The mystery of 18 holes in golf: Myth or reality?
It is said that the reason there are 18 holes on a golf course has to do with the favorite drink of Scottish golfers: whisky. Legend has it that in the early days of golf, back in the 15th century, players used to carry a flask of whisky to give themselves a boost during their round.
The flask, they say, held 18 measures, just enough for a short drink after each hole. This way, after completing all 18 holes, the flask would be empty, and the players, soaked in whiskey and in high spirits, would finish their game.
Over time, the practice of drinking a drink per hole faded away, but the number of holes remained the same. The Old Course at St. Andrews, considered the birthplace of golf, originally had 22 holes, but in 1764 it was modified to reduce it to 18. This configuration was adopted as the standard and spread throughout the world.
Although the whisky legend is the most popular, there are other theories that attempt to explain the origin of the 18 holes. Some argue that it’s based on the ideal length of a golf round, while others believe it has to do with the distance a player could walk in a day.
Whatever the reason, the tradition of the 18-hole round has endured for centuries and is an integral part of golf’s essence. Today, players don’t need to sip whiskey to enjoy a full round, but the history behind the 18-hole round remains a source of fascination for many.