Golf Courses - The
Reason for 18 Hole Courses
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.
I'll let Sam Groves, curator of the British Golf Museum who helped me
with this explanation, take it from here:
"In 1858, the R&A issued new rules for its members; Rule 1 stated 'one
round of the Links or 18 holes is reckoned a match unless otherwise
stipulated'. We can only presume that, as many clubs looked to the R&A
for advice, this was slowly adopted throughout Britain. By the 1870s,
therefore, more courses had 18 holes and a round of golf was being
accepted as consisting of 18 holes."
From:
http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/a/hist_18holes.htm
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