A Look at the World's Three Most Pioneering Golf Clubs

While we may enjoy the conveniences of modern day living there seems something within us that attracts us to old things. It is still a wonder why people enjoy looking at antiques, or enjoy driving vintage cars and spend hours poring over old paintings. It cannot be doubted that deep within us lies a penchant for old things. Perhaps it is because we are creatures of time that the passing by of time still remains to grasp something within us. Old things and places often reminds us of the past and we cannot but close our eyes to the possibility that we enjoy looking at history because it reminds us of how short our lives are.

Of special mention are old golf clubs. Golf itself is a very old, old game. It is said to have originated from the Romans, Chinese, Scottish or the Dutch. Although it has not been established as to who really initiated the game of golf, there is no doubt as to which are the oldest golf clubs in the world.

Belonging to one of the oldest golf clubs in the world carries with it the badge of distinct honor. One cannot help but think that sometime in history, great golfers of the past has trodden on the course that the modern players has gone through now a days. The following are the oldest golf clubs in the world.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Used to be called "The Gentlemen Golfers") holds the honor of being the oldest golf club in the world. Records show that the club began in 1744 and produced thirteen rules of golf for competition purposes. For nearly 100 years, the club played at the Leith links. It was only in 1836 that the club moved to the public course of Musselburgh. Overcrowding at Musselburgh prompted them to build a private course at Muirfield in 1891.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

Based on St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is probably the second oldest and most well known golf club in the world. The club grounds are also being touted as the oldest golf course in the world. It began as the Society of St. Andres Golfers in 1754. They started playing at the St. Andres link. King William IV became the patron of the club in 1834 and the name was changed to "The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews" They codified the rules of Golf in 1897 and ever since that time the club, through the newly formed group of companies simply called as R & A is considered worldwide as the authority on golf anywhere except the United States and Mexico. Most tournaments are controlled and administered by the R & A.

Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC')

The Royal Calcutta Golf club is based in Kolkata, India. The club was started in in 1829 and is probably the third oldest golf club in the world and the first outside Britain. The title "Royal" was conferred upon the club in 1911 in commemoration of the visit to Calcutta of King George the V and Queen Marry.