It's unclear who exactly invented the game of golf or when. Some say it was the Dutch, as early as the 13th century, when sticks and leather balls were used. In 1360 the game was actually banned in Brussels by the City Council, where the penalty for playing was set at 20 shillings or the loss of one's overcoat!
There seems little doubt, however, that the game as we know it today, played on a course over 18 holes, was started in Scotland. It was called "gouf," a Scottish translation of the Dutch word "colf," which means stick or club. Again the game was officially banned, this time by Scottish Parliament in 1457, because it was thought to interfere with time that should be spent in the practice of archery. Proficiency at archery was seen as a necessity for military purposes. Golf was described as "an unprofitable sport."
When you think back 500 years, not much has changed. Golf gained popularity across the British Isles starting in the late 19th century and became what is still known as a "Gentleman's Game." Specific rules were initiated and a certain standard of golfing attire adopted. Today, most of those rules still apply and, believe it or not, "appropriate" clothing worn on the course has seen little change for decades. That is until the entry of Tattoo Golf in 1999, which basically put the world of golfing apparel on its head.
It started first with hats and unique shirts. Clothing that was considered unimaginative and sorely outdated began to be replaced with a line of clothing that was obviously aggressive and edgy when compared to the standard, traditionally conservative mens golf shirts found on every single golf-shop clothing rack around the world. These plain, single-color golf shirts and hats from your Grandfather's era were suddenly being introduced to a cool option in the form of tattoo-inspired gear marketed to a new generation of golfers.
Since day one the concept flew, primarily due to the widespread marketing ability found through the use of the Internet, and what started as shirts and hats has blossomed into a complete line of more than 75 golf-related items. The words conservative or traditional definitely no longer apply. Not surprisingly, the new trend has also spread beyond the younger golf crowd, partly because Tattoo Golf gear is not only nontraditional but the quality, such as the moisture-wicking materials used in the shirts, is unparalleled too.
Not everyone goes for the skull and crossed-clubs motif of the Tattoo Golf line and, realizing the need to tone it down a bit to gain a wider acceptance, the company also produces "somewhat" more conservative categories of His & Hers matching outfits, Pin-ups and the all new Clubhouse Collection. But these still aren't Granddad's golf clothes! It's no coincidence that the popularity of body ink tattoos has paralleled the popularity of Tattoo Golf gear.