September 16, 2020
Emerging as a major spectator sport back in the 1920s, golf has now become one of the most popular and competitive sports out there. The sport is loved by millions of people due to its inclusivity. And while it may not be possible to play at the moment, there is never a wrong time to learn more about the sport. In this post, we’ll share some fun facts about golf that might surprise you — and even the most dedicated enthusiasts.
1. The number of most hole-in-ones shot in a lifetime is 59
This record was achieved by California golfer Norman Manley. Shooting 59 hole-in-ones is pretty impressive considering that an amateur golfer’s odds of shooting an ace are 12,500 to 1 according to Golf Digest — and some golfers don’t even get the chance to hit even one ace in their golfing careers.
2. The PGA of America used to have a Caucasian-only rule
Membership to The PGA of America used to be limited to professional golfers of the Caucasian race. Enacted in 1934, the Caucasian-only clause states that, “Male professional golfers of the Caucasian race, over the age of eighteen years (18), residing in North or South America, who can qualify under the terms and conditions hereinafter specified, shall be eligible for membership or “H” Apprentice status.”
But in 1960, The PGA of America was challenged by California Attorney General Stanley Mosk. According to him, it’s illegal to bar a competitor from playing solely because of his race. This campaign for equality in golf was finally won in November 1961, when The PGA of America finally passed a resolution to remove the discriminatory clause from its bylaws.
3. Golf was played on the moon
On a good day out on the course, you might feel like your skills are out of this world. But that’s nothing on Alan Shepard, who holds the title not just of the first American in space, but also of the first extraterrestrial golfer. Gala Bingo reports that he hit two golf balls while on the moon back in 1971 with a golf club he made by fitting an 8 iron head to the handle of a lunar sample collection device. What’s amazing is that these golf balls are still on the moon, waiting for another lunar golfer to use them someday.
4. Charlie Sifford has a lot of firsts
Charlie Sifford is a legendary golfer who was pivotal in breaking the racial barriers for African-Americans in the sport. For one, Charlie Sifford was the first African-American player to earn a PGA Tour card. In 2004, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, making him the first African-American to receive this award. He’s also the first African-American golfer to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland — the place considered by many as the “Home of Golf.”
5. The term birdie was coined accidentally
One of the basic scoring terms in golf is “birdie”, and it refers to a score of 1-under par on any individual golf hole. It’s derived from the early 20th-century American slang term “bird”, meaning anything that’s excellent. Golfer Ab Smith accidentally coined the term when his second shot went within inches of the hole and he then exclaimed that it was a “bird of a shot.”
To learn more about golf and the lingo used in the sport, be sure to check out Sally Cook’s and Ross MacDonald’s An Illustrated Guide to Links Lingo which has over 75 illustrations to accompany the golf terms.
