Golf Glossary
Golf: Origin and Basic Idea
In short
Golf was not invented by a single person. The modern game developed in medieval Scotland, and the first bans are documented from 1457. The basic idea is simple: in as few strokes as possible you play a ball from the tee along a hole into the cup. The player who finishes the round with the fewest strokes wins.
Who invented golf? The short answer
There is no single inventor of the game of golf. Golf developed over many years from games in which a ball is hit towards a target with a stick. Such games are known from several countries. Exactly when they became the golf we know today cannot be pinned to one date.
Experts largely agree on one point: modern golf has its roots in Scotland. In the Middle Ages people played there on sandy coastal land known as links. The first rules, clubs and courses on which today's game developed also arose there.
Other questions are disputed. Whether the Netherlands, China or Scotland is the origin is still discussed. Anyone answering the question who invented golf is therefore best advised to say: modern golf comes from Scotland, and the precursors are varied.
Where and when was golf invented? Medieval Scotland
The first written evidence of golf comes from Scotland. In 1457 the Scottish Parliament under King James II banned the game because it distracted from the archery practice that was important for national defence. Further bans followed in 1471 and 1491. A ban only exists for something people actually play. Golf must therefore already have been widespread at that time.
Later attitudes changed. In 1502 King James IV bought golf equipment. In 1552 the citizens of St Andrews received the right from the archbishop to play on the town's links. St Andrews is still regarded as the home of golf. The Old Course, one of the best-known golf courses in the world, is located there.
One important point: golf in the Middle Ages did not mean the same as it does today. The courses had no fixed holes, no mown fairways and no uniform rules. People played in the countryside, over dunes, grass and sand, with simple clubs and balls made of wood or leather.
Other theories: kolf in the Netherlands and chuiwan in China
Besides Scotland, two further theories of origin are named.
Netherlands: in the Middle Ages there was a game in the Netherlands called kolf or colf. A manuscript from 1261 mentions a ball game with a kolf, that is, a club. The word golf is often derived from the Dutch kolf, although this derivation is not certain either. Whether kolf was really an early form of golf is disputed among experts. It is often described as a game on ice or in a fixed space, with a post as the target.
China: from China the game of chuiwan has been handed down. It was played in the time of the Song dynasty and is said to have had up to ten clubs and several holes on varying terrain. Some researchers see it as a precursor. A direct route to Europe, however, is not documented.
Conclusion: ball games with clubs existed in several places. Modern golf with a hole, a course and rules arose in Scotland, however, and that is how most accounts describe it.
From game to sport: rules, clubs and 18 holes
In the 18th century the game became a sport with fixed rules.
- 1744: the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith near Edinburgh wrote down 13 rules for a tournament. They are regarded as the oldest surviving rules of golf. The group later became the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
- 1754: in St Andrews 22 men founded the Society of St Andrews Golfers. It developed into the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which later became the guardian of the rules of golf.
- 1764: the Old Course at St Andrews was shortened from 22 to 18 holes. This change is regarded as the origin of today's standard round of 18 holes.
- 1860: the first Open Championship was played at Prestwick. It is regarded as the oldest of today's major championships.
Today common rules apply worldwide. They are published jointly by The R&A, based in St Andrews, and the USGA. Golf was also an Olympic sport in 1900 and 1904 and returned to the Olympic Games in 2016 after more than a hundred years.
Golf in Germany and Hamburg
The game came to Germany in the late 19th century. According to the town, the course in the spa park at Bad Homburg is regarded as the oldest golf course in Germany. English spa guests began playing there in the late 19th century. The exact dates differ between sources.
The German Golf Association (DGV) was founded on 26 May 1907 in Hamburg by eight of the leading golf clubs. After the Second World War it was dissolved at first and re-founded in 1949. Today the DGV is the umbrella organisation of German golf clubs. It sets the requirements for the Platzreife and runs the handicap system in Germany.
For a long time golf in Germany was seen as a sport for the few. That has changed. Today there are beginner courses, short courses, driving ranges and offers without club membership. If you want to try golf, you do not have to be a member and do not have to buy your own equipment. For the large courses you usually need the Platzreife in Germany. For a start, short courses and lessons are the better route.
What is golf? The basic idea explained simply
The idea of golf can be said in one sentence: in as few strokes as possible you play a ball from the tee along a hole into the cup. The cup has a diameter of about 108 millimetres. The hole has a target, the green, on which the cup is located and which is marked with a flag.
A full round usually consists of 18 holes. Every hole has a par. Par is the number of strokes a very good player expects to need for the hole. Par 3, par 4 and par 5 are usual. If you need fewer strokes you play a birdie or better. If you need more you play a bogey or worse.
You play with up to 14 clubs built for different distances. The ball is played as it lies. This also applies if it lies in grass, in sand or in an awkward position. That is one of the most important basic rules and is part of the appeal of the game: you have to cope with what the course gives you.
Golf is also a game of fairness. Players count their own strokes and observe the rules even when nobody is watching.
How do you play golf? An example hole
A par 4 shows how the game works.
- Tee shot: you play the first stroke from a marked area, the teeing ground. The ball usually sits on a small peg made of wood or plastic, the tee. The target is usually the fairway, a mown strip of grass.
- Second shot: from the fairway you play towards the green. You choose a club that suits the distance.
- Third shot: if the ball is near the green, you play a chip or pitch onto the green.
- Putts: on the green you roll the ball into the hole with the putter.
If you need four strokes you have played par. Three strokes are a birdie, five a bogey. On the scorecard you enter your strokes after each hole.
In between there are hazards such as bunkers, water and rough, which is long grass. If the ball ends up in water or out of bounds there are penalty strokes. After the round you add up all the holes. With a handicap, players of different strength can be compared fairly.
For beginners: nobody starts on the big course. First you learn grip, stance and swing on the range, then short courses, then the Platzreife.
Try it at Golf Lounge
The best way to get a first impression of golf is to try it yourself. At Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg the introductory lesson lasts 90 minutes with a coach, balls and rental clubs are included, and you need neither previous experience nor your own equipment. It covers first shots, stance, grip, posture and swing, plus a short overview of equipment and rules. The lesson takes place on the covered TrackMan range, so in any weather. There are several sessions per week, also suitable for children from 6 years.
Frequently asked questions
When was golf invented?
There is no exact date. The first written evidence of golf in Scotland dates from 1457, when Parliament banned the game. The oldest surviving rules of golf date from 1744. The game is therefore much older than the first rules and developed over many years.
Where was golf invented?
Modern golf is usually attributed to Scotland, where people played on coastal land known as links. St Andrews is regarded as the home of golf. Kolf in the Netherlands and chuiwan in China are also discussed as early relatives. A direct origin there is disputed.
Who invented golf?
There is no single inventor. Golf developed over centuries from games in which a ball is hit towards a target with a stick. The first written rules were drawn up in 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith in Scotland. From this came the rule book that applies today.
What is golf and how does the game work?
Golf is a game in which you play a ball into a hole in as few strokes as possible from the tee. A round usually has 18 holes. Every hole has a par as a guide for the number of strokes. The player with the fewest strokes overall wins. You play with up to 14 clubs.
How do I start playing golf?
The easiest way is an introductory lesson, in which a coach shows first shots and equipment is provided. Basic courses and the Platzreife follow, which in Germany is usually needed for large golf courses. You can use short courses and driving ranges without the Platzreife.
As of: October 2026