Golf is a sport that is played around the world. Historically, golf history facts is one of the oldest sports in the world. During the early years of the game, wooden golf balls were used. Eventually, the modern day golf ball was invented. In addition, the longest drive ever recorded was 515 yards. Today, some of the most famous golfers have transcended the sport and become part of our culture.
St. Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world
St Andrews is a seaside resort and home to one of the world’s oldest golf courses. The first recorded round of golf was played on the Old Course in 1552, and St Andrews is often referred to as the birthplace of the game of golf.
St Andrews is an hour and a half northeast of Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s the seat of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. A popular pilgrimage site, the Old Course draws thousands of golfers from around the world. There are seven other public golf courses in and around St Andrews.
Located on a peninsula jutting into the North Sea, St Andrews is a small town with a strong sense of community. Visitors tell us that the area is a welcoming and friendly place.
Wooden golf balls were used before modern golf balls
Before modern golf balls were invented, golfers played with wooden balls. It is not clear when or where this type of ball originated, but it was likely used in a form of golf similar to today’s.
The first wooden golf balls were made by carpenters in the 14th Century. These were hand-made from beech or hardwoods. They were often smooth and heavy. Golfers could hit these balls from 75 metres. However, they were unsuitable for handling and could not be hit accurately.
The feathery ball was invented in the early 17th century. It was made by handcrafting a cowhide sphere filled with goose feathers. When the leather was dried, the feathers would expand. This made the feathers and casing hard and compact.
The longest recorded drive was 515 yards
During a tournament in Las Vegas, Mike Austin hit a 515 yard drive. That was the longest drive in professional golf ever. This is now recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
When he first made that drive, Austin was 64 years old. He used a wooden club and a balata ball. The wind was a 27 MPH tailwind.
A number of golfers have attempted to break this record. Some, including Borgmeier, DeChambeau, and Meti, have come close to making it.
In 2022, DeChambeau finished runner up to Borgmeier in the World Long Drive Championship. His drive beat Kevin Kisner’s record by 139 yards. After a wrist injury, he has yet to get the opportunity to tally a better distance.
Famous golfers have transcended the sport to become a part of pop culture
The first time I read up on golf I was amazed at the number of rules and regulations that were imposed on the game. Those rules and regulations had a silver lining: they weeded out many of the good guys from the stragglers. As a result, a lot of the great players were able to shine a light on their atypical talents. This was especially true in the early days of the modern game.
It is not often that we have an opportunity to look at the golf course from the air, but that does not mean we can’t enjoy the beauty of a golf course by design. Having said that, we should be thankful that we don’t live in a world where our golf heroes are glued to the screen.
