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26Aug

did the word golf originally stand for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden or is that a myth?

someone told me that the word golf stood for gentlemen only ladies forbidden and i want to know if its true or a myth

its a myth.

The word Golf was first mentioned in writing in 1457 on a Scottish statute on forbidden games as gouf,[1] possibly derived from the Scots word goulf (variously spelled) meaning “to strike or cuff”. This word may, in turn, be derived from the Dutch word kolf, meaning “bat,” or “club,” and the Dutch sport of the same name. It is often claimed that the word originated as an acronym for “gentlemen only, ladies forbidden”, but this is strictly a false etymology.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf#Etymology

6 Responses to “did the word golf originally stand for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden or is that a myth?”

  1. legalbgl Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 9:44 am

    its a myth.

    The word Golf was first mentioned in writing in 1457 on a Scottish statute on forbidden games as gouf,[1] possibly derived from the Scots word goulf (variously spelled) meaning “to strike or cuff”. This word may, in turn, be derived from the Dutch word kolf, meaning “bat,” or “club,” and the Dutch sport of the same name. It is often claimed that the word originated as an acronym for “gentlemen only, ladies forbidden”, but this is strictly a false etymology.[2]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf#Etymology

    References :

  2. killbasabill Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 9:48 am

    Golf was so named because all the other good four letter words were taken.
    References :

  3. doshiealan Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am

    It is a myth, I'm afraid, but an interesting one nevertheless. The English word golf comes from the old (15th Century) Scots word "gouf", which in turn may come from an even earlier similar Middle Dutch word for a similar game, originally played on winter ice.
    References :

  4. Joel D Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 9:57 am

    It’s a legend that GOLF stood for Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden, and most likely a myth.
    References :

  5. Nobs Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am

    It still makes sense to Me. Myth or not.Sorry
    References :

  6. ernie kelly Says:
    September 15th, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    I once heard that the word golf was derived from the word FLOG meaning to strike spelled backwards = GOLF

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