Nina Caldwell
Scotland is widely regarded as the Home of Golf, with the sport being a key part of Scottish culture and history. The country has over 550 golf courses, including some of the world's oldest and most famous courses, such as St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Gleneagles. Golf is said to have originated on Scotland's eastern coast, where players would attempt to hit pebbles over sand dunes using bent sticks or clubs. The sport has since spread globally, with golf clubs and enthusiasts found all over the world. In 2020, a survey found that 3% of Scottish adults had played golf in the past four weeks, indicating that around 150,000 Scots were golfing in that period. With 550 courses in the country, that works out to around 725 golfers per course, making it twice as easy to get a tee time in Scotland as it is in the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses in Scotland | More than 550 |
| Number of golf courses in Edinburgh | At least 21 |
| Number of golfers per course in Scotland | 725 |
| Percentage of U.S. population that plays golf | 8% |
| Number of golf courses in the U.S. | 16,000 |
| Number of golfers per course in the U.S. | 1550 |
| Percentage of Scottish adults who played golf in the past four weeks in 2020 | 3% |
| Number of Scottish adults who played golf in the past four weeks in 2020 | 156,000 (3% of 5,200,000) |
| Golf's role in Scotland | A key national cultural icon |
| Golf's role in Scottish history | The modern game of golf was first developed and established in Scotland |
| Golf's role in Scottish tourism | Golf tourism accounted for approximately 2% of overall Scottish tourism spending in 2004 |
| Golf's role in Scottish culture | Scottish golfers are known for being extremely courteous and friendly |
| Golf's role in Scottish society | Golf is a cultural pilgrimage for golf aficionados seeking to trace the footsteps of the game's origins while enjoying the Scottish hospitality in charming clubhouses and pubs |
| Golf's role in Scottish cuisine | Food served at golf clubs and clubhouses is simple, well-prepared, and inexpensive |
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What You'll Learn
Scottish golf courses
Scotland is widely regarded as the "Home of Golf". The game has been part of the country's sporting landscape since at least the 15th century, when it was banned by King James II in 1457. In those early days, players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes using a bent stick or club. The word "golf" was first recorded in the 15th century, appearing twice in an act of the Scots Parliament in 1457.
Today, Scotland has over 550 golf courses, including links, parkland, and 9-hole courses. This equates to the most golf courses per capita in the world. The majority of these courses are located in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with at least 21 in the latter city alone. Scotland is also home to some of the world's most prestigious golf tournaments and 14 of the top 100 courses globally.
Some of the most famous golf courses in Scotland include St Andrews, an ancient links course dating back to before 1574; Carnoustie, a large natural seaside links course with one of the most challenging championship courses in the British Isles; Muirfield, the course of the world's oldest golf club, "The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers"; and Royal Dornoch Golf Club, a natural links course that attracts golfers from around the world.
Other notable mentions include the West Links at North Berwick Golf Club, located on the Firth of Forth with stunning sea views; Kingsbarns Golf Links, where the North Sea can be seen from virtually every part of the course; and the Ailsa course at the Turnberry Resort, a scenic Open Championship course with views of the Mull of Kintyre.
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Golf's Scottish origins
Golf is widely promoted as the "Home of Golf," and it is seen as a key national cultural icon throughout the world. The modern game of golf was first developed and established in Scotland, although the exact origins of the sport are unclear. The most widely accepted theory is that the modern game of golf originated in Scotland in the High Middle Ages. The first golf courses and clubs were established in the country. The first written rules originated in Scotland, as did the establishment of the 18-hole course.
The word "golf" was first recorded in the 15th century, appearing twice in an act of the Scots Parliament of 6 March 1457, in the reign of James II. The Scottish National Dictionary states that "golf" represents a revival of the Middle Scots form, with the spelling changing from Medieval "golf" to Early Modern "gowf", and then back again. The game was first recorded in the Scottish late Middle Ages, and the modern game of golf was first developed and established in the country.
Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In the early days, players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club. The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith formed the first club in 1744 and set up an annual competition with silverware prizes. The rules for this new competition were drafted by Duncan Forbes. The first golf club outside of Scotland was the Royal Blackheath (near London) in 1766. The first golf club outside of Britain was the Bangalore, India (1820).
Scotland has 587 courses, the most per head of any country, with the majority being in Glasgow and Edinburgh. To many golfers, the Old Course at St Andrews, an ancient links course dating to before 1574, is considered a site of pilgrimage. There are many other famous golf courses in Scotland, including Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Turnberry and Royal Troon.
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Scottish golf tourism
Scotland is widely promoted as the "Home of Golf", and the sport is seen as a key national cultural icon. It is frequently used to market the country to potential visitors, and golf tourism accounted for approximately 2% of overall Scottish tourism spending in 2004.
Golf in Scotland was first recorded in the Scottish late Middle Ages, and the modern game was first developed and established in the country. The game is said to have originated on the eastern coast of Scotland, where players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes using a bent stick or club. The word 'golf' was first recorded in the 15th century, appearing twice in an act of the Scots Parliament of 6 March 1457, in the reign of King James II, who actually banned the sport that same year. However, his son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, was known to play golf in 1606.
Scotland has over 550 golf courses, the most courses per head of any country, with the majority being in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Some of the most famous courses include the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Turnberry, and Royal Troon.
Golf tourism in Scotland is a popular option, with companies offering packages to suit all specifications and budgets. The Scottish Highlands is one of the most talked-about destinations in world golf, with the Royal Dornoch Golf Club ranked as one of the top 10 golf courses in the world. The Nairn Golf Club and St Andrews Old Course are also popular destinations.
In 2020, 3% of respondents to a survey stated that they had played golf in the past four weeks.
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Scottish golf culture
Golf is a key part of Scottish culture and is widely promoted as the "Home of Golf". The modern game of golf was first developed and established in Scotland, and it plays a key role in the national sporting consciousness. The Scots are incredibly passionate about the sport, so much so that in the 15th century, Scotland's parliament, under King James II, banned the sport in 1457 as it was distracting the people from their military training. However, the ban was largely ignored, and the game gained the royal seal of approval in 1502 when King James IV of Scotland became the world's first golfing monarch.
Golf was first recorded in Scotland in the Scottish late Middle Ages. The game originated on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In the early days, players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club. The word "golf" was first recorded in the 15th century, appearing twice in an act of the Scots Parliament of 6 March 1457. The game officially became a sport when the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith formed the first club in 1744 and set up an annual competition with silverware prizes. The first reference to golf at its now-recognised historic hometown of St Andrews was in 1552. It was not until 1754 that the St Andrews Society of Golfers was formed to compete in its own annual competition using Leith's rules.
Scotland has more golf courses per head of any country, with over 550 golf courses throughout the country, and the majority being in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Some of the most famous golf courses in the world are in Scotland, including Gleneagles, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, and Prestwick. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, known as the R&A, was the world governing body for the game (except in the United States and Mexico). The Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association was founded in 1904, and the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) in 1920. They merged in 2015 into a new organisation, Scottish Golf.
Golf tourism accounted for approximately 2% of overall Scottish tourism spending in 2004. In 2020, a survey found that 3% of respondents stated that they had played golf in the past four weeks.
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Scottish golf etiquette
Scotland is widely promoted as the "Home of Golf", with the modern game first developed and established in the country. There are now more than 550 golf courses throughout Scotland, with at least 21 courses in Edinburgh alone.
Scottish golfers are known for their courteousness and their ability to keep things moving. A round of golf in Scotland seldom takes more than four hours, with most rounds lasting around three and a half hours. It is customary to wish your playing partners "good game" or "play well" at the first tee. After the final putt on the 18th, it is customary to take off your hat before shaking hands.
Scottish golfers are also accustomed to playing in rainy conditions, so ensure you have adequate rain gear and non-slip gloves. Be mindful that toilets and drinking water can be scarce on Scottish golf courses, so it is advisable to bring your own water.
When it comes to the game itself, the use of a putter is prevalent on Scottish links courses due to the short grass around the greens and the hard, inverted saucer-shaped greens. Additionally, be prepared to encounter gorse, a thick and unyielding bush with yellow flowers that lines many fairways. If your ball gets into the gorse, you will likely need to lift it out and take a penalty.
While there may not be specific Scottish golf etiquette that differs significantly from other places, it is worth noting that the local dialect, particularly in Glasgow and Peterhead, can be challenging to understand for those unfamiliar with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is said to have originated on the eastern coast of Scotland.
There are over 550 golf courses in Scotland, with at least 21 courses in Edinburgh alone.
Yes, golf is considered a key cultural icon in Scotland and is widely promoted as the "'Home of Golf'".
In 2020, 3% of Scottish adults reported playing golf in the past four weeks. This equates to around 725 golfers per course.
St Andrews in Fife is considered a pilgrimage site for golfers and is often referred to as the "Home of Golf". The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world, with golf being played there since at least 1552.
