Okay, so I was digging into this whole “when did golf come to America” thing, and let me tell you, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole. I started out thinking it would be a simple answer, like, “Oh, 1888, done.” But no, it’s way messier than that.
First Steps Down the Rabbit Hole
My first move was, naturally, hitting up Google. I just typed in “when did golf come to america” and started scrolling. I found some stuff, it is all over the place.
Sifting Through the Initial Info
I started clicking through some articles, and found some websites. It seems golf has been around here in some way since colonial time, but they all kind of give different dates and stories. It is not offical and organized at all, which is so annoying!.
Trying to Find a Solid Answer
- St. Andrews Golf Club: Some people were talking about Yonkers, New York, 1888. Something about a guy named John Reid and his buddies whacking balls around in an orchard. Sounds like a good time, honestly. They even formed a club called St. Andrews, which is still around.
- Earlier Claims: Then I find other sources that mention golf being played way earlier, like in the 1700s! There’s mention of golf clubs and balls being shipped to South Carolina and Georgia. And even some newspaper ads for golf stuff in New York City. Talk about confusing.
Putting the Pieces Together (My Best Guess)
So, here’s what I’ve pieced together, it is not 100% answer, but it is my understanding now:
- Golf was probably played in America in some informal way before the late 1800s. Think rich dudes messing around, not organized tournaments or anything.
- The “official” story usually points to John Reid and St. Andrews Golf Club in 1888 as the start of organized golf in the US. That’s when things started to get more structured, with clubs and rules and all that.
Conclusion (For Now)
Honestly, it feels like there’s no single, definitive answer. Golf kind of seeped into America over time, starting with casual play and eventually evolving into the organized sport we know today. I’m still not totally satisfied, so I might have to keep digging. Maybe I’ll check out some old books or something. If I find anything else interesting, I’ll definitely share it!
