Golf at Garda Lake

Golf origins are ascribed to a game played in the Middle Ages in the Low Countries named kolf and to goff, played in England in the XV century by kings and commoners alike.
Surely it was already an involving and fascinating sport, since in 1457 the King of Scotland James II banned golf, which made people neglect the “noble art” of war, and the Church in the XVI century forbid to play it on Sundays.
Initially golf was just a pastime played on natural grass fields, in the XVII century in Scotland, the so-called “golf cradle”, player groups started to form and created the first golf clubs.
So they began to care for and correct the courses’ area and to follow a series of rules, some of which are still in effect.
But it was the XIX century that saw the expansion of this sport, first in England and then all over the world.
Its spreading was mainly due to rev. Patterson, who in 1845 invented the gutta-percha ball, notably cheaper and easier to use than the leather one in use at that time.
The expansion of railways also allowed for better access to golf courses.
Since in that time England ruled half the world, it’s not difficult to understand how this sport quickly spread from the United States of America to Australia.

In 1860 in Scotland “The Championship Belt” was organized for the first time, and became “Open Championship Cup”, a competition which allowed amateur players to compete with professionals. Today the “Open Championship”, i.e. the “British Open” is the most renowned golf competition in the world.
The first female golf player was doubtlessly Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland.
It has been told that she was just playing golf when her husband’s assassination took place.

However, it was around 1893 that women entered professional golf competitions.
After a brusque interruption during WWI, golf constantly increased its followers, living its magic moment which still lasts as today.