as Tom Morris, his son, Young Tom
Morris, went on to be the first great champion, winning the
event a record four consecutive times from 1869.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) was established in 1894 to
regulate the game there, by 1900 more than 1000 golf clubs had been
formed throughout the USA. With the availability of serious funding
through commercial sponsorship, the USA quickly established itself
as the centre of the professional game.
Today, it is the golf
courses themselves that reflect the history of the game, with the US
courses presented as beautifully sculptured and manicured landscaped
parklands, unlike those in Britain, which are typically rough links
courses with bunkers you can hide London Double Decker buses in!
Some of the most famous golf courses in the world are still to be
found in Scotland: their names evoke the passion and tradition of
the game of golf. Gleneagles, The Old Course at St. Andrews,
Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Prestwick, to name but a few.....
USEFUL LINKS
Open Golf Championship
19-20 July 2008, Royal Birkdale
The 137th Open Championship
moves to Royal Birkdale in 2008. This outstanding Links Course has
hosted many exciting tournaments and the 137th Open Championship is
bound to be no exception. Your package includes two night’s
accommodation at the Quality Hotel Altrincham, 2 all day visits to
the Open and return coach transfers between the hotel and Royal
Birkdale.
Golf Breaks
ACCOMMODATION
Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
 The Old Course Hotel is based in the
home of golf and is one of Europe's leading resort properties. The
resort boasts a Spa, its own championship golf course and an
enticing range of dining options. Situated at the heart of the Home
of Golf, the Old Course Hotel enjoys a spectacular location
overlooking the famous 17th 'Road hole' of the Old Course, the West
Sands and the coastline of Fife.
Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews
Sitting on the summit of a spectacular
formation, the hotel and its two stunning golf courses have
breathtaking panoramic views of the Eden estuary and the medieval
skyline of St Andrews. Fairmont St Andrews is the premier conference
and leisure destination in Scotland. Dedicated to exceeding your
expectations, Fairmont St Andrews prides itself on offering an
unwavering commitment to service and attention to detail. From the
pristine fairways of our golf courses to the Grand Ballroom of our
conference facilities it is a philosophy that pervades every corner
of our 520 acres.
Macdonald Rusacks
- St Andrews
Voted one of the Top Ten Golfing Hotels
in the world, Rusacks overlooks the 1st tee and the 18th green of
the famous Old Course in St. Andrews. Visit Rusacks Golf Club where
our Golf Manager will help you make the most of your stay at this
golfing mecca.
Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa
The Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
is one of Scotland's newest deluxe golf resorts and is adjacent to
the 1st tee and 18th green of the famous Championship Course, host
venue for the 2007 Open Championship. All 75 bedrooms and 10 suites
offer stunning views of the golf course, the ocean or the nearby
town of Carnoustie.
Westin Turnberry Resort, Turnberry
The Westin
Turnberry Resort delivers the warmth and hospitality of a great
country house, world class golf on the famous links courses,
excellent country pursuits and a marvellous Spa. All bedrooms
feature the Westin 'Heavenly Bed' with many rooms benefiting from
breathtaking ocean views. The resort has a range of restaurants and
bars including The Turnberry Restaurant, Stagioni and Ailsa Bar
which all overlook the islands of Arran and Ailsa Craig.
 Barcelo
Marine Hotel, Troon
The Marine
Hotel celebrated its centenary in 1997 and in early 2003 completed a
£6 million refurbishment programme. The hotel is in a prime
location, overlooking Royal Troon Golf Course and out to sea the
Isle of Arran. Ayrshire is an ideal area for visiting Culzean
Castle, Burns Country and of course is a paradise for any golfer
with 20 courses in the surrounding area!
Cruise and Golf - Ireland
Whether
your cruise starts at Knockninny on the Erne, Carrick-on-Shannon or
Banagher on the Shannon, you have the enviable position of mooring
just yards from some of Ireland's finest curvaceous greens and
rolling fairways. Experience the laid back approach of the unspoilt
waterways, sampling on route the breathtaking scenery, great golf
and warm hospitality, a natural replenishing antidote to modern day
stress.
Please click here to visit Cruise Ireland for more
information, full colour video, 360 degree tours of the boats,
golfing itineraries, pricing, book on-line and more....
© HUK
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