Golf Trivia

Did you know????

What did John Daly number the new iron he began teeing off with in 1996, because it had virtually no loft?

Zero.

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What golfer hit Ben Crenshaw in the head with his putter in 1986, forcing Crenshaw to head for the hospital?

Ben Crenshaw.

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Did the word "golf" originate as an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden"?

That's a common old wives' tale. Or, in this case, more likely an old husband's tale.

No, "golf" is not an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." If you've ever heard that, forget it immediately. Better yet, find the person who told you and let them know it's not true. Like most modern words, the word "golf" derives from older languages and dialects. In this case, the languages in question are medieval Dutch and old Scots.

The medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club." It is believed that word passed to the Scots, whose old Scots dialect transformed the word into "golve," "gowl" or "gouf."

By the 16th Century, the word "golf" had emerged.

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What two golfers led the PGA in earnings three seasons each in the 1960s?

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

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What's a scratch golfer's handicap?

Zero.

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What's a golfer said to have if he is entitled to tee off first?

The Honor.

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Everyone knows golf originated in Scotland, right?

Yes and no.

It's definitely true that golf as we know it emerged in Scotland. The Scots were playing golf in its very basic form - take a club, swing it at a ball, move ball from starting point to finishing hole in as few strokes as possible - by at least the mid-15th Century.

In fact, the earliest known reference to golf comes from King James II of Scotland, who, in 1457, issued a ban on the playing of golf and football (soccer). Those games, James complained, were keeping his archers from their practice.

Here's what the USGA Museum says about the issue: "While many Scots firmly maintain that golf evolved from a family of stick-and-ball games widely practiced throughout the British Isles during the Middle Ages, considerable evidence suggests that the game derived from stick-and-ball games that were played in France, Germany and the Low Countries."

Part of that evidence is the etymology of the word "golf" itself. "Golf" derives from the Old Scots terms "golve" or "goff," which themselves evolved from the medieval Dutch term "kolf."

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What comic actor scored huge sales with his Bad Golf Made Easy instructional videos?

Leslie Nielsen.

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What Grand Slam golf tournament has the most club housers sipping mint juleps?

The Masters.

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Who's second to Sam Snead in PGA Tour wins?

Jack Nicklaus

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What tournament did Arnold Palmer say he would play in as long as he could walk?

The Masters.

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Why are Golf Courses 18 Holes in Length?

Like many developments throughout golf history, the standardization of 18 holes did not happen as the result of a momentous decision agreed upon by many.

And again, like many developments in golf, the standardization of 18 holes can be credited to St. Andrews.

Prior to the mid-1760s - and right up until the early 1900s - it was common to find golf courses that were comprised of 12 holes, or 19, or 23, or 15, or any other number. Then, around 1764, St. Andrews converted from 22 holes to 18 holes. The reason? Well, everyone knows 18 holes are easier to take care of than 22!

Eighteen holes did not become the standard until the early 1900s, but from 1764 onward, more courses copied the St. Andrews model. Then, in 1858, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews issued new rules.

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Who won a record six PGA Player of the Year Awards-Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer or Tom Watson?

Tom Watson.

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Who summed up a playoff loss to Jack Nicklaus at the 1991 U. S. Senior Open with "the Bear crushed the Mouse"?

Chi Chi Rodriguez.

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What golfer bid a tearful farewell to fans after playing his last U.S. Open, in 1994?

Arnold Palmer.

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What was the First Public Golf Course in the United States?

When Van Cortlandt Golf Course opened in New York City in 1895, it became the first public golf course in America. There were other golf courses in the U.S. by that time - perhaps 100 or more - but Van Cortlandt was the first built for the masses.

And Van Cortlandt Golf Course is still in operation today, the centerpiece of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The park also boasts a lake and two nature trails.

In Van Cortlandt Park you'll also find the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. The aqueduct, built during the 1830s and 1840s, was New York City's first major water supply project.

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Who became the youngest and oldest player to win the Masters, in 1963 and 1986?

Jack Nicklaus.

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What golfer's worst finish at the British Open from 1966 to 1980 was sixth?

Jack Nicklaus.

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What's the only Grand Slam event Lee Trevino never won?

The Masters.

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Who was the first Swedish golfer to win the U.S. Womens's Open two straight times?

Annika Sorenstam.

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Who's the most successful Zimbabwean golfer of all time?

Nick Price.

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Why Do Golfers Yell "Fore"?

"Fore" is another word for "ahead" (think of a ship's fore and aft). Yelling "fore" is simply a shorter way to yell "watch out ahead" (or "watch out before"). It allows golfers to be forewarned, in other words.

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How many rounds must a golfer have have played to be eligible for a handicap?

Ten.

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Who was the first golfer since Jack Nicklaus to win eight PGA events his first six years on tour?

Phil Mickelson.