3 Secrets of Golf Instruction

If you are like me you were first introduced to golf instruction by a close friend or "Uncle Tim". In my case, it was my close friend, Henry Davis, in or around the year 1975. The first words of wisdom that Henry imparted to me is: "Your going to hate the game or your going to love it". (By the way it is still a hate/love relationship.) Then Henry began giving me lessons on the secrets of the game.

The first secret Henry told me was that the game had been around for more than 600 years. That's right, more than 600 years old. Although, there is no conclusive evidence in todays history books, their are indications, that the game was played for the first time during the 'Dark Ages'. It is believed that the time was in and around the mid 13th  Century.

Because of the time frame, many scholars think perhaps the game was introduced by a wandering band of 'No Mads'. Although this line of thinking is fiercely debated among the descendants of the ancient blood line of the 'Galaics' (Scots) and other European nationalities. Which bring us to the 2nd Secret.

The 17th Century began to reveal the game as being formally organized and headed in the direction that we know today. During the mid 1600's golfers first began to play on a professionaly designed course. Prior to that the game was played in any cleared field that could be found. A lot of these fields were cow pastures and other livestock fields (with their own special hazards and 'water holes'). The laid out course was much more difficult to master and consequently the players began to look for teachers of the game. This then leads into Henry's 3rd Secret.

Remarkably enough, for over 200 years, though golfers were willing to pay for 'hands on teaching' none of the 'professional golfers' of the time had written a formal course for the game. However, in 1857 the first formal course was written by H. B Farnie. This book was published under the title of "The Golfer's Manual", by "A Keen Hand".

The founding date(13th Century), first professional designed course and the first formal written course are 3 little known secrets of golf instruction.