Golf in the South - where it all began in Charleston and Aiken SC.

Although golf is often associated with a somewhat genteel sporting tradition that took its time migrating across the Atlantic, the game's origins are disputed by historians. Some claim that the sport dates back to ancient Rome, while others place its birthplace in what is now China. Contemporary thinking says that the modern game of golf evolved in the uplands of Scotland where the grass was kept conveniently short by the grazing activity of flocks of sheep, and shepherds batted around small rocks with wooden sticks to alleviate their boredom. Disagreement exists whether the first golf game played on New World soils was actually a Dutch game known as kolven that took place in Albany, New York, and was played on the ice of the Hudson River rather than on green pastureland. The first reliable historical references to the Scottish form of the game are found in the American South in the state of South Carolina.

What experts don't dispute is that golf clubs and balls made their way to the United States around the middle of the 18th century, that it really didn't gain national mainstream momentum until the latter part of the 19th century, and that the southern portion of the country has some of the best courses in the world. Here's what you need to know about the grand tradition of golf below the Mason-Dixon line.

Golf's South Beginnings

Fortunately, golf's historical narrative is clearer than its past in other parts of the country and the world. The first golf clubs arrive on what is now South Carolina shores when the region was still colonies of England in the year 1739, and immigrants from Scotland began enjoying games of golf in green, well-grazed areas that resembled their home turf. One of the favorite places to play was called Harleston Green. Slightly less than thirty years later after the first golf clubs hit southern soil, the first golf club was established on that same green expanse in the year 1789, shortly after the colonies would declare themselves independent from outside rule. Harleston Green is now considered not only the true birthplace of golf in the American South but in the entire country as a whole and enjoys current renown as one of the finest golf courses in the world.

Golf, however, remained a private sport until the first public golf courses began to appear in the picture during the last few decades of the 19th century.

Aiken Golf Club

Although Aiken Golf Club was developed several generations after its ancestor in Charleston, it's still considered one of the oldest courses in the country. Built in 1912, it offered year-round golfing opportunities because of the area's mild winters, and the club has enjoyed status since the beginning as a favorite of golf greats seeking to keep their skills sharp for the professional circuit as well as celebrities looking for ways to indulge in their favorite pastime in a comfortable outdoor environment during winter. The Aiken Golf Club was also the first in the country to feature tees specifically for women who wanted to get in on the game.

Whether you tee off at Harleston Green in Charleston or go to the western side of the state to enjoy a round or two at Aiken Golf Club, you'll find that the historical ambiance combines seamlessly with state-of-the-art amenities to provide you with the best of both worlds.

Note for Picture :

This diorama, displayed in the Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum and Shop in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, was created by R.N.S. Whitelaw, it illustrates the 1786 match at Harleston Green in downtown Charleston.