National Golf Day – May 10, 2024

History of National Golf Day

The official creator and origin of National Golf Day are still under discussion within the community. What we do know for sure is that the game has come a really long way. The earliest golf game dates back to 15th century Scotland, although in a quite unfamiliar figure. Golf looked vastly different way back — people using clubs or bent sticks to hit a pebble around tracks or dunes. The game was wildly popular across Scotland but eventually became a problem. The passionate pursuit of golf led many people to neglect military training when the English invasion loomed. Due to this, King James II and the Scottish Parliament banned the game entirely. However, most golf enthusiasts responded by ignoring the order.

In 1502, the game of golf received royal approval when Scotland’s King James IV took to the game, becoming the world’s first golfing monarch. His love for the game laid the foundations for what would become one of the greatest sports in the world. Although played by the likes of royalty, golfing equipment at the time was simple. Golfers were using handmade wooden clubs made from beech wood until the 1700s. Golf balls were not accurate since they were essentially feathers wrapped in horsehide. Rumor has it that players even experimented with wooden golf balls.

The 19th century saw the rise of the British empire. As the country’s political ambitions reached all corners of the globe, golf followed suit. The game found large fan followings in many countries. Years later, the Industrial Revolution would shake up economies and restructure the traditional social fabric. The railways allowed ordinary folks to travel outside their towns and discover new worlds — the world of golf is one of them. Golf clubs began to spring up everywhere in the countryside. Enterprises also harnessed the power of machines to manufacture clubs and balls commercially. The game became an official phenomenon and accessible to more people.

In 1894, golf lovers in the U.S. established the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) to regulate the game. Within five years, 1,000 golf clubs appeared across the country. Since then, the U.S. has remained the center and heart of professional golf. Among other objectives, National Golf Day aims to make golf more inclusive.