History of Golf

The modern game originated in Scotland in the 15th century, with the first written mentions of the sport coming with James II banning it in 1457 as it became an unwelcome distraction to learning archery. James IV, a golfer himself, lifted the ban in 1502 and the first golf clubs were reportedly created in 1503 and 1504. To many golfers, the Old Course at St. Andrews is considered to be the first course ever created, which dates back to 1574.

The world's oldest golf tournament in existence, and also known as the first Major Championship, is the Open Championship. The Open was first played in October 1860 and has been played on an annual basis ever since.

Like England and Scotland, golf didn't become popular in the USA until the late 19th century. Several clubs established in the 1880s claim that they are the oldest in the country, however following a hugely successful National Amateur Championship in 1894, the United States Golf Association was created and by 1910, there were 267 clubs nationwide. The sport boomed in popularity in the 1920s, and by 1932, there were over 1,100 golf clubs affiliated with the USGA. Although expansion of the sport was halted by the Great Depression and World War II, it has continued to increase in popularity and by 2013; there were 10,600 clubs in existence across the USA.

Golf Markets: What are the big events?

NetBet’s golf betting page offers up-to-date odds on all major events, including the 4 Major Championships across the year. You can access betting markets for The US Masters, the US Open, the British Open and the USPGA Championship. Odds are also available on the major continental event in golf between the USA and Europe, that being the Ryder Cup. Golf betting has risen in popularity in recent years due to the vast number of players who compete as well as no dominating player in the sport. With no dominating golfer, the odds are well-priced and therefore offer players a great return on their bets and wagers. Each-way betting is a great way to enhance returns and NetBet offer up to five places dependent on the event, where players can make a return on their money, meaning that even if your selection doesn’t win, an each-way bet that finishes in fifth place can still create a return.

Events are held on a weekly basis so there is always something for you to bet on. What could be more fun than predicting which player will win the championship from a field of over 100? There is so much choice and with so many players to choose from, it's impossible not to enjoy betting with us.

A Golf Betting Guide

Whether you prefer betting on crowd favourites such as Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy or Bubba Watson, or if you prefer outsiders such as Masters 2016 Champion Danny Willett, we’ll have you covered right here on NetBet’s golf betting page. It’s not just the current players that feature on our website, but also players of past years, including the seniors. Bet on the Champions Tour Tournaments and Money List, featuring legends of the game including Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh. There are also specials, such as how many majors will a player win over the course of the year, whatever golf betting type you’re looking for, we’ll have it right here. You may think it's all about player odds, but wait until the Ryder Cup when there will be odds on which team will win the tournament.

Betting on which golfer will win the tournament is one of the most popular markets, but you can also bet on who will lead after the first round, who will win in a match play event and you can also bet in-play. The odds will frequently change if you bet in-play, so it's up to you to take advantage at the best opportunity. The later you leave it though, the worse the betting odds will be, so place your in-play bets early!

With golf betting becoming so popular and with events taking place on a weekly basis, why would you bet on the sport anywhere else? All of our odds are well-priced and if you make the right selections, then you're bound to win something. Bet here with us now!

Did you know this about Golf?

A golf ball will travel further on hot days because the air is less dense, so it takes less velocity to travel. Only two sports have ever been played on the moon, one is golf; the other is the javelin throw. Until the invention and rising popularity of the tee, golfers played off of sand piles they built themselves. If you walked all eighteen holes instead of riding in a buggy, you would walk approximately four miles.

Golf's Best Moments

Jack Nicklaus was part of one of the most memorable moments back in the 1965 Masters. Tied with fellow Big Three members Arnold Palmer and Gary Player after two rounds, Nicklaus made light work of Augusta National on the third with an incredible display of power. Three of his drives went at least 320 yards. He hit 18 greens, narrowly missing the 11th to the right and he hit three par 5s in two, with no more than a 3-iron. He had no bogeys and no 5s and his longest putt was 25 feet. After Nicklaus won by nine shots, Bobby Jones described it as a level with which he was unfamiliar. Nicklaus describes it as his finest round in a record major career.