The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-20
ORIGIN Of GOLF.
Hundreds of Years Old and
Once Prohibited by Law.
CAME FROM SCOTLAND
Changes in the Sport are Very
Few and Slight

CHANGING over the long list OF sports
which have grown and developed in ta=
nineteenth century, none stud out more
Prominently than golf-the SPORT for
young and old and all sorts and condl-
tons Of men The early origin OF the
game is yelled the early years of the
fifteenth century as near as can be
Cleaned, but 1t was I'm the nineteenth
century that spreading out with ever
increasing popularity, It earned a place
in the foremost ranks Of amateur sport.
The name of the founder Of the royal
and ancient game. than whom the en-
thusiasts claim no greater pubic bene-
factor ever lived, viii ever be shrouded
in mystery. BY some it IS claimed that
the sport originated in Holland, pic
lures made fin the latter part Of the df-
tenth century showing natives 10 the
act Of driving tt is however, a matter
Of record that in 1857 the Scotch author
ties endeavored to put ban on golf
which was detracung from the sport Of
archery. From this evidence il would
seem fair TO assume that golf IS now a
healthy infant Of from four to five cen-
turtles. Tt is Scotland's national game.
and has been repeatedly referred 10 by
historians as The old Scotch game, so
Scotland, gets the credit Of founding the
sport
In March Of the year 1867 it is recorded
that tie Scottish parliament "decrete5
and ordained that wapiushawineis be
heiden be the Lords and baronis spir-
ituale and temporole four times in the
zeir. and that the fUtebau and golf be
utterly cryit down and nocht usit." Tt
does not appear. however. that The peo-
PIE devoted themselves in spite Of this
ordinance, To the more important pur-
suit Of archery. which was the object
sought by the statste. 81. fourteen years
afterward in May 1871 another act was
passed anent "wapinshawingis' Golf,
however continued to be PLAYED steadily.
an gln 1881 final Illumination was issued
On ne general subject prescribing pains
and penalties for PLAYING golf The an
Gent statute runs thus;
Fute5au and golf forbidden. Item. st
IS statut and ordainit that ia ma place Of
the realme there be usit futebaU, golfs
or luther Elk unpr0ftabtu SPORTS. but for
the c5mmon guide Of the realme and de-
ferce thereof that bowls and schuttin
be hautad and bawmarkis maid there
for ordainit in Xix p1rochin under the
pain Of fourtie shulinges. TO be ras'd
be the schireae and baieies aforesaid
etc.
This edict was passed in the reign Of
King James ~. but It IS interesting and
curious 20 note that IRE monarch him
SELF was one Of the offenders against
tho statute fer in the accounts Of the
lord high treasurer Of Scotland fin 1903
We ind items OF expenses showing where
the monarch had devoted himself to this
'unpredtabin sport"
Tt is nearly a century later that the
game appears on the surface Of history
In 1882 the town council If Edinburg
passed a statute against Sunday golf
but the following year the statute was
amended TO cover only playing during
the time 5f sermons. James V was par
tal 70 t1e game. and st Is recorded that
Mary Stuart a few DAYS after the muir
Ger IF her husband. was seen PLAYING
golf in the fields beside Seton" Her son.
James W. afterwards James Of Eng
land. was also accredited with being
golfer. and under him the act was pass
ed restriction the importation OF go.f
balls. Charles 7 was playing golf on
the links az Leeds in 1912 when news
reached MIN of the Irish rebellion
Games II was known dev0tee Of the
game with the Revolution the royal
patronage ceased. to be renewed in com
parahvely recent times William ~ be-
came patron ~ the st. Andrews Cole
club in 1884 and under him this oreari-
cation came to be known rs the ROYAL
and Ancient club. tn June. 1883 The
Prince Of Wales was elected captain Of
this club. He was unable 10 take the
office in person. but his brother Prince
Leopold in ISIS twice visited Edinhurgh
and acted as captain.
TIE devotion 0f the Stuart line to the
sport was particularly marked That IT
was cheaper IN that time IS shown by
the nov famous euGtes in the accounts
of the lords high treasnrers telling Of
the kings expenses at GOLF In 1873. IN
playing with the earl ~ Bothune which
gave the cost Of the clubs at a shilling
each, and balls four shinines a dozen
Golf is an old sport in this country.
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