There are many things you can do to have fun online. For example, you can have a good time and earn money by playing casino games. (Before you do, make sure to get the most advantageous promotions by checking out the latest Free bets Australia 2022.) But if you want to have fun in the real world, we recommend you try golf: it's still one of the most popular sports in Australia.
“Golf has been played in Australia for over 150 years,” says Tony Sloterman, product owner of Casino Bonuses Finder company. “Currently, you can see a special section dedicated to golf on all AU sportsbooks.” So, how did this sport start in Australia and when did it become so popular? Below you can find answers to both questions.

The Origins of Golf

There is no consensus among historians about the origin of golf, but the majority think it originated in Scotland in the Middle Ages. From here, it is thought to have spread first to Europe and then to the United Kingdom. The earliest record mentioning a golf-like sport is dated 1297. Golf entered the UK in the 17th century, and over the next two centuries, it was played in every country where English explorers and immigrants went. At the end of the 19th century, it gained its current popularity.

When Did It Come to Australia?

There is no complete consensus on this issue either: some historians claim that golf began to be played in the late 18th century, others in the early 19th century. We know that the first British ships arrived in 1788, so we can say that both views make sense. But if we examine the historical records, we see the year 1839: A man named Alexander Brodie Spark talks about how he played golf in a place called “Grose Farm” in his diaries.

Spark is a Scottish merchant and also the founder of the first golf club in Australia: the New South Wales Golf Club. This is an organization sponsored by the Royal Blackheath Golf Club in the United Kingdom, but it doesn't last long. There is no such place as Grose Farm at the moment: it is presumed to be a place west of urban Sydney. But in any case, we have historical evidence that golf was played in Australia in 1839, and even had a club.

Golf Spreads with Clubs in Australia

The New South Wales Golf Club closed shortly after it was founded, but its members started to form their own clubs all over Australia. Golf became widespread in the country through these organizations. Only one of these clubs (The Australian Golf Club) still exists, although the Royal Melbourne Golf Club keeps claiming that it is the oldest “uninterrupted” one. Each club had its own home course, and some started to organize tournaments over time.

Over time, governing bodies have begun to emerge, bringing together clubs in each state. For example, in 1914, the Queensland Golf Union was formed, bringing together every club in this state under its own umbrella. State golf associations came together in 2006 to create the national sporting body called “Golf Australia”, and this organization still governs golf in the country. The premier golf tournament in Australia (Australian Open) is also run by the same organization.