The weather is getting cooler on the Orihuela Coast with the start of the new season. It’s Autumn, and it’s the Golf season in Alicante! What better excuse to get out in the open air and enjoy some exercise, as well as compete with others!

In this article we are going to get an insight into some curious facts about this popular sport, that day by day has new followers. Whether you are a beginner new to Golf, or an experienced player, you are sure to find some of these facts very interesting.  Also, we want to invite you to comment of this information and, why not? Tell us about those stories that have heard from other golf players, stories or myths that you know about this fascinating sport.

We look forward to reading your contributions.

Did you know?

….The origin of golf? The origin of golf is unclear and is much debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, others cite chuiwan (“chui” means striking and “wan” means small ball) as the progenitor, a Chinese game played by members of the Chinese Imperial court between the eighth and fourteenth centuries.

….The practice of golf was banned in the XV century. One of the earliest known references to the sport dates back to 1457, when King James II of Scotland banned the practice of golf and football. At the time, Scotland was preparing to defend itself against an English invasion and the king stated it was keeping his subjects from their archery practice.

…Let’s talk about materials. Originally, club heads were crafted from beech or the wood of fruit trees such as apple. Some club heads for were made from hand-forged iron. Shafts were usually made of ash or hazel. Balls were made from tightly compressed feathers wrapped in a stitched horse hide sphere. The first golf balls are believed to have been made out of wood. Afterwards, in the 19th century, golf balls were typically made of feathers. Feather ball making was a slow process, with workers only managing to produce about three to four balls a day. You can imagine their shape was not very successful and, they were unreliable causing even more problems when it rained and they’d soak up the water. Later, they would be replaced by a ball made of a Malaysian gum, called gutta percha.

….Terms that we all use
Golf’s status and popularity quickly spread throughout the 16th century due, among others, to Mary Queen of Scots, who was French, and introduced the game to France while she studied there. Indeed the term ‘caddie´ comes from the name given to her helpers who were the French Military, known in French as cadets. On other hand, the term birdie comes from an American named Ab Smith. While playing 1899, he played what he described as a “bird of a shot”, which over time, became known as a “birdie”.

….A sport of the elite. Until the second half of the 19^th century, the sport was somewhat exclusive due to the expense of the handcrafted equipment. The Victorian Industrial Revolution brought with it many social and economic changes and the average person was then able to afford to play golf.

…Does the temperature affect the drive of the ball? It is believed that balls travel significantly further on hot days. A golfer swinging a club at around 100 mph will carry the driver up to eight yards longer for each increase in air temperature of 25°F. The longest drive ever is 515 yards. The longest putt ever is a monstrous 375 feet.

…One game, many different golf courses. The longest golf course in the world is the par 77 International Golf Club in Massachusetts which measures a fearsome 8325 yards, and the longest golf hole in the world is the 7th hole (par 7) of the Sano Course at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan. It measures an incredible 909 yards. On the other hand, the highest golf course is the Tactu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, which sits 14,335 feet above sea level, and that is at its lowest point!

….About the swing speed of the driver. The driver swing speed of the average lady golfer is 62mph; and 96mph for an average LPGA professional; 84mph for an average male golfer; 108mph for an average PGA Tour player; 130mph for Tiger Woods; 148-152mph for a national long drive champion.

… What do you think about your handicap? Don’t feel bad if yours is not very low, statistics say that 80% of all golfers never achieve a handicap of less than 18.

…A sport good for all ages. The youngest golfer to shoot a hole-in-one was Coby Orr, who was five years old at the time. It happened in Littleton, Colorado, in 1975. By the way, Tiger Woods snagged his first ace at the tender age of eight years old.

…How you seen the most famous golf shot? The most famous golf shot ever must surely be Alan Shephard hitting a ball on the moon in 1971, watched by an audience of millions around the world. Does this make golf the first sport in space?

We hope that the information that we have presented in this article is of interest to you. Now let´s hear your stories and facts about golf.