Why do golf courses have 18 holes?

ski · 12-07-2004, 11:19 AM

Friend had it in his profile:

Why do golf courses have 18 holes - not 20, or 10, or an even dozen? During a discussion among the club's membership board at St. Andrews in 1858 a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out.

Maarchk · 12-07-2004, 11:35 AM

Brilliant!!! Just like there are 24 hours a day and 24 beers in a case.. The world revolves around the liquid diet.

raimin · 12-07-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

Friend had it in his profile:

Why do golf courses have 18 holes - not 20, or 10, or an even dozen? During a discussion among the club's membership board at St. Andrews in 1858 a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out.

i've heard that as well, and tried the 18 shots once, boy i couldn't hit the ball a lick on the back 9, sliced everything

ski · 12-07-2004, 12:35 PM

Yeah, I don't know how they can take 18 shots over 4-6 hours and still make a par 72

whitak24 · 12-07-2004, 01:06 PM

i don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but....

Quote:

Why are there 18 holes on a golf course?

Initially, there was no standard number of holes on a golf course. St Andrews for example had 22 holes until about 1764 when 4 were merged to make an 18 hole course. As far as we can establish, there is no specific date for when 18 holes became the standard number of holes on a course. In 1858, the R&A issued new rules for its members; Rule 1 stated:

“one round of the Links or 18 holes is reckoned a match unless otherwise stipulated”.

We can only presume that, as many clubs looked to the R&A for advice, this was slowly adopted throughout Britain. By the 1870s, therefore, more courses had 18 holes and a round of golf was being accepted as consisting of 18 holes.
http://www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk/faq.asp

see also:
http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/usga_history.html#8
http://www.snopes.com/sports/golf/18holes.htm

bachviet · 12-07-2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

Yeah, I don't know how they can take 18 shots over 4-6 hours and still make a par 72

'Cauze they belong to the AA.

ski · 12-07-2004, 02:00 PM

good find Whitak

DarkFury · 12-07-2004, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

Friend had it in his profile:

Why do golf courses have 18 holes - not 20, or 10, or an even dozen? During a discussion among the club's membership board at St. Andrews in 1858 a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out.

Figures that it would be tied back to drinkin'.

12-07-2004, 11:19 AM	#1
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,419	Why do golf courses have 18 holes? Friend had it in his profile: Why do golf courses have 18 holes - not 20, or 10, or an even dozen? During a discussion among the club's membership board at St. Andrews in 1858 a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out. __________________ And closer...

12-07-2004, 11:35 AM	#2
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,052	Brilliant!!! Just like there are 24 hours a day and 24 beers in a case.. The world revolves around the liquid diet. __________________ "The girl is crafty like ice is cold." "I left my heart in san francisco... And my liver at Moe's Tavern." A real friend is one who listens to you as much as they talk to you.

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12-07-2004, 12:35 PM	#4
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,419	Yeah, I don't know how they can take 18 shots over 4-6 hours and still make a par 72

12-07-2004, 02:00 PM	#7
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,419	good find Whitak

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