Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-02
S P O R t S =
GOLF IS DUTCH CAME
BIRTHPLACE OF FAMOUS
PASTIME WAS IN HOLLAND
WAS Carried TO Scotland by Stunrts
Several Hundred Years
AGO.

COLI is getting TO he so universally
popular that historians are digging
back into the past to trace it's birth
ana growth II is notoriously a Scotch
game. but, strange TO say. tradition
places its birthplace in tho Neither
lands.
Golf in Holland four Or Eve cen
turtles ago WAS in the glacial stage OF
development. II was "a game similar
to hockey, placed on the ice. The
combination Of the smooth surface Of
Tn" ice and the sturdy strength OF the
Mynhecrs is said TO have produced "a
rcinarkable game in which il was pos
sible TO drive the ball i0c yards. This
was more than glacial period: il was
the paradise period Of golf.
From this NcthCrlandish game gre "
another species known rs choic. which
G ,",sa, very popular in France an; Ard
Eolf In that the general idea WAS to
strike the ball forward. \ player
would lay wager with another that
no could hit certain distant church
In "A certain number OF innings. Ilo
would start out and drive the ball
forward toward his object three times.
tccing the bali each time. After the
third stroke tho opponent had his turn.
which consisted In his teeing the bal!
and driving II bacl: az far as he could
~ one stroke This constituted an
back TO tho spot where his opponent
had driven the ball to and drive y,
forward again, until the stipuls ii
number OF innings had been PLAYED
This game rhole and the Dutch game
were imported into Scotland under the
carly stuart Kings. during whose re-
zine the two merged into the more
recent forcrunner of the present game.
NJ early as tho reign OF James NJ.
who assembled the throne abou, 1875:
mere ~ an authentic record OF tho
1nft Ia.
ment prohibiting the importation OF
Dutch balls. Their" was n law thar
required church attendance or the
sabbath before one might play golf.
This does MOI prevail NOW. The OH :
Gals OF scotland disapproved OF the
game. az being less honorabi" than
me national pastims OF shooting ut
me butts. but like all prosecuted ven
lures. golf has prosDcred and thrivcu.
The Stuarts brought at least one hlcss-
ing 10 England when they brought
Solf. EiaClthcath. whcrn this line OF
mcnarchs played, is the oldes, cours.
on record. There ARC others very old.
ont III" records Of al tho Scottish ana
English golf Clubs are woefuliy mixed
with the records ~ vino vendors foy
early golfers were thirsty souls and
OIL" cannot he :" certain about the
ciuhs a. about tho hourishins win.
traffic % The age.
With feather halls ahou, the lie Of
the one now used. stuffed with SO
many ltHihHi" l0Al = max WAS required
=" contain tho quantity compressed
into ono bali The cost OF the feather
ta!ls was about I shiliines. n sum OF
Nas'cr significance then than now
Because OF this cost wooden club.
were chiefly used by the frugal Scots
since topping 4 ball with an iron club
meant that shillinEs was gone for
eyer Hugh Philip was the great club
maker. ana no sclf-rcspccting golfer
thought OF pla:nS with clubs manu-
featured by any other maker. Iii.
age IN which Philip held his monopC-
lv Of clubs WAS the real classical be
'iod OF the game. The tactituru Scots
played WIKI The forbidding auSterit..
Of manner and soIemnity OF carriage
That seem q!ute iidicrous from our
crowned black hats and long black
coats on IN" links. and never even
smiled when their opponents missed a
stroke Or droI" into trap English
men adopted golf, but Loft GU; The
dignity that married il AMONG the
Scots. Americans have further de-
inocra tiZcd the game until now II is
played IN white shirts. sleeveless and
col!aclcss flannel trousers and. usually
without coat or hat.
Fi:ty years ago in England man
with a caddie- bag and clubs on his
shoulder was an object of misgiving
II not OF downright suspicion Thirty
years ago this was true in America
on the street ears IN any city in this
country WAS more or less curious
sight. but now, thanlis 10 public links
golfers carrying all their parapherna-
Lin arc not even looked at the second
time Such il the evolution Of time.