Ten Fast Facts About Golf

1 – Golf Was Invented in Scotland. Or Asia. Or the Shire
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The origins of golf have been obscured by time. While most historians agree that the game as we know it today was first developed in Scotland around 1457, the Dutch claim to have invented a similar game in 1300. In Asia, China had a similar game called “chuiwan” as early 1000 CE, which they claim was exported to Europe via the Mongolians. Even English author J.R.R. Tolkien poked fun at the disparate stories, claiming that golf was invented by hobbits at the Battle of Greenfields.

2 – A Hole-in-One Is More Common Than You Think.

The odds of an average golfer hitting a hole-in-one on a par 3 is 12,500-to-1. Around 128,000 holes-in-one are achieved each year, for an average of one every 3,500 rounds played. According to the National Hole in One Registry, 16% are made by women.

3 – A Par-5 Hole-in-One is Rarer Than You Think.

A standard golf course such as Northland Country Club Golf Course has between two and five par-5 holes. However, the odds of getting a hold-in-one on a par-5 hole are so astronomical that bookmakers don’t even list them. Surprisingly, you have better odds (sixty-seven million to one) of hitting two holes-in-one on the same round than you do of hitting a single-shot par-5.

4 – Birds of a Feather Golf Together.

Under-par scores are named following a “bird” theme, and the size of the birds gets larger as the scores get lower. A one-under-par is called a birdie, a two-under is an eagle, a three-under is an albatross, and the rare four-under (a hole-in-one on a par-5 or score of 2 on a par-6) is called a condor.

5 – Golf is Out of This World.

Golf is one of only two sports to be played on the moon. Astronaut Alan Shepard took a swing with a 3-iron on February 6, 1971. While there is no official measurement, astrophysicist Ethan Siegel estimated that a well-hit ball on the lunar surface could travel in excess of two miles.

6. You’re Better Than You Think.

If you’re weary of that mid-20s handicap, you can comfort yourself knowing almost eighty percent of all golfers will never have a handicap below 18. Those that attain that mark are known as “bogey golfers.”

7. Don’t Forget the Warm Up.

While Woodrow Wilson was famous for golfing in the snow , most golfers prefer the warm days of summer. Because warmer air is less dense than cold air, a golf ball will travel eight yards farther for every 25 degrees the temperature rises.

8. Caddies Are Still Holding the Bag.

The word “caddy” comes from the French “cadet,” which is pronounced “ca-DAY.” Cadets were originally the younger officers in the French military and had the job of transporting a senior officer’s clubs on the course. Today, professional caddies are more valued for their advice and statistical services.

9. Tees Are a Fairly Late Addition.

For most of golf’s history, players would pile up small mounds of sand or dirt to drive off. Tees did not become popular until the 1920s.

10. The Price of Success Can Be High

Japanese golfers may be the only golfers in the world who dread a hole-in-one. It is customary for the golfer who achieves the feat to hold a party or feast to share their luck with family and friends. Amazingly, an entire service industry has sprung up offering “hole-in-one insurance” to help cover the costs of a celebration.