In the beginning golf had no standard number of holes. Early courses had 5 holes, 7 holes, 12 holes, even 25. Then in 1764 the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland reworked its 22-hole layout, combining four short holes at each end, and a round officially became 18 holes.
Why did 18 holes become the worldwide standard? Because St Andrews was the most influential course of its day. Courses around the world began to copy the layout, and in 1858 the R&A wrote 18 holes into the rules of competition. From then on 18 holes was the global standard. To this day a round of 18 is still seen as the format that best balances skill, strategy and stamina. Golf trivia: the whisky legend There is a story that gets passed around: 18 holes is 18 because a 750ml bottle of Scotch whisky works out at exactly one nip per hole, and the bottle runs out after 18. Sounds plausible? It is a long-running urban legend with no historical evidence behind it. What actually made 18 the standard is still the 1764 renovation at St Andrews. Did you know where 18 holes came from? Tell us which version you heard first. #Golf #GolfKnowledge #GolfFacts #StAndrews #RAndA #GolfLife #GolfHistory