Golf Balls a Product of Colonial Exploitation, Golf Imposed by the British Empire Worldwide?

'Golf balls are a product of colonial exploitation!' British Empire 'imposed' the game around the world and harvested rubber from Southeast Asian territories to make balls for the European market, exhibition claims

• A new exhibition at St Andrews in Scotland shines a light on golf's history
• It claims that the game was 'imposed' abroad by the British Empire in the 1800s
• Colonial countries' resources were also "exploited" to make golf balls, it says

Golf is known as a stylish sport for a civilised player, but  researchers at the University of St Andrews claim the game was 'imposed' by the British Empire in colonial countries around the world during the 19th century. 

Golf balls were once made using rubber harvested from these colonial territories. Gutta-percha, a natural rubber material found in trees native to southeast Asia, was harvested to make golf balls for the European market. 

St Andrews is known as the 'home of golf' for its 600-year playing history.

Golf balls were the product of colonial exploitation, according to the University of St Andrews, while the game itself was was 'imposed' around the world by the British Empire 

Gutta-percha (pictured), a natural rubber material found in trees native to South-east Asia, is a tree of the genus Palaquium. In the 19th century, it was harvested to make golf balls for the European market

Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century, although it was banned by King James II on the basis that games were a distraction from military training. 

Restrictions on playing the game were removed with the Treaty of Glasgow, coming into effect in 1502.

Gutta-percha's natural bounce made it ideal to make a new 'gutta ball' (pictured), which replaced the older 'feathery ball' made from feathers and stitched leather

Saint Andrews Links located in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is widely recognised as the 'home of golf'

By the late 19th century, golf had spread to Ireland, the US and other parts of Europe, and it had also reached British Empire territories including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Egypt, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Cricket as well as golf spread across the Empire as British enthusiasts established clubs abroad. 

Gutta rubber grew most abundantly in Malaysia, which was formerly held by the British.

Victorian scientists discovered that the rubber was a perfect and profitable material for covering burgeoning telegraph wires.

Its natural bounce also made it ideal to make a new 'gutta ball', said to have been invented in 1843 by St Andrews student Robert Adams Paterson, which replaced the older 'feathery ball' made from feathers and stitched leather.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GOLF 

The game of golf as we know it today can be attributed to the Scots, although there are records of several stick and ball games throughout history. 

As far back as the 13th century, the Dutch played a game where a leather ball was hit with the intention of reaching a target several hundred yards away.

The winner would be the player who reached the target with the fewest shots.

However, the Scottish variation of the sport was distinguished by the aim of getting the ball into a hole. 

When talking about the modern game with 18 holes, golf history traces its origins back to 15th century Scotland.

The game is first mentioned in an Act of Scottish Parliament in 1457, which called for it to be banned alongside football.

King James II of Scotland prohibited playing games as it was a distraction from military training, so he felt perfecting archery was more worthwhile.

After several more bannings throughout the 15th century and golf being lambasted as an unprofitable sport, restrictions on playing the game were removed with the Treaty of Glasgow coming into effect in 1502.

The oldest recorded rules for the game date back to the year 1744, where The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers published 'Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf'. 

This ancient piece of golf history, which now remains in the National Library of Scotland, gave fame to the Muirfield club being the longest surviving club in the history of golf.

Scottish soldiers, immigrants, and expatriates played a pivotal role in the history of golf.

They were responsible for spreading the game around the British Isles during the 18th century. 

However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the game started to gain an international presence, including in the British Empire. 

The oldest golf courses outside of Britain are to be found in nearby France, with the establishment of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1829 and the club at Pau in 1856.

By 1880, golf had spread to Ireland, many other parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and South Africa.

Meanwhile, back in Britain, the game enjoyed increased popularity. By 1880, England had 10 golf courses, which rapidly increased to 1000 by 1914.

Source: College Of Golf at Keiser University  

Read more:

• A Brief History of Golf

reader comments:

Who are the idiots that have to find something like this in every damn thing?

The guy who came up with this will probably get a masters degree in BS.

Will some one save us from these narrow-minded idiots

I suspect 'imposed' is the wrong word. It is only natural that Brits abroad would want to play their favourite games

All wokes should be buried to their knees at the driving range and used for target practice. 

If we had used tennis balls and larger holes, would that have been okay?

To make amends for our past sins I suggest that we tell countries other than Britain to stop playing golf, cricket and football.

Has anybody told Tiger Woods?