2006-07-25 21:22:36 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Golf
The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club.' In the Scottish dialect of the late 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became 'goff' or 'gouff,' and only later in the 16th century 'golf.'
The linguistic connections between the Dutch and Scottish terms are but one reflection of what was a very active trade industry between the Dutch ports and the ports on the east coast of Scotland from the 14th through 17th centuries.
Some scholars suggest that the Dutch game of 'kolf,' played with a stick and ball on frozen canals in the wintertime, was brought by the Dutch sailors to the east coast of Scotland, where it was transferred on to the public linkslands and eventually became the game we know today.
2006-07-26 04:20:33 · answer #1 · answered by bgill_0 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is not an abbreviation. The exact origin of the word is unclear, although it started being used in the Scots language (where the game originated) in the fifteenth century. It may derive from the dutch word "colf", meaning club.
2006-07-26 04:30:01 · answer #2 · answered by Graham I 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not an abbreviation, it's the name the game was given in Scotland.
People have made up words that it supposedly stands for - my favourite is Game for Old, Lame and Feeble.
2006-07-26 04:29:42 · answer #3 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aaaaa the abbreviation for golf is wait for it GOLF
2006-07-26 04:36:14 · answer #4 · answered by The Wanderer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.
It was created in Scotland.
2006-07-26 04:25:44 · answer #5 · answered by Skot M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they call it golf because all the other 4 letter words were taken!
2006-07-26 23:32:29 · answer #6 · answered by Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i look it up in the history org golf it from kolf,it from Holland
2006-07-26 06:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it isnt an abbreviation...
in scottish its actually "gowf" so backronyms like the ones below simply arent accurate
2006-07-26 04:25:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fun sport
2006-07-26 10:12:48 · answer #9 · answered by GolfBoy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a short way to explain how to mess up a nice walk.
2006-07-26 04:33:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋