Although golf popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries, golf itself is one of the oldest, continuous sport forms in all of history. Although earlier golf-like sports appeared elsewhere, the modern form of the sport arose in Scotland and remained there until the late 19th century. Golf is little changed from Scotland of the 15th century, when James II issued a decree banning golf because of its greater popularity than archery, which he considered a more noble sport. The banning had little impact, however, as golf in the 16th century became the favorite sport of Mary, Queen of Scots, who championed the building of the first formal golf course at Saint Andrews.
In the 19th century, golf grew in popularity internationally. It spread throughout the United Kingdom, into France and across continental Europe and then throughout the USA and Canada. It is now one of the most popular pastimes in the UK and the USA. Due to its very nature as more a participant sport than a spectator sport, it is difficult to determine its exact popularity.
Membership at golf clubs tends to rise and fall according to the economic conditions of the moment. There are free golf courses, however, and courses, such as those on residential grounds, that aren't monitored for membership numbers due to their private nature. The exact number of golfers at any time is difficult, if not impossible, to determine. The best estimation is that over sixty million people around the world actively play golf on either an amateur or professional level.
It has been said, however, that basketball players retire to play golf, golfers don't retire and play basketball. The reposeful nature of golf is one of the reasons it is difficult to determine its real popularity. Great speculation has always existed about whether golf is even a sport. The game is not considered strenuous in terms of aerobic or anaerobic exercise. In fact, golf itself is thought to have caught on because of its precision play amid peaceful surroundings, making it a recommended form of relaxation.
Although the US National Golf Foundation showed lower members in the year 2000, in the early part of last decade, golf took off as a sport among young people. In the US, golf still emerges as a strong elective course in junior high and high schools. Courses in golf at the college level became plentiful at every level of play.
Golf has become so popular among wealthier people in China that, despite the government's ban on the building of new courses, to preserve public lands and restrict water consumption, golf course developers continue to build them because of the demand. There are now more than 600 18 hole golf courses in China.
Even in areas of the world still plagued by economic difficulty, low-cost play will continue to be popular. Though golf popularity may rise and fall across the years, there is as yet no sign that the sport of kings will ever lose popularity among the people.
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