[Doug Siebert]

Some Chinese researchers are claiming that golf originated in China and was brought to Scotland by Mongolian explorers.  Here's the article in The Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=46872006

Here's a picture from a gallery in China I saw at the site that linked me to that story.  It was painted by Du Jin during the 15th century in the Ming Dynasty.  It does seem to show women using something like golf clubs hitting a ball at a hole.  Of course, its also possible that the game originated in multiple places.  It isn't like it is THAT original of an idea to hit a ball with a stick at a hole in the ground!  If nothing else, this painting would seem to indicate that Mary, Queen of Scots was NOT the first female golfer!

[Jari Rasinkangas]

Any chance to find anything about golf architecture in those days?  Keep on digging the archives.

Was it firm and fast?  

Jari

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Their attire reminds of Joyce Wethered who said that in the clothes of her day very often you couldn't see the ball at address.  Yet, my goodness, she could play.

[Andrew Summerell]

Hang on. Those clubs look like cheap copies from Tiawan.

[Matt_Sullivan]

Don't forget that the Chinese pretty much claim to have invented everything ...

[ForkaB]

Don't forget that the Chinese pretty much claim to have invented everything ...

Yeah, but the problem is they are usually right!

[Jack_Marr]

I had heard this many years ago and even posted it on this website. It's hardly news.

There was also some version played in the Netherlands before it was played in Scotland - Scotland is still the "home" of golf, though.

[David Sneddon]

Here's a picture from a gallery in China I saw at the site that linked me to that story.  It was painted by Du Jin during the 15th century in the Ming Dynasty.  It does seem to show women using something like golf clubs hitting a ball at a hole.  

I think there are a few things we can learn from this painting:

1. It was painted on a Tuesday - Ladies Day

2. Fivesomes were allowed and slow play must have been an issue

3. Looks like a cart path on the other side of the fence, which means that we can eliminate Tom Doak's ancestor as the architect.

[Tony_Muldoon]

It’s interesting that there only seems to be one ball and that the pair in the plain dress appear to be carrying a couple of clubs.  Would this make them caddies, with each player having 3 clubs?

With only one ball and three female players how would the ‘game’ have been played?  It’s often trotted out that Badminton was originally a game for ladies and the objective was to keep the ‘shuttlecock’ flying back and forward.  In feminist studies this is given of evidence of a behavioural opposite to male competitiveness. Can you imagine a non competitive game that in other ways is similar to golf?

[Jari Rasinkangas]

It’s interesting that there only seems to be one ball and that the pair in the plain dress appear to be carrying a couple of clubs.  Would this make them caddies, with each player having 3 clubs?

Maybe they are playing Stableford competition and everybody else have already picked up their balls.  Or maybe the other balls are on the other side of the green/brown.  The players are just checking whose ball is this.  

Yes, the two smaller girls have to be caddies.

Jari

[Dave_Miller]

Some Chinese researchers are claiming that golf originated in China and was brought to Scotland by Mongolian explorers.  Here's the article in The Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=46872006

Here's a picture from a gallery in China I saw at the site that linked me to that story.  It was painted by Du Jin during the 15th century in the Ming Dynasty.  It does seem to show women using something like golf clubs hitting a ball at a hole.  Of course, its also possible that the game originated in multiple places.  It isn't like it is THAT original of an idea to hit a ball with a stick at a hole in the ground!  If nothing else, this painting would seem to indicate that Mary, Queen of Scots was NOT the first female golfer!

Doug:
This is interesting.  I read the article and found it fascinating.  The fact that Denmark or Norway also claim to be the founder of golf may give some credence to this.
If the Mongolian traders brought the game to the European Continent then it could have migrated to Scotland a little later.
There was a thread here a few yars ago about the Norway claim.
Fairways and Greens,
Dave

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Clearly there is Chinese influence in Scotland.  What about the wall across the fairway at North Berwick.  Is that not a pale imitation of a rather longer one in China?  

[RJ_Daley]

It is obvious that their super is a dope.  The tree is too close to the green, causing excessive shade and a smutt disease.  They weren't too big on posture in those days, were they?

Next thing you know, they'll be claiming they invented spaghetti.

[PThomas]

maybe it's all part of a Communist plot..see , they invented golf so someday that would be another manufacturing niche they would eventually dominate

[Dave_Miller]

maybe it's all part of a Communist plot..see , they invented golf so someday that would be another manufacturing niche they would eventually dominate

Paul:
You don't think they aready don't.  Lots of Clubs and Club parts are made in China.
Dave

[redanman]

Gentlemen, hold the presses:

Please note the two different, distinct colors of robes.

What we are witnessing here is not the origin of Golf but Hockey. The woman on the far right is about to be called for high-sticking in the next panel of this tryptch, that's the missing evidence.  

Hockey is of course, often played indoors.

What more evidence is needed?  (That will teach you only to look at pictures......)  

[PThomas]

Dave -- so I was right about it being a commie plot!

[Jay Flemma]

Geoff Shackelford says in "Grounds for golf" that Dutch sailors invented the game, smacking balls on the ground between where their  ship docked to the place in the city to which they had to report.

...he also says his reception in the UK has been somewhat more mild since sharing that factoid;)

[TEPaul]

Well, I'll be damned and GO TO HELL! Fascinating stuff.

I never wanted to say it before now but I always thought what's been considered to be the original home of golf--TOC really does look like a barren piece of windswept shit!

I can't wait to see what the real home of Golf was like---The MING NATIONAL Golf and Country Club founded in 938 AD.

[JohnV]

Now they've not only invented golf, but they discovered America 70 years before Columbus.  Perhaps the first courses here were on the West coast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4609074.stm

[Jimbo]

Dude! That chick's a dude!

[A_Clay_Man]

It's my understanding that they used waterfalls on all their designs. Donald the congee purist?

[Shane Sullivan]

Based on my experience of golf in China I would lay down RMB50 that there is still a four ball out there from the 15th century on about the 16th tee!

[Doug Siebert]

Well c'mon, NO ONE thinks that Columbus was the one who discovered America!  There is plenty of evidence that there were multiple groups from Europe, and the Vikings left behind several entire settlements in Newfoundland.  That's not even counting Asian migrations over the land bridge that become the Eskimos and Native Americans.

What's interesting is that there is some pretty compelling evidence that the peoples we know as "Native Americans" where NOT the original group of settlers in the Americas, and there were even earlier migrations from Asia (likely by sea)  But whenever an archeologist wants to dig up remains to check for evidence of this, the Native Americans refuse permission based on a law that gives them rights over any ancient remains discovered in the US, because they don't want it to be proven they weren't the first humans over here!

[Jim Nugent]

In 50 or so years, I expect most world histories to state China invented golf.  Or will it be India?  God help us if it turns out to be Islam!  

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()