The History of Golf
The origin of golf is unclear and open to debate. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, which involved using a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. According to one view, paganica spread throughout several countries as the Romans conquered much of Europe during the 1st century BC and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others cite Chuiwan ("chui" means striking and "wan" means small ball) as the progenitor, a game played in China in the 8th–14th centuries. It is thought to have been introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages. Other early games included the game known as cambuca in England and chambot in France.[3] This game was in turn exported to the Low Countries, Germany, and England (where it was called pall-mall, pronounced “pell mell”). Some believe golf descended from the Persian chaugán. Kolven was played annually in Loenen, Netherlands, beginning in 1297, to commemorate the capture of the killer of Floris V, a year earlier.
What is most accepted, however, is the origin of the modern game in Scotland around the 12th century, with shepherds knocking stones into rabbit holes in the place where the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews now sits.
The Source of this information can be found at Wikipedia/Golf
