Who Created Golf? Tracing Golf’s Surprising Roots

If you ask around, most folks swear the Scots created golf. They’ll even point at the Old Course at St Andrews like it’s the original recipe. Here’s the thing—golf actually has a messier family tree than most people realize.

Early signs of golf-like games pop up all over Europe and Asia. There were stick-and-ball games in the Netherlands (they called it “kolf”) as far back as the 1200s, and the Chinese had a game called “chuiwan” during the Ming Dynasty. But these old games don’t look exactly like the golf we play on courses today—they’re more like distant cousins than parents.

So why does everyone give Scotland the credit? The Scots were the first to get serious about playing on grass, developing 18-hole layouts, and actually organizing the game in a way that sticks around. They laid out real courses, wrote down the first rules in 1744, and made golf less about whacking random targets and more about skill and strategy.

• Not as Old as You Think: Debunking the Legends
• Scotland’s Big Claim and What Came Before
• How Ancient Golf Shaped Today’s Courses
• Fun Tidbits for Your Next Round

Not as Old as You Think: Debunking the Legends

Lots of folks picture medieval knights teeing off with wooden clubs somewhere in the English countryside. That’s just not how it went down. Golf isn’t nearly as ancient as many people assume. There are old stories of Romans playing something like field hockey and Dutch painters showing folks hitting balls with sticks on ice, but those games aren’t really golf as we know it.

The oldest actual mention of the word “golf” or "gouff" in writing shows up in Scottish records from 1457. And here’s a funny detail—it wasn’t a compliment. Parliament tried to ban golf because it distracted people from archery practice, which mattered way more to Scotland’s defense than a ball game.

Let’s see how golf really stacks up against other ancient stick-and-ball games:

Today’s golf—18 holes, specific clubs, built courses—only started to take shape in Scotland around the 1500s and 1600s. So it’s not as old as chess or soccer. If you hear people telling tales about ancient Egyptians playing golf, well, it’s total fiction.

Quick heads-up: the first 18-hole golf course didn’t even appear until 1764 at St Andrews. Before that, courses varied a lot in hole number and layout.

Scotland’s Big Claim and What Came Before

When people talk about the origin of golf, Scotland always gets top billing. And there’s a good reason. In the 15th century, Scottish folks started playing a game that actually looked like today’s golf, smacking a ball into a hole using a crooked stick. The oldest golf course still in use is the Old Course at St Andrews—a spot golfers idolize today. But Scotland’s golfing history is packed with actual dates and quirky facts.

First off, King James II banned golf in 1457 because it got in the way of archery practice. That’s right—he thought folks were getting too distracted knocking balls around, and not enough time prepping to fight off invaders. The law was ignored, obviously, because golf just kept getting more popular.

But Scotland didn’t invent hitting a ball with a stick. The Dutch played "kolf" by 1297, and evidence shows Dutch traders may have brought the game to Scottish shores. Even further back, the Chinese had “chuiwan” by the 10th century. What makes Scotland’s game different is that they played on natural grass and actual landscapes, which set the pattern for golf course design worldwide.

Here’s a quick look at some key dates and places in golf’s early history:

So, while stick-and-ball games are nothing new, Scotland takes the crown because they refined the rules, built courses on real grass, and set traditions that give golf history a clear starting line. If you get the chance to tee off at St Andrews, you’re basically standing where modern golf got its legs.

How Ancient Golf Shaped Today’s Courses

Ever notice how every golf course feels a little different, but still familiar? That’s not just by chance. The quirks and features of today’s courses actually trace back centuries, thanks to the way golf grew up.

Let’s start with the famous 18-hole layout. That standard comes straight from the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. Back in the day, it had 22 holes, but in 1764, the members decided to combine some short holes, leaving 18—the number most modern courses have copied since. Today, over 90% of the world’s full-size courses follow this golf history standard.

Ancient courses weren’t built by fancy architects—they followed the land. Early Scottish courses wound through natural sand dunes, with bunkers created by sheep trying to find shelter. That’s why traditional links-style courses are bumpy and unpredictable. It wasn’t about shaping the land; golfers had to play whatever Mother Nature handed them.

A lot of classic course features are actually leftovers from those early days:

• Natural hazards: Deep bunkers, thick rough, and rolling fairways started because sheep and wind shaped the grounds before golfers did.
• Double greens: The Old Course still shares huge greens between two holes—a solution from the days when the course doubled back on itself.
• Wind as a factor: Early courses hugged windy coastlines. No surprise: those gusts are still a true test of skill, just like centuries ago.

Take a look at how ancient layouts compare to some modern stats:

One big takeaway: when you play a classic course, you’re not just chasing a score. You’re facing history head-on—every bump, bunker, and wind gust has been part of the game since the very first days. Next time you’re playing and curse a tricky lie, just remember: you’re part of a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.

Fun Tidbits for Your Next Round

Let’s face it, having a stash of quirky facts can save any long walk between holes. Next time you’re waiting on the tee, hit your group with these gems—they might even help you see your game in a new way.

• St Andrews, the world’s most famous golf course, started out as 22 holes before they standardized on 18. That’s why almost every course today follows the 18-hole blueprint.
• Back in 1457, the Scottish parliament actually banned golf because soldiers were spending more time on the links than practicing archery. That law didn’t last—folks just loved their golf way too much.
• The word “golf” comes from the old Scots word "gouf," which means club. Easy to remember when you’re reaching for your next iron shot.
• Golf balls used to be filled with feathers—no joke! The “featherie” ball was packed tight and stitched up in leather until the 1850s, when gutta-percha balls (made from tree sap) took over.

Want to impress your buddies even more? Toss some numbers into the chat. Here’s a fast look at some facts:

Next time you walk onto the green, remember—you’re not just playing a round. You’re part of a story that’s hundreds of years old. And if anyone asks about the origins of golf history, you’ve now got the coolest answers on the course.