subject: What Is It About Golf That Can Make A Grown Man Cry? [print this page] Everyone has heard the joke about the golfer whose wife asks him how the game went. He responds that Bob died on the third hole. In horror his wife exclaims how terrible that must have been, to which her husband replies, "You have no idea how horrible it really was, all day long it was hit the ball, drag Bob, hit the ball, drag Bob".
What is it about golf, that to a real die-hard fan this joke is not only funny but also they think of the horror of not being able to finish a game, no matter what? A woman in town always quips that she hopes she doesn't die on Wednesday as that is her husband's golf day and she is sure he would be mad.
Golf has been around since medieval Europe. While the exact origin is hotly debated, it seems to have emerged in the port towns around eastern Scotland from the medieval period. Golf spread quickly from Scotland to the United Kingdom, on to the British Empire and the United States got its first taste during the late 19th century.
A game played with a stick and leather ball is documented in February of 1297 in the Netherlands. Even then, the winner was whoever hit the target a hundred yards away with the least number of strokes. The Chinese had their version as early as the Song Dynasty. They had 10 clubs even then. While certainly not the caliber of Callaway golf clubs, Ping, TaylorMade or other Callaway golf equipment, the clubs were specialized for differing strokes. Since the clubs were inlaid with jade and gold, the game was obviously played by the wealthy. The common person never had time for fun!
The king, James II of Scotland, prohibited "gowf" and football because they wasted the time of the soldiers who were suppose to be practicing archery and other military skills in 1457. They were banned again in 1471 and 1491 because golf was deemed "an unprofitable sport". Mary, Queen of Scots, was accused for political reasons, of playing golf, as this was a "sport that were clearly unsuitable to women".
History tried to prevent the pain and agony of the sport, but the passion and fans prevailed and golf is here to stay and here to inflict its frustration and triumph for generations to come.
With the use of Callaway golf clubs and Callaway golf equipment, Ping, Taylormade, Cleveland, and even Nike, the sport just keeps on improving causing people to think seriously about hitting the ball and dragging Bob on any given day on the green!
