Golf Clubs � History Can Be Vague

St Andrews is the home of golf but how do we know if it was the Scots who first swung their golf clubs into the history books?

Where exactly?

Scotland , Holland , China � all claim to have originated the game of golf. The history of golf goes back centuries and it is hard to know then the truth about who was the first to swing a set of golf clubs. The truth is that something similar to what we now know as golf � someone hitting a round object with a stick-like object � could have started anywhere.

Official history

But it was Scotland where the game became official. St Andrews had the first proper golf courses, golf clubs and rules of the game and thus entered the history books. It also had the first written record of the game in 1457. As the British Empire expanded into remote parts of the world, golf courses and clubs sprung up around the globe, so it's easy to see how the history of the game is attributed to the Brits.

Global phenomenon

Regardless of where the game originated, it's clear it has a grip on all nations all over the globe. The history of the game has seen people swinging golf clubs in nations as diverse as Bangladesh , Croatia , Poland , Iran , Zambia and Italy . No wonder Scotland is so keen to claim the game as its own. St Andrews is the oldest of golf clubs in existence � its reputation and role in history make it a huge pull for players all over the globe. It is a place of pilgrimage for many � the spiritual home of the game and generates millions of dollars in golf tourism.

America rules

However, despite the strong history of the game in Britain , Americans own more sets of golf clubs than anywhere else. America is home to almost half of the world's golf courses. Architects from the States are in high demand across the globe. Many see the modern designs of players such as the legendary Jack Nicklaus as the best courses in the world � not the antiquated golf clubs and courses from the British Empire 's history.

World quirks

The history of the game may originate in Britain , or it may not, but the way people swing their golf clubs varies world-wide:

• Thai golfers often play in groups of six and are more sociable than most.
• The Moscow City Golf Club stepped into golfing history when it opened in 1987 � the first post-revolutionary golf club.
• Japan had an explosion in golf after 1957 when two Japanese players beat the Americans Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret.
• China has more than 50 courses � the best being another American design by Nicklaus � the Spring City Golf and Lake Resort . There are 100 courses currently under construction in China � the country is swinging its golf clubs into the history books.

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