Head Down
Mark Twain said that “golf is a good walk spoiled.” More recently, John Feinstein turned this phrase into a best selling book. The sentiment appears to be long lived, given that the word and the game was causing angst among the peoples of many lands from at least the Middle ages. The word “golf” first appeared in print in 1457 as part of a prescient Scottish statute proscribing forbidden games, such as as “gouf.” It may derive from the Scots word “goulf” meaning “to strike or cuff”, and similarly may further be derived from the Dutch word kolf, meaning “bat,” or “club,” and the sport of the same name. Given current practice, it’s hard to say whether the striking and cuffing by the kolf was done upon a ball or upon one’s opponent. According to the always reliable Wikipedia, an even earlier reference to golf occurred in 1452 when King James II banned the game, because it kept his subjects from their archery practice — or was it that the archers were looking forward to having a shot at such crazy prey.
Fast forward to spring 2011, when Bob Clark, esteemed golfer and member of the Burke History Dept., again defies the orders of King James, tempts his archers, and bravely takes his golfing proteges out on the links.
Take a look at a veritable bagful of pictures from a recent Burke golf team outing up on BurkePix. Click here to see a slide show of their tourney against Barrie. There’s nothing spoiled about some of the sweet swings you’ll see there and the pics below.
[ED: Special thanks to the mystery photographer!]
Gam of Golfers
One year later, having already grown to over 500 local members, Aaron and co.’s club was just granted the official seal of recognition by FC Barcelona to be its DC representative!!
