Golf History FAQ

Welcome to the Golf History FAQ. Here we've gathered some of the most frequently asked questions about golf history, and attempted to answer them. If you have a golf history question that is not listed, try posting it in our Golf Forum.

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.?

• What is a links course?

• 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?

• Who invented the golf tee?

• 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?

• What is a stymie?

• 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 a redan hole?

• 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