Dutch Painting Sparks Debate Over Golf's Origins
A newly acquired 17th-century Dutch artwork depicting a game resembling golf has reignited a long-standing discussion about whether the sport originated in Scotland or the Netherlands.
A £9.7 million painting by Dutch artist Hendrick Avercamp, titled 'Colf Players on Ice,' has prompted renewed debate about the origins of golf. Acquired by Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, the 17th-century work depicts figures playing a game on a frozen lake that bears resemblance to modern golf.
Pieter Roelofs, head of fine arts at the Rijksmuseum, suggested that the sport may have Dutch roots. He pointed to early 16th-century Dutch and Flemish prints that show a game called 'colf,' which was played year-round and on ice in winter. While acknowledging a lack of definitive written proof, Roelofs posited that Dutch or Flemish immigrants may have introduced the sport to the United Kingdom.
Scotland, however, has a strong claim to golf's history, being home to the world's first golf courses and the first written rules, established in Edinburgh in the 18th century. Historical records indicate James IV of Scotland purchased golf clubs in 1502, predating Avercamp's painting, which is believed to have been completed around 1625. Further evidence from Scotland includes Mary, Queen of Scots, playing golf in East Lothian in the 1560s, and 16th-century decrees prohibiting golf on the Sabbath.
Neil Millar, a golf historian and professor at University College London, has countered the Dutch origin theory. He noted that while similarities exist between golf and colf, some arguments for the Dutch sport being golf's precursor lack reliable evidence. Millar explained that these continental European games faded in popularity, while golf took root and flourished in Scotland, evolving into the global sport known today.
The Avercamp painting, set to be displayed at the Stedelijk Museum in Kampen starting October 3, is considered significant as the first artwork to feature colf as its central theme. Avercamp himself is recognized as a pioneer of Dutch winter landscapes, specializing almost exclusively in such scenes, according to the Rijksmuseum.