National Golf Lovers Day – October 4, 2022, history, significance
Exhilarating and dispiriting, thrilling and embarrassing, joyous and depressing — no activity on Earth encompasses the full emotional spectrum like golf — and that’s why we love it! This October 4, celebrate National Golf Lovers Day by recognizing one of the world’s most popular sports.
Hit the links and play a round as you enjoy a few competitive and friendly laughs with your fellow sufferers. While golf can drive even the greatest players completely bonkers, hitting just one good shot means you can’t wait to tee it up again. In other words, “just grip it and rip it.”
History of National Golf Lovers Day
No one knows the exact time that the game of golf started, some records show that something similar to golf appeared in China during the Song Dynasty from 940 to 1279 AD. In addition, Julius Caesar played a game similar to golf as early as 50 BC, which included hitting a feather-stuffed ball with a tree branch that was in the shape of a club.
The modern day version of golf in the Western world seems to have originated on the eastern coast of Scotland, near what was the royal capital, Edinburgh. Instead of beginning with a little pockmarked ball, the game started with players using a bent stick and trying to hit pebbles over the sand dunes and around the tracks.
By 1457, the King of Scots, James II, was perturbed by the fact that the men of Scotland were spending more time playing golf and football instead of practicing their military skills. So the king made a decree through an Act of Parliament that banned the games of golf and football.
It wasn’t until almost 50 years later that the game was approved of by royalty again, when King James IV became the first monarch in the world who played golf. Not long after, King Charles I and Mary Queen of Scots were responsible for bringing the game of golf to England, and then to the European continent through France.
Golf came to the United States at some time in the 17th century. In fact, the first recorded round of golf in America seems to have taken place in 1650 in Fort Orange, which was located near what is now Albany, New York. But it was some time before it started to gain popularity. By the 1920s, golf started to become very popular in the United States and the love for it has turned into quite the athletic industry in Europe, America and all throughout the world.
NATIONAL GOLF LOVERS DAY TIMELINE
1457
Golf tees off
The modern version of golf comes about in Scotland as King James II officially recognizes the game.
October 17, 1860
The first-ever pro golf tournament is held
The world’s oldest golf tournament is The Open Championship, which was first played at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.
1889
Golf embraces “the bird”
The term “birdie” is coined accidentally by golfer, Ab Smith, when he hits a “bird of a shot” at a tourney in Atlantic City.
1894
The USGA is born
Delegates from the Newport Country Club, Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, Yonkers, New York, The Country Club, Chicago Golf Club and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club meet in New York City to form the United States Golf Association (USGA).
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5 FACTS TO IMPRESS YOUR GOLFING FOURSOME
The über rare shot
The average golfer has a 12,500-to-1 chance of making a hole-in-one.
The wet ‘n wild 17th at Sawgrass
Over 100,000 golf balls are hit into the water at the famous 17th “island hole” at Stadium course at Sawgrass each year.
Caddies are French
The French word “cadet” means “youngest child” and is where the word “caddy” comes from.
You’re not alone
Only 20 percent of golfers have a handicap below 18, and a golfer with a handicap of 18 or higher is called a “bogey golfer.”
Space golf? Yep!
Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard famously took a golf ball along with him to the moon — where a swing of his 6-iron made him the first person to play golf in space.
How to Celebrate National Golf Lovers Day
For the celebration of National Golf Lovers Day, there are so many activities and ideas that can be enjoyed! Check out some of these ideas and consider implementing them in honor of the day:
Play a Round of Golf
Those who love golf should certainly get out on the green and play a round! Play 9 holes in a couple of hours, or spend a half day and go for a full 18 holes at a favorite golf course. If there’s no great place to play golf locally, then take a little road trip and head to Florida and Arizona, as these states tend to be some of the best places in the United States to play golf.
Take a Golf Trip to Scotland
Use National Golf Lovers Day as an excuse to take a trip to the place where golf began: Scotland! With more than 550 golf courses to choose from, Scotland has more golf courses to choose from per capita than any other place in the world.
The Old Course at St. Andrews is considered to be the oldest golf course in Scotland. It is also called the Grand Old Lady or simply The Old Lady. It dates back as far as the early parts of the 15th century. This one, as well as the other 500+ golf courses in Scotland would be a delight to spend in celebration of National Golf Lovers Day!
