Golf History
Updated February 23, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
The Question:
Where was golf invented and where did the name of golf come from?
The Answer:
Although golf's place of origin is uncertain, Scotland has the strongest claim. As early as 1457 it was banned there as a threat to archery practice, which was considered vital to national defense.
There is no definitive origin of the word "golf," but there are a few possibilities. It could be from the Dutch word "kolf," which means "club," or it could be from the Scottish word "gowf," which means to hit with an open hand.
Fore more on golf, see our encyclopedia entry or check out the golf section of our sports almanac.
-The Fact Monster
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