| Origin | |
| Popularity | Remained a relatively niche hobby across Europe and its colonies, never achieving the widespread popularity it has in other parts of the world today |
| Association | Linked to the merchant and middle classes, rather than the elite |
| Development | Spread to mainland Europe, particularly the Low Countries, where it developed a distinct continental character |
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. The sport originated in the 15th century in Scotland, but unlike in the primary timeline, it never became a dominant pastime of the British aristocracy and gentry. Instead, golf spread across continental Europe, especially to the Low Countries, where it developed a distinct character and association with the merchant and middle classes.
The modern game of golf is believed to have first emerged in the 1400s in towns along the northeastern coast of Scotland, such as St Andrews. The earliest written record of the sport comes from 1457, when King James II of Scotland banned the game, as it was deemed a distraction from military archery practice. This suggests that the game had already gained some popularity among the Scottish populace.
Despite the king's edict, golf continued to spread throughout Scotland during the 15th and 16th centuries. However, unlike in the primary timeline, it did not become a favored pastime of the British aristocracy and gentry. The game remained largely confined to the merchant and middle classes, especially in Scotland's major trading centers.
In the 17th century, Scottish merchants and colonists brought the game of golf with them as they established settlements in the Low Countries and other parts of continental Europe. Golf clubs and courses began appearing in cities across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, especially in areas with strong economic ties to Scotland.
Unlike Britain, where golf was associated with the upper classes, the sport in continental Europe was embraced by the burgeoning merchant and professional classes. Golf clubs and courses were often established and funded by urban trade guilds, civic organizations, and early commercial enterprises. This gave the game a distinct working-class character compared to its British counterpart.
The game of golf was particularly popular in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which encompassed much of the present-day Northeastern United States. Settlers from the Netherlands and Flanders brought the sport with them, and it became a favorite activity among the merchants, traders, and craftsmen of cities like New Rotterdam (New York City) and New Amsterdam (Albany).
The golf courses and clubs of New Netherland developed their own unique styles, incorporating elements of Dutch architecture and landscape design. Clubs often had attached taverns and social spaces, catering to the leisure needs of the colony's prosperous middle class. However, golf remained a niche hobby, never achieving widespread popularity among the general population.
While sharing common origins, the game of golf in continental Europe developed significant differences from the British version. The courses tended to be more compact, with fewer holes, and incorporated more water hazards and sand traps influenced by Dutch landscape design. Clubs also had a distinct shape and construction, often featuring the curved "bulb" head that became characteristic of continental European golf.
Additionally, the social aspects of the game were emphasized more heavily in continental Europe, with golf clubs functioning as important centers of middle-class social life and networking. By contrast, British golf remained strongly tied to the aristocracy and country gentry, with a more competitive and less social atmosphere.
Despite its prominence in certain urban centers and colonial outposts, golf never achieved the widespread mainstream popularity in continental Europe that it attained in the primary timeline. The sport remained a relatively niche hobby, associated with the merchant and professional classes rather than the landed elite.
However, continental European golf did leave a lasting impact. The distinct styles, courses, and social customs of the game influenced the development of the sport elsewhere, especially in the Dutch colonies. And golf's association with the rising middle classes in Europe gave it a more egalitarian image compared to its elitist British counterpart. While a minor pastime, the continental European version of golf helped shape the global evolution of the game.
