You can also find many more questions about golf history answered in other FAQs here, so visit the Golf FAQs index, plus the Golf Records index, for much more.
• When and where did golf begin?
• What is the origin of the word "golf"? Does it stand for "gentleman only, ladies forbidden"?
• When were the first rules written, and what were they?
• Why are golf courses 18 holes in length?
• What is the oldest public golf course in the U.S.?
• Why do golfers yell "fore" to warn others of an errant shot?
• How did "Mulligan" acquire its golf meaning?
What was the 'Great Triumvirate'?
• What - and where - is Hogan's Alley?
• What is the origin of the term "dormie"?
• Why is the golf hole the size that it is?
• Why are 'skins' - as in The Skins Game - called what they are?
• When was the first golf tournament televised?
• How did "closest to the pin" become abbreviated as "KP"?
• Where do the terms "birdie" and "eagle" come from?
• Why is "bogey" the term used for 1-over-par on a hole?
• Did the term "par" originate with golf?
• What is the origin of the Claret Jug?
• What is the origin of the term "sandbagger"?
Tournament-Specific History Questions
If you're looking for answers to questions about the history of golf majors and other important events, try these pages:
Masters FAQ
U.S. Open FAQ
British Open FAQ
Ryder Cup FAQ



