Now no one in the world will say when the game of golf appeared. There is no exact information about the appearance of this game. According to some assumptions, its founders were medieval shepherds, who, while herding sheep, began to hit the stones with their staffs. According to another version, golf comes from an ancient Flemish game called choie, which was already known in England since the mid-14th century.

The most likely predecessor of golf was the Danish game kolf, which was first mentioned in the late XIII century and which is depicted in many Danish landscapes of the time. “Golfers” played cross-country with a stick and ball, but aimed not at a hole, but at a certain mark on the ground. Most often at the door of buildings.

However, the game really got its development in Scotland. Courses with rises and falls became so popular that in 1457 James II banned golf and soccer in an Act of Parliament because they prevented archers from practising.

Mastery of the bow and arrow played a major role in keeping the English out of Scotland. The game remained exclusively Scottish until James VI of Scotland became king of England. With him the game came to the south of the island. At Blackheath – now Royal Blackheath in South London – the Scottish nobility equipped a course with seven holes for their favorite game.

The first courses in Scotland bore little resemblance to those of today. The game was played on public land, where it was quieter, overcoming natural obstacles and obstacles. Not only were walls and ditches used for the game, players often took seats set aside for horseback riding, cricket, picnics, etc.

Golf caddies in the early part of this century – golfers used far fewer clubs and caddies had to clear a path in front and watch the flying balls.

The fields were natural, with only sheep and rabbits “mowing” the grass on the fields. There were no formal tees; players took their first shot one meter from the previous hole. Of course, rules were formed over the years, and golf clubs opened. The oldest was the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, now based in Mirfield, founded in 1744, and 10 years later the Society of St Andrews’ Goffers was formed.

Under the leadership of the St Andrew’s Club, the basic rules of the game and the number of holes on the course were developed. Until 1764 the St. Andrew’s Club course had 22 holes; other courses had from 6 to 25 holes. In 1858 the 18-hole course became generally accepted. This rule has remained in place to this day. The game spread and developed rapidly, and as early as the mid-1800s the first professional players appeared.

Alan Robertson, the first great professional golfer, died in 1858. It is believed that his death gave rise to the first professional championship in Prestwick in 1860, where a new national champion was to be determined.
This amateur championship in 1861 was the first open (Open) championship. In 1863 the attractive prize to the winner was only 10 pounds. In 1861 the winner was Tom Morris Senior (“Old Tom Morris”), who had success in the next three competitions as well.

In 1868, the winner of the Open was his teenage son, “Young Tom Morris,” who was successful three times in a row. According to the rules, he received the existing prize, then missed the year when the Open was not held in anticipation of a new trophy. He went on to win and set a record of four consecutive Opens.

Since then, the game has evolved and gradually morphed into what we know now. At the time, when Tom Morris won 10 pounds to win the Open Championship, it was hard to imagine that golfers would ever make millions. In 1987, Ian Woosnam accomplished that with $1 million for winning a tournament in South Africa.