Portumna

<h1>Who invented golf?</h1>
There is still quite a bit of debate among historians as to the origins of golf, but there is no doubt that the Scots cultivated the foundations of the modern game.

<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/5e7b8aff-e449-422c-924f-e19026ff01e1.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
Early ball and stick games can be traced back to the 13th century. Not only were these games being played in Europe, but they were also being played in Asia and parts of Africa as well. There were even ball and stick games that can be traced back to China in the 11th century.
But Scotland kept the precursor to the modern game alive, and they were really the ones that ushered it into this present form, which emerged in the 15th century.
<h1>Why is it called golf?</h1>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/62014cd6-c9e0-437a-a087-7676576e78fd.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Etymologically speaking, “golf” was derived from either the Dutch work kolf or kolve, which simply translates to “club.” Add in the Scottish dialect of the late 14th and early 15th century, the Dutch term became goff or gouff.&nbsp;
It was only later in the 16th century when the word “golf,” spelled the way we all know it now, appeared.&nbsp;
The connections between the Dutch and Scottish terms are evidence of the active trade industry between Dutch ports and the ports on the east coast of Scotland, from the 14th-17th centuries.
<h1>How did golf develop over time?</h1>
It wasn’t until the 16th century that information on how to play golf appeared in writing. This writing — which appeared in various books in Latin and Dutch — detailed the rules at the time - for example, in putting, the ball had to be struck; merely pushing the ball was forbidden.&nbsp;
Golf during this period was mostly played in informal and very friendly games at match play in Scotland, and the links were public land. These courses were often where livestock such as sheep and goats were kept as well, as these animals served as that generation’s agronomists and lawn mowers.
The townspeople would just go play golf and bring their goat with them and let them go mow the grass.

<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/0c858687-d998-42e1-a499-384e5b817daf.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

For a brief period in the 18th century, the game was banned by the Scottish monarchy. The Scottish king felt the game distracted Scotland’s citizens from military practices and archery practices — as soldiers would routinely skip their training to get in a round on the links.
<h1>So, when did golf become really big?</h1>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/a74ba6ee-623d-444b-a6a1-b847f6f17df4.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
It wasn’t until the 19th century that golf began to expand in popularity. Its growth, in large part, was due to the Industrial Revolution; the creation and development of the Scottish railway system allowed for English tourists to take the train to Scotland for golf trips and holidays.
Historians believe that early versions of golf — such as the aforementioned ball and stick games and early Dutch precursors to golf— arose in America between 1650 and 1660 in upstate New York.&nbsp;
These early versions of the game began to rise in prevalence and popularity closer to the 1770’s in British and Scottish communities in New York City, the Carolinas, in towns such as Pinehurst, and Charleston, and Savannah, Georgia, all of which show golf clubs and active golfing communities.&nbsp;

<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/56a861be-a84c-4488-afd0-01c77b29319b.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
Vintage Golf Clubs
Documents from ship manifests at the time include quantities of golf clubs and balls being shipped from Europe to the United States.&nbsp;
The popularity of the game died down around the War of 1812, but made its final, major resurgence in America in the 1880’s.&nbsp;
By December of 1894, the United States Golf Association was established, and by 1895, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Women’s Amateur golf tournaments were first contested.
<h1>When was golf introduced to Portumna?</h1>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/7416885c-7bd9-445b-aa85-7d5b07980939.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
Portumna Golf Club
The beginnings of golf in this area date back to 1913 when Portumna Golf Club was formed. The first course was laid out on land rented from farming families of Lynchs, Powers, Glynns, Scullys, Cullens, Callagys, Porters, and Walshs in the townland of Claggernagh, directly across the road from the entrance to the present course.&nbsp;
Members kept their horses in stables and left their traps outside a house owned by John Kelly. His sister provided tea for these pioneering members who rented a room from this family to act as a locker room before a clubhouse was erected.&nbsp;
Fast forward to today and Portumna Golf Club is one of the hidden gems of Irish golf, a beautiful parkland course that sweeps its way through forest and woodlands on the shores of Lough Derg with mallards languishing on the island adjoining the 17th. New members always welcome.
This weekend, <a href="https://xploreapp.io/portumna/lifestyle/portumna-gaa-club-vecuk" target="_blank">Portumna GAA</a> are holding their Annual Golf Classic at <a href="https://xploreapp.io/portumna/lifestyle/portumna-golf-club-hlsmg" target="_self">Portumna Golf Club</a> tees off this Thursday and Friday, August 12th and 13th.&nbsp;
Still time to book in your team as some times still available on team sheet, contact Noel on <a href="tel: 0868722611" target="_blank">086 8722611</a> to book now or if you wish to sponsor a tee box.&nbsp;
Team of 4 - €160. Sponsor Tee - €50. Team &amp; Tee Box - €200
1st Prize 4 Ball Old Head Golf Links and many more prizes for GUI &amp; Non GUI Teams.

A question of golf: Who invented golf, how did it become so popular?

DOWNLOAD AND XPLORE