Why are there 18 holes on a golf course??
Answers:
Like many developments throughout golf history, the standardization of 18 holes did not happen as the result of a momentous decision agreed upon by many.
And again, like many developments in golf, the standardization of 18 holes can be credited to St. Andrews.
Prior to the mid-1760s - and right up until the early 1900s - it was common to find golf courses that were comprised of 12 holes, or 19, or 23, or 15, or any other number.
Then, around 1764, St. Andrews converted from 22 holes to 18 holes. The reason? Well, everyone knows 18 holes are easier to take care of than 22!
Eighteen holes did not become the standard until the early 1900s, but from 1764 onward, more courses copied the St. Andrews model. Then, in 1858, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews issued new rules.
According to Sam Groves, curator of the British Golf Museum:-
"In 1858, the R&A issued new rules for its members; Rule 1 stated 'one round of the Links or 18 holes is reckoned a match unless otherwise stipulated'. We can only presume that, as many clubs looked to the R&A for advice, this was slowly adopted throughout Britain. By the 1870s, therefore, more courses had 18 holes and a round of golf was being accepted as consisting of 18 holes."
St Andrews (Old Course) had 12 holes by 1764, and probably much earlier. The holes were laid out in a line and 10 holes were played twice - once 'out' and once back 'in', making a 'round' of 22 holes. However, in 1764, the golfers decided to combine the first four holes into two, which produced a round of 18 holes, though it was really 10 holes of which 8 were played twice.
Therefore, when Prestwick was built in 1851 with only 12 holes, it did not look out of place.
By 1857 however, St Andrews had put second holes in the 8 double greens of the Old Course, creating a proper round of 18 holes, and in 1858 the St Andrews club laid down a round of 18 holes for matches between its own members.
The double greens explain the origin of the different coloured flags on the first nine holes from the back nine, as you needed these at St Andrews to tell you to which hole you are playing on the double greens (see picture below). However, this did not include the eighteenth hole, which on the Old Course still has the same white flag as the that of the first nine holes. The adoption of different coloured flags by other courses for the front and back nine holes seems to be a misunderstanding of this situation as the double greens is a problem they did not have.
because that is how lmany it takes to waste away the afternoon.
why is the sky blue and the grass green?
Because they are. And golf has 18 holes because it does!
actually there are 19 you forgot to mention the water hole. After that one you are too p..d to care anymore
because there are. some courses have 9, some have 6.
why not
Nice answer lutadam, but I heard that 18 is the amount of holes to play for a twosome to finish a bottle of Scotch.
According to Scottish folklore, the inventors of the game were playing a round. They ran out of drink after 18 holes and quit there.
Peace, Bu
because you are too knackerd after 18 to play any more!
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