The history of Golf dates back centuries, making it one of the oldest sports that are still played today. This alone is a major reason why the game is liked, followed and played by millions of enthusiasts across the globe.
If you are reading this blog, chances are you are already into golf, for your own reasons as to why you like the sport. You must also have a sound knowledge about the rules and tactics of the game.
Let’s take a look at some lesser known facts about golf that you might not have known before.
Golf is one of the two sports played on the moon
This might come as astonishing to you, but the astronaut Alan Shepherd did in fact take a golf ball on the Apollo 14 expedition to the moon. Not only did he take the ball and a rod, he also played a one-handed, full-hit using a six-iron rod, making golf the only sport, besides javelin, that was played on the moon.
The low-gravity pull of the moon’s atmosphere made the ball go flying through. The ball wasn’t found, nor did the astronaut have any intentions of bringing it back. It is probably still lying somewhere on the surface of the moon, exactly where it landed all those years ago.
China has imposed an official ban over setting up new golf courses
Did you know that the Chinese government has officially forbidden the construction of new golf courses in the country? Although the ban was imposed several years ago, this has not prevented constructors and community developers from making more courses.
What they do is that they simply proceed to construct the course without calling it a purpose-built course. This tactic has really worked in getting around the ridiculous ban.
The golf balls were once made of feathers and wood.
Originally, golf balls were made not out of plastic and rubber, but hardwood and even feathers. This might sound as ridiculous; however, the hardwood balls made out of box and beech trees were widely popular and ruled over for around 300 years, from 14th century till 17th century.
The balls made out of feather were an alternative choice and were called as ‘feathery’. These golf balls were relatively expensive, due to the cost of raw material, labour and the manual manufacturing process involved. The ball comprised of a spherical leather pouch that was filled with bird feathers.
Golf had been banned in the past – not by China, though!
The Scottish Parliament, during the reign of James II, imposed a ban on Golf as well as football, in 1457. The ban had been imposed for Sundays, since, according to the parliament, it was a distraction for the mandatory military drills, to prepare the army men for war against the English.
The ban was carried forward by the successive parliament of James III in 1470, and by James IV, in 1970. The ban was finally lifted in 1502 after the Treaty of Perpetual Peace was signed between the two countries.
Good for you that golf has never been banned in Portugal and Spain. No wonder they are the top favourite golfing destinations of golfers from across the globe.
