Random occurrences couldn't possibly explain the creation of a game that has led to a human fascination with hitting a small, dimpled ball with a crooked stick into a tiny hole a few hundred yards away. This game, known as golf, had to be invented.

The origins. It's probable that even cavemen children used sticks to propel rocks to a specific destination with a specific purpose, that destination perhaps an enemy's head and that purpose to lodge a rock inside the enemy's skull. To be considered golf, however, there had to be a hole, with some rules that didn't involve killing people. Most historians believe that these rules originated in Scotland and involved sheep herders hitting a rock into rabbit holes with sticks as a diversion from the tedious work of herding sheep. Although the rules of the game varied from place to place, the objective was the same: hit your rock into the rabbit hole in the least amount of tries as possible.

The Early days of golf. One of the earliest mentions of golf came during the 15th century when James II banned the game because his archers spent too little time practicing archery and too much time practicing golf. Official rules were not written until 1754 in St. Andrews, Scotland. Golf clubs were more like sticks with a flat end—think 1-iron—and the standard 18-hole golf course didn't occur until much later. Nothing resembling a modern golf ball came around until the 1800s, right around the time that irons became standard club equipment. Golf tees weren't invented until the 1930s and ancient Scottish golfers would have salivated at the chance to strike a titanium ball off a tee with an oversized driver.

Expansion of the Game. So exactly how did a regional game, centered in St. Andrews, Scotland go global? Golf's globalization began in the mid 1800s with the railroad coming to St. Andrews. The increase in people coming to St. Andrews led to an increase in the game's exposure. The first open championship was held in 1860 in nearby Prestwick, Scotland, and the game's popularity soon spread.

Modern History. The National Golf Foundation reports that nearly 30 million individuals worldwide play golf, most in an infuriating, frustrating manner. Those who are experts at the game play professionally throughout the world. The best players from the United States and around the world are members of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) or the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA). Tournaments involving these organization award cash prizes in the millions for top finishers. The four most prestigious events, called the Grand Slam, are the Masters, hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club; the U.S. Open, sponsored by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and played at various courses in the United States; the PGA Championship, held at various courses in the United States; and the British Open, held at various courses throughout Great Britain, often at St. Andrews where the modern game originated.

So the next time you're on the golf course about to chuck your 6-iron into the woods, think about golf's history and chuck a 1-iron instead.