Why Was Golf Banned in Scotland? History of Golf
Channel: Celtic History Decoded
Date: 2022-05-21

Why Was Golf Banned in Scotland? History of Golf

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Why did a Scottish King ban golf in the 15th century? On the 6th of March 1457, King James II banned golf in Scotland. In the words of the Act of Parliament, “it was to be utterly condemned and stopped.”

Yet what was his rationale? Did his mate just beat him at golf? At that period in time, it was compulsory for all males over 12 to participate in military training. Archery was a core feature of this training. Instead of practising their archery however, many people would spend their spare time playing golf and football. The King acted. 

As the 1457 Act of Parliament states:

“It is ordained and the decreed that the lords and barons both spiritual and temporal should organise archery displays four times in the year. And that football and golf should be utterly condemned and stopped. And that a pair of targets should be made up at all parish churches and shooting should be practised each Sunday ... And concerning football and golf, we ordain that [those found playing these games] be punished by the local barons and, failing them, by the King's officers.”

Sources:

National Library of Scotland https://digital.nls.uk/golf-in-scotland/banned/
 
National Library of Scotland https://digital.nls.uk/golf-in-scotland/banned/1457-act.html 

Scotsman - When Scotland banned 'pointless' football and golf https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/when-scotland-banned-pointless-football-and-golf-598011 

#Golf #Scotland #History