Global InformationGolf in Scotland information
Golf in Scotland was first recorded in the Scottish late Middle Ages, and the modern game of golf was first developed and established in the country. The game plays a key role in the national sporting consciousness.[1][2]
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, known as the R&A, was the world governing body for the game (except in the United States and Mexico). The R&A, a separate organisation from the club, was created in 2004 as the governing body. The Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association was founded in 1904 and the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) in 1920. They merged in 2015 into a new organization, Scottish Golf.
To many golfers, the Old Course at St Andrews, an ancient links course dating to before 1574, is considered to be a site of pilgrimage.[3] There are many other famous golf courses in Scotland, including Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Turnberry and Royal Troon. The world's first Open Championship was held at Prestwick in 1860,[4] and Scots golfers have the most victories at the Open at 42 wins, one ahead of the United States.
Although golf is often seen as an elitist sport elsewhere in the world, in the land of its birth it enjoys widespread appeal across the social spectrum, in line with the country's egalitarian tradition. For example, the Old Course at St Andrews is a charitable trust and Musselburgh Links are public courses. Council-owned courses, with low fees and easy access, are common throughout the country wherever demography and geography allow. Therefore, golf courses, whether public or private, are far more common in the Lowlands than in the Highlands and Islands, where shinty (a game which may share a common ancestry with golf)[5][6] is often the traditional sport.
Scotland is widely promoted as the "Home of Golf,"[2][7][8][9] and along with whisky and the long list of Scottish inventions and discoveries, golf is widely seen as being a key national cultural icon throughout the world.[2][10] It is frequently used to market the country to potential visitors, for example for the Homecoming year in 2009, and golf tourism accounted for approximately 2% of overall Scottish tourism spending in 2004.[11] One page that explains the history of golf in Scotland starts off by stating that, "There has been much debate as to the origins of the game and, in some cases, how it was originally played. One thing is certain — the game of golf as we know it was born in Scotland".[12]
Scotland has 587 courses, the most courses per head of any country, with the majority being in Glasgow and Edinburgh.[13]
- ^ I. G. C., Hutchison (2002). "Scottish Newspapers and Scottish National Identity in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries". Newspapers in international librarianship, 68th IFLA Council and General Conference. Glasgow: University of Stirling. p. 8. 3-598-21837-0. Retrieved 4 December 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "About the SGU - What is the Scottish Golf Union?". Scottish Golf Union official website. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
The game of golf is one of Scotland's greatest assets. A national icon, thousands of golfers from across the world descend upon the Home of Golf each year to take up the challenge of some of the planet's most famous courses and some of the game's finest hidden gems. Golf is a vital part of Scotland's economy and vitally important to our nation's psyche.
- ^ Cochrane, Alistair (ed) Science and Golf IV: proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. Page 849. Routledge.
- ^ "Historic Prestwick - Birthplace of the British Open". PGA Tour official website. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
The very first Open Championship was held here in 1860, to determine golf's champion player.
- ^ MacLennan, Hugh Dan. "Shinty's Place and Space in World Sport 1". University of Aberdeen. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
- ^ McComb, David G. (2004). Sports in World History. Routledge. p. 42. ISBN 9780415318112.
- ^ "The Home of Golf". Scottish Government. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
The Royal & Ancient and three public sector agencies are to continue using the Open Championship to promote Scotland as the worldwide home of golf.
- ^ "Scotland is the home of golf". PGA Tour official website. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
Scotland is the home of golf...
- ^ "Golf Breaks in Scotland - The Home of Golf". Visit Scotland. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
Welcome to Scotland, the home of golf...
- ^ "... celebrating some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: golf, whisky, great minds and innovations and Scotland’s rich culture and heritage.", Homecoming Scotland 2009
- ^ "Tee is for tourism worth £300 million". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
Golf tourism now accounts for about 2 per cent of overall tourism spending in Scotland...
- ^ "The history of Golf in Scotland". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
History of Golf in Scotland
- ^ "Scottish Golf". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
Scottish Golf