where did golf originate
That's the million dollar question in our industry. Many historians tie the origin of the game of golf back to the ancient Romans, or even the eighth-century Chinese. (Both had games that were similar, with a stick and ball). This is usually based on paintings or artwork showing people playing the game. It is widely accepted that the MODERN game of golf originated in Scotland in the 1400s (or even a bit earlier). The first written record of golf was when James II banned the game as it was distracting to the soldiers who were supposed to be learning archery.
History of Golf: Where Did It Originate? The actual origination of golf is still the thing of legends, but most people agree that Scotland was the first place to dabble in the game and create competitiveness within the sport.