I've been told where the word golf comes from. Is it true?

Question

I've been told the word golf comes from...

Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden.

Is this true? If not, does anyone know the true origin?

Answer 1

urban myth - although there are still men only clubs out there
See link below - originally comes from a word meaning club

Answer 2

No, that's false.

The Scots however regard golf to be a Scottish invention, as the game was supposedly mentioned in two 15th-century laws prohibiting the playing of the game of "gowf". Scholars, however, suggest that this refers to another game which is much akin to shinty or hurling, or to modern field hockey rather than golf. They point out that a game of putting a small ball in a hole in the ground using golf clubs was played in 17th-century Netherlands rather than Scotland. This is backed up by the fact that the term golf is an alteration of Dutch "kolf" meaning "stick, "club" and "bat" [5] (see: Kolven). There are reports of even earlier accounts of golf from continental europe [6] and an image in Gloucester cathedral showing golf dates from 1350

Answer 3

From about.com:



The medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club." It is believed that word passed to the Scots, whose old Scots dialect transformed the word into "golve," "gowl" or "gouf."

By the 16th Century, the word "golf" had emerged.

Sources: British Golf Museum, USGA Library

Answer 4

It used to be very appropiate. Once heard of a lady being refused access to a male only bar in a golf club, she asked

"What's wrong , are my ovaries not allowed in there!!"

Answer 5

Gone Off with Lovers Friend

Answer 6

False!

Here's what snopes, the Urban Legends Reference Page, has to say about it: http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/golf.asp

Answer 7

I second Brian M's answer. It's not been proved, but it's almost certainly correct.

Answer 8

i've been told this story but i doubt it's true.

Answer 9

No it's not true, a misogynist made it up...

Answer 10

If it ain't, it oughta be!