The euphoria associated with the game of Golf is maddening and wonderfully contagious. But while we ride the crest of our Golf passion, it’s also the time to pause and learn more about the sport we love. So did you know, why does a Golf course have 18 holes?

 

 

 

 

There are many myths associated with 18 holes but according to Golf pundits the story behind why golf courses have 18 holes goes back a long way in The Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland.

 

 

HOW ST ANDREWS GOT 18 HOLES?

 

 

By 1754, St Andrews consisted of twelve holes, ten of which were played twice, making a round of twenty-two holes in all. The course wends its way 'out' along the coast, and then turns back 'in' to the clubhouse. The instructions for playing the first competition there contained references to some of the Old Course holes which are still in existence. 

 

 

 

St. Andrews, 4th October 1764.

 

 

 

 

 

The Captain and Gentlemen Golfers present are of opinion that it would be for the improvement of the Links that the four first holes should be converted into two, - They therefore have agreed that for the future they shall be played as two holes, in the same way as presently marked out.

 

 

WM. ST. CLAIR.

 

 

 

In 1764, the 'Captain and Gentlemen Golfers present' of the club now known as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews decided the first four holes, which were also the last four holes, were too short and converted them into two holes to be played 'in the same way as presently marked out, thus creating an eighteen-hole golf course. It was actually ten holes, of which eight were played twice.

 

THE HOLE TRUTH?

 

 

Rumors were rife that Golf courses have 18 holes because 18 shots makes up a bottle of scotch.

Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes, and not 20, or 10 or an even dozen?

 

 

During a discussion among the club's membership board at St. Andrews in 1858, one of the members pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out.

 

 

Though the theory is hilarious and interesting,  we wish, this theory was true!