The exact origin of the sport is unclear and is still subject to debate. While people argue that golf has Dutch or Chinese origins, there is a greater consensus that the sport originated in Scotland. Some researchers have the theory that the sport evolved from the game “paganica,” which was played with a curved stick and a ball stuffed with feathers. The pastime was brought by the Romans to Britain. Another theory is that golf originated from the Dutch game “het kolven.” This belief sprung from the fact that there are 18th century Dutch paintings depicting a game akin to the sport being enjoyed on ice and land. This theory is being refuted though as historical sources show that some form of the sport was already being played out in Scotland for three hundred years before the said paintings.

The archaic Scots verb “to gowff,” which means to “strike hard,” may have been the term from which the name golf has been derived. The earliest known written record about the sport came from King James II who decreed that the sport should be banned. This was in response to the growing popularity of the pastime, which took the populace from their daily archery practice sessions. This written decree was rolled out in 1457, at the time when archery skills were an integral part of a kingdom’s defenses against invaders. In 1502, golf once again enjoyed popularity with Scotland’s masses when, under the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and the relative tranquility it brought, they were allowed free time for leisurely pursuits.

The first known caddie in the history of the game was Andrew Dickson of Edinburgh, who assisted the Duke of York. “Caddies” were originally a coordinated team of message boys in Edinburgh and other centers in Scotland.

The balls being used in the sport didn’t go without drastic alterations from their original forebears, which were plain wooden balls. The first golf balls enjoyed a prolonged popularity with the players as even when balls made of leather and feathers started to appear, they were still used.

In 1848, solid balls made from the juice of gutta-percha, a genus of trees native to the tropical regions in Southeast Asia, were introduced. This new form was cheaper to manufacture. In the early years of the 20th century, Americans invented golf balls made out of tensioned rubber thread. Again, this was largely ignored by the masses and it wasn’t until the champion of the 1902 Open Championship used the rubber balls that this latest incarnation enjoyed widespread popularity.

It wasn’t until the year 1744 that the rules of modern golf were laid down by the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Leith. It was this group that thought up the revisions and supplementary rules that collectively form golf as players know it today. Later, the St. Andrews Society took in these new set of rules and in due time, took over the administration and took it upon itself to further refine the game.

Among the most renowned golfers are, in no particular order: Annika Sörenstam, Tiger Woods, and Jack Nicklaus.

Annika Sörenstam

Annika Sörenstam was born in Stockholm, Sweden in October 9, 1970. She is a professional golf player and is one of the most prominent and successful players in the history of the game. Sörenstam has won a total of 70 official LPGA competitions including ten majors and 18 other international tournaments. With earnings totaling more than $21 million, she is at the top of the LPGAs’ career money roster.

Sörenstam is the only female golf player to have made a 59 in a competition. She won six Vare trophies and garnered 8 Player of the Year Awards. She currently holds a considerable number of all-time score records including one she made in 2004, where she made an astounding lowest season average of 68.6969.

Eldrick “Tiger” Woods

Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975. He is a professional golfer who hails from the United States and whose achievements currently rank him as one of the most successful golf players of all time. As of this writing, he has the title “World No. 1.” With his earnings of $100 million from endorsements and tournament prizes, he also was, in 2006, the world’s highest-paid athlete. He may well be the world’s first athlete to reach billionaire status by the year 2010, predicts Golf Digest.
A total of thirteen major golf championships were won by Tiger Woods; this achievement is the second highest of any male golfer. In terms of career major and PGA Tour wins, he has far surpassed any professional golf player. He also is the youngest player to have made the career Grand Slam and win 50 Tour tournaments. Woods has also been given the title PGA Player of the Year nine times and the Byron Nelson Award eight times. Furthermore, he has tied Jack Nicklaus’ achievement of being at the top of the money rosters of eight seasons. Tiger Woods also shares with Lance Armstrong the record of having been named as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year four times.

Jack Nicklaus

Jack William Nicklaus, the golfer who is also known as the “Golden Bear,” was born in January 21, 1940. He is widely-renowned as the “greatest professional golfer of all time.” This label is certainly not unfounded as Jack Nicklaus’ laudable achievements largely speak for themselves.

Nicklaus garnered a record of 18 professional major wins in a PGA Tour career that spanned from 1962 to 1986. In the Champions Tour, Nicklaus won eight of the Tour’s majors, which transpired in the 1990-96 interim. Both records have still not been beaten up to this day.

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