Golf is known to have been played in Scotland in the first half of the 15th-century and the rules were laid down there in 1754, giving the country a very strong claim to being the birthplace of golf.

Today, golfers have 550 Scottish courses to choose from and the tourist board has even dedicated a large part of their website to the game.

A Quick History

The first written reference to golf seems to have been a 1457 parliamentary decree trying to ban it – to prevent young Scots neglecting their archery practice (to be able to keep the English at bay!).

But within a century Scots royalty had become keen too. James IV had a set of clubs custom made in 1513 and Mary Queen of Scots played golf shortly after her husband’s murder – an oft-cited sign of her insensitivity. James I was an avid golfer and encouraged all to play, even on Sundays.