Golf Tickets

Though games similar to golf have been around for centuries, the exact history of the game is somewhat unclear. Historians have found evidence of games that used clubs and balls in countries like the Netherlands, China and Italy. Modern golf, however, is generally considered to be a derivative of an old Scottish game. The earliest records of golf are from a 1457 edict issued by King James II of Scotland, in which he banned the game because it distracted people from learning the necessary military skill of archery.

In 1744, a Scottish group called the Company of Gentlemen Golfers wrote what is known today as the Leith Rules. These guidelines served as a basis for all later golf rules, many of which are still used in the modern game. During the 1800s, the game expanded rapidly across Europe and the British Isles. By the 1880s, fans of the game could find clubs in countries such as New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. The 1894 formation of the United States Golf Association (USGA) sparked the game's stateside popularity.

Today, golf enjoys worldwide popularity. The USGA has more than 9,700 clubs, and professional athletes compete in the Major Championships. These esteemed annual events include the Masters Tournament in April, the US Open Championship in June, the Open Championship in July and the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) Championship in August. The Open Championship is often known as the British Open in the US, and is played at one of nine UK locations. However, the other three Major Championships are played at various locations across the US. Americans are well-known for their success in the professional sphere, boasting historical players such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Tom Watson.