Golf is a sport that is played by over 4 million people across the British Isles, but how did it all begin and grow to become the tremendously popular game that it is today?
While Scotland is widely associated as the home and birthplace of golf, there is great debate about the earliest origins of the game. Some believe that it started in ancient Rome. Roman emperors allegedly played a relaxing game called paganica, using a bent stick to drive a soft, feather-stuffed ball. This game was then brought by them to Britain.
Over the next 5 centuries the game developed on several continents and eventually evolved into the popular Scottish game known as golfe. Various European countries had games resembling paganica - cambuca in England, jeu de mail in France, and in the Netherlands het kolven, which was played in the American colonies as early as 1657.
Golf's status and popularity quickly spread throughout the 16th century due to its royal endorsement. King Charles I popularised the game in England and Mary Queen of Scots introduced the game to France while she studied there. The term 'caddie' stems from the name given to her helpers who were the French Military, known in french as cadets.
It is in Scotland, however, that golf really took off. The first formal golf club, the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, now the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, was established in Edinburgh in 1744.
It?s probably fair to say that golf is now played, to a lesser or greater degree, in most countries of the world. In Japan, for instance, golf is sometimes regarded as the national pastime. In China, golf?s popularity is ever increasing and there are even golf courses being built in Kazakhstan. It?s for this reason that you can now go on holidays which are specifically geared towards playing golf.
If you are planning a golf holiday, take a look at what Golf Amigos have to offer. They can tailor-make your golf holiday down to the last detail, ensuring that you have a truly memorable experience. Visit their website now by clicking http://www.golfamigos.co.uk
Sarasota Real Estate: The Luxury Housing Market Continues To Sell
The real estate scene in the lovely southwestern Florida city of Sarasota is slowly but surely pulling itself out of the morass created by the US housing crunch. Local real estate brokers here have recently only been closing around 27 homes per week, which indicates that it would possibly take an extra three years to sell off the existing inventories.
Sacramento Luxury Homes & Real Estate
In order to increase sales and answer questions it is a good idea for Sacramento Luxury Real Estate agents to know the general history of a state or city. And of course, to best understand Sacramento, we must begin with California itself.
Custom Luxury Home Builders in Florida
The decline of the US economy paved way to the luxury home builders in Florida which still meet the expectations and needs of numerous clients Of course, with a sluggish economy, the real estate and housing market is directly affected
Utah Real Estate Pros Launch the Largest Real Estate Directory of Utah Homes
A new Web site http://www.zoomutah.com will help people buy and sell real estate in Utah. The site includes both MLS listings and for sale by owner listings--offering more home listings than any other Utah real estate site. ZoomUtah.com also offers its members access to a number of unique online real estate tools for buying and selling homes.
Colorado Real Estate Developer Introduces Mountain Estates Luxury Homes
KST Construction, a Colorado-based real estate developer, announces Mountain Estates branded homes for sale in The Fairways at Pole Creek, a premier mountain community built around an award-winning golf course in Fraser Valley near Winter Park, CO. Mountain Estates offers buyers luxury custom homes on two-acre sites with a menu of convenient floor plan options, elevations, amenities, and golf or mountain views.
Austin Real Estate Local Investor Puts Luxury Home On The Market
If you are looking for luxury in the Austin real estate market, have a look at the $9.25 million home recently put on the market by an Austin investor, Willard Hanzlik, and his wife, Cordelia. It is a beautiful and modern home with 9,090 square feet and it is currently one of the top ten most expensive homes in the Austin real estate market. The Hanzliks home was built in 2002 on a twenty acre lot that is thoughtfully landscaped with native Texas plants. With large windows, high ceilings, and a mixture of modern and natural elements throughout the home, it is a very inviting space for those who enjoy entertaining friends and family.
