The game of golf has been a popular sport from the beginning. Although it may have been seen as merely a fad in the beginning, it has grown to become a closely watched, professional level, international sport, watched by many and broadcast over TV and radio media around the world. The fluid movement of the golf club, the connection as it hits the ball and sends it on an unknown journey continues to captivate many fans of many ages. Which leads us to ask, how did golf grow into the popular game it has become today?

Surprisingly, there are a variety of stories claiming to know the history and birth of this game. One of the earliest records is of a game called "gowf" being outlawed in Scotland in the 1400s. There is some debate over whether this was the same game that we know today as golf.

Some roots of golf can also be found in the Netherlands in the 17th century, but this fact is also debated by some. Modern day golf consists of 18 holes, yet if you look back through history, this game originally consisted of 11 holes. There was also a practice of playing the 11 holes and then playing them in reverse, back to the beginning, resulting in a game of 22 holes.

Britain founded the Professional Golf Association in 1901, which even today is internationally recognized as the original golf association. Although not exactly hot on their heels, Australia established an Australian Association of Professional Golfers in 1911. However, it was not until the 1920s that the United States caught up and began to establish the practice of professional golf tours. Women took even longer to appear on the scene, showing up post World War II in public golfing games. So, the true origins of golf are not at all clear.

Undoubtedly today, golf remains one of the most popular and widely publicized sports. Golf players can be found in countries around the world, including the United States to China, European countries like France to Africa, and countless more. Some of the more popular names in the this game include Sergio Garcia, Camilo Villegas, Phil Mickelson, and Vijay Singh.

In nearly every major city across the world, golf courses exist, or are fairly easily accessible by car. The design of these courses has been a competitive and financially rewarding market for many, involving complex designing to create more and more challenging courses. These designs frequently make use of lakes, rolling hills, and areas of flat green. A challenging course is a popular course.

The PGA Tours, which attract famous and internationally recognized players such as Tiger Woods, are now a commonly accepted event, not only for sporting fans but for every day people. These tours attract a large international following, with many travelling far to support their favorite player.

Moreover, golf has not remained a man's only domain, although men still dominate in this area. Since World War II, women players have also been making their mark. Names such as Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, Annika Sorenstam, and Natalie Gulbis are among the more well-known of the women golfers. They have been building their own fan followings, and slowly but surely moving to the front of the game, to not only stand alongside men, but to bring added competition to the sport.

It is a fact that golf remains a popular, well-loved game internationally. Taking some well-placed holes, some rolling greens, a stick, and a ball, who could have guessed such a combination of factors would result to such a fascinating game? Yet the popularity of golf today rivals the following of NFL football. So it seems this game's popularity is not only a thing of the past; it is a definite fixture of today, and undoubtedly of the years to come.

If you are looking for Golf Accessories & Equipments Log on www.Greenpistesports.com

Article Source:- EzineArticles.com