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1820 Golf Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Golf? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Golf (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
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1 Many people will credit the Scottish with inventing the game of golf that we are familiar with today. However, which European nation developed a similar game all the way back in the 13th century?
Answer: The Netherlands

Although the Scottish were credited with developing the sport of golf that we play today, the earliest concepts of the sport are said to have originated in the Netherlands as early as 1297 A.D. In fact, the name of the sport was derived from the Dutch language, from a game known as kolf or kolven. In kolf, players would hit a small ball towards a predetermined spot. The person who got to the spot with the least amount of strokes was the winner. The game of kolf was also played on ice during the winter and may have influenced the game of hockey as well.
    Your options: [ Russia ] [ Germany ] [ France ] [ The Netherlands ]
  From Quiz: Cross the Tees and Dot the Ayes
2 Modern golf was popularized in around the 15th century, in which country?
Answer: Scotland

The origins of golf are somewhat unclear, though it is generally accepted that modern golf originated in Scotland. The first mention of it is in an edict signed by King James II of Scotland in 1457, prohibiting the sport, as it was deemed as a distraction from archery, which was at the time used for military training. The oldest golf club in the world is the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland, established in 1754, and is considered the worldwide "Home of Golf".
    Your options: [ England ] [ Spain ] [ Ireland ] [ Scotland ]
  From Quiz: Golf: Just Another Four-Letter Word
3 Nicknamed "The Big Easy", this multi-sport playing golfer turned pro in 1989. He won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997. Who was this South African golfer?
Answer: Ernie Els

Els was also a noted cricket, rugby, and tennis player. Before turning pro, Els also defeated Phil Mickelson in the under-14 tournament crown in California. Ernie also won the British Open in 2002.
  From Quiz: Golf Ball Stew
4 When your group reaches the putting green, who should putt last?
Answer: The person who is closest to the hole

This is one reason why you should use a ball marker. If your ball is in the way of the person who is putting first, use a ball marker so you know where your ball was, otherwise your ball might get hit.
  From Quiz: Golf for Beginners
5 Which golfing legend started out playing as a child and junior, using only a three-iron and a putter?
Answer: Seve Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros was the golfing legend who could play an entire round with only a three-iron and a putter. Seve learned the game whilst on a beach. The three-iron was given to him by an older brother. Seve Ballesteros recorded 91 career wins.
    Your options: [ Tiger Woods ] [ Ben Hogan ] [ Phil Mickelson ] [ Seve Ballesteros ]
  From Quiz: Mixed Golf
6 After graduating from the University of Arizona, American golfer Jim Furyk carded his first professional win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Las Vegas Invitational

Furyk won the Las Vegas Invitational in 1995. The Las Vegas Invitational accounted for 3 of his first 4 wins (1995-98-99), the other being the United Airlines Hawaiian Open.
    Your options: [ Las Vegas Invitational ] [ Doral-Ryder Open ] [ United Airlines Hawaiian Open ] [ Mercedes Championships ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [3]
7 After graduating from Stanford University, American golfer Tom Watson carded his first professional win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Western Open

Watson won the Western Open in 1974 and went on to win 8 major championships during his PGA career.
    Your options: [ Byron Nelson Golf Classic ] [ Andy Williams - San Diego Open Invitational ] [ Bing Crosby National Pro-Am ] [ Western Open ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [2]
8 Irish golfer Padraig Harrington won 9 events on the European Tour before carding his first win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Honda Classic

Harrington defeated Vijay Singh and Joe Ogilvie in a sudden death playoff to capture his first PGA Tour win in 2005.
    Your options: [ Wachovia Classic ] [ Honda Classic ] [ Mercedes-Benz Championship ] [ Memorial Tournament ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [1]
9 In the 1940s, the British Open was only played from 1946-49 due to World War II. Who below did not win a British Open during that period?
Answer: Ben Hogan

Hogan won his only British Open in 1953. Snead won in 1946, Daly in 1947, and Cotton in 1948. The last Open winner in the 1940s was Bobby Locke in 1949.
  From Quiz: Mixed Bag of Golf [3]
10 Who won the most Masters titles in the 1930s?
Answer: Horton Smith

The Masters began in 1934, so only 6 were played in the 1930s. Smith won the very first Masters in 1934 and added his second title in 1936. The others won just once in the 1930s: Sarazen (1935), Nelson (1937), and Picard (1938).
  From Quiz: Mixed Bag of Golf [2]
11 In the 1980s only one PGA player won two Masters titles. Who was it?
Answer: Seve Ballesteros

Balesteros won the Masters in 1980 and 1983. Crenshaw won in 1984, but his second Masters was in 1994. Langer won in 1985 but his second Masters was in 1993. Faldo is a three time Masters winner with one win in the '80s (1989) and the others in 1990 and 1996.
  From Quiz: Mixed Bag of Golf [1]
12 On a par 5 golf hole you score 2. What is the term used to describe this golf feat?
Answer: Albatross

The golf term albatross is also known as a double eagle.
  From Quiz: Golf Bytes
13 The American boom in golf began shortly after this 20 year old American amateur won the U.S. Open in 1913.
Answer: Francis Ouimet

The first American to win the U.S. Open was Johnny McDermott, who won in 1911 and then defended his title in 1912. However, it was the unlikely win by Ouimet in a playoff over two of the towering legends of the day, Vardon and Ray, that captured the American's interest in the sport. Within a decade, they were the pre-eminent force in the game throughout the world thanks to players like Sarazen, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.
    Your options: [ Ted Ray ] [ Harry Vardon ] [ Bobby Jones ] [ Francis Ouimet ]
  From Quiz: Golf - The Global Game
14 How many holes are there in a pro round of golf?
Answer: 18

Golf normally consists of a front nine and a back nine which makes 18 holes.
  From Quiz: Golfing For Dummies
15 At what event did Phil Mickelson's first PGA Tour victory occur and what year?
Answer: Northern Telecom Open, 1991

Phil has a lifetime exemption on the PGA TOUR, which was sealed after his 20th PGA TOUR Victory at the Canon Greater Hartford Open in June 2002.
  From Quiz: Interesting Golf
16 When you hit the ball and decide to shoot the same shot again; this is referred to as a what?
Answer: Mulligan

A mulligan is commonly used by us non-golfers.
  From Quiz: Simple Golf
17 Forty some years ago, Bob Charles became the first left-hander to win a Golfing Major, when he won the 1963 British Open. On which course did he accomplish this feat?
Answer: Royal Lytham and St Anne's

Mike Weir is the unlikely second major left-handed winner edging out everybody's pick, Phil Mickelson.
    Your options: [ Royal Birkdale ] [ Royal Troon ] [ Royal Lytham and St Anne's ] [ St Andrew's ]
  From Quiz: Wonderful World of Golf
18 Who did Tiger Woods defeat in the 2000 Pebble Beach Pro-Am by one stroke, coming back from seven shots off the lead to win?
Answer: Matt Gogel

Matt Gogel ended up winning the 2002 Pro-Am, beating Pat Perez on the last hole.
  From Quiz: Golf Challenge
19 Who did Ryder Cup captain Lanny Wadkins overlook as a captain's pick for the 1995 U.S. Ryder Cup team, despite the fact this player had won twice earlier in the year?
Answer: Lee Janzen

Lanny Wadkins created some controversy by selecting Curtis Strange to round out the 1995 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
  From Quiz: General Golf [2]
20 Who did Craig Stadler defeat in a playoff to capture the 1982 Masters?
Answer: Dan Pohl
  From Quiz: General Golf [1]
21 In what tournament did Tiger Woods miss his first cut as a professional?
Answer: Bell Canadian Open

His missed his first and only professional cut at Royal Montreal during the 1997 Bell Canadian Open. Steve Jones won that year. (Tiger did miss another cut at Las Vegas but he {withdrew;} it was not a result of his score).
  From Quiz: Assorted Golf
22 In stroke play, what is the penalty when a player hits a putt from the green and the ball strikes another player's ball on the putting surface?
Answer: two strokes

When a player hits a putt from the green and the ball strikes another player's ball on the putting surface in stroke play, the penalty is two strokes. This is known as a "double hit" penalty, as the player has essentially hit their own ball twice. It is important for golfers to be aware of the position of other players' balls on the green to avoid this penalty. Interestingly, in match play, there is no penalty for hitting another player's ball on the putting surface.
  From Quiz: Iron Swinging Heroes
23 Payne Stewart won his 1st U.S. Open in 1991. At what Course was the event held?
Answer: Hazeltine

Payne went on to win his 2nd open title in 1999 at Pinehurst.
  From Quiz: Hard Golf
24 If I made a triple bogey on the 1st hole at Royal Lytham and St Annes, what score would I write on my card?
Answer: 6

The first hole at Royal Lytham is a par 3. This is the only course on the major championship rotation to begin with a par 3 hole.
  From Quiz: More Golf Stuff
25 Who drained a seven iron from 167 yards on the final hole of the 1990 Bay Hill Invitational to beat Greg Norman?
Answer: Robert Gamez

That was Gamez' 1st PGA win. He was a rookie at the time.
  From Quiz: Golf in the 1990s
26 Who won the 1999 British Open?
Answer: Paul Lawrie

Paul Lawrie won the 1999 British Open in a dramatic playoff against Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard. Lawrie was 10 strokes behind van de Velde going into the final round, but van de Velde's infamous collapse on the 72nd hole allowed Lawrie to force a playoff. Lawrie went on to win the playoff by 3 strokes, becoming the first Scottish golfer to win the British Open in 68 years.
  From Quiz: Mixed Golf
27 Who called Jean Van De Velde an idiot on the final hole of the 1999 British open as the Frenchman was in the burn?
Answer: Curtis Strange

Strange later apologized.
  From Quiz: Golf Mix
28 Who was the first golfer to shoot a competitive 59?
Answer: Al Geiberger

All of these choices except Snead and Nicklaus shot a 59.
  From Quiz: The Game of Golf
29 In the game of golf, what is a birdie?
Answer: One stroke less than par

A score of one stroke less than par for a hole.
  From Quiz: The Sport of Golf
30 How many PGA stops were there in Canada in 2000?
Answer: 2

The Bell Canadian Open and The Greater Vancouver Open.
  From Quiz: Golf Canadian Style
31 What is an albatross?
Answer: 2 on par 5

It is difficult to get an albatross. (In some countries an albatross is known as a double-eagle ed.)
  From Quiz: Golf on Golf
32 What golfer won the very first Memorial Tournament?
Answer: Roger Maltbie

The Memorial Tournament was founded in 1976, where Maltbie defeated Hale Irwin on a sudden death playoff. Maltbie himself would go on to have a solid career, including more than 50 top ten placements in the PGA tour, a top five finish in the 1987 Masters Tournament, and would later join NBC Sports as an on-course analyst.
  From Quiz: Golf
33 King James II of Scotland had banned the sport of golf in 1457. Which king later lifted the ban and began playing the sport himself?
Answer: James IV

King James II (1430-1460) ruled Scotland from 1437 until his death in 1460. In 1457, King James II banned both the games of golf and football (soccer) in Scotland. He felt that the two sports were a distraction to his troops and wanted them to concentrate on more useful skills, such as archery. His grandson, King James IV (1473-1513) would lift the ban on golf in 1502 and even got involved with the sport himself.
    Your options: [ Robert III ] [ William II ] [ Charles I ] [ James IV ]
  From Quiz: Cross the Tees and Dot the Ayes
34 Carnoustie, Turnberry, and Royal Troon are frequently-used courses in what major tournament?
Answer: The Open Championship

The Open Championship (also known as the British Open, or simply The Open), is the oldest championship in golf, the first being played in 1860. It has always been held in the United Kingdom, mostly in Scotland and England. St. Andrews is the course that has hosted it the most times, its 29th playing coming in 2015. Carnoustie, Turnberry, and Royal Troon are also located in Scotland and have hosted it multiple times. Harry Vardon of England won the tournament six times between 1896 and 1914, and multiple-time American winners include Tom Watson, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and Lee Trevino.
  From Quiz: Golf: Just Another Four-Letter Word
35 Peter Thomson was a great golfer in his career. He was a three-time Australian Open Champion, and nine-time New Zealand Open Champion. Which major tournament did he win five times between 1954-1965?
Answer: British Open

Peter turned pro in 1949, then clinched his existence by winning his first New Zealand Open in 1950. In addition to Peter's 100 worldwide tournaments wins, he notched the British Open five times. The final crown of his career came with winning the British PGA Seniors title in 1988.
    Your options: [ Japan Open ] [ U.S. Chalmers ] [ Pontiac Open ] [ British Open ]
  From Quiz: Golf Ball Stew
36 What is an albatross in golf?
Answer: A score of three below par

A birdie is one below par, an eagle is two below par and an albatross is three below par. Golfers must really love birds! Albatrosses are a rare score and only very good players ever get them.
  From Quiz: Golf for Beginners
37 At the age of 16, Spaniard Sergio Garcia won the European Amateur Championship before turning professional, and carding his first win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Mastercard Colonial

All of the above are the first 4 wins for Garcia on the PGA Tour, but his first win came at the Mastercard Colonial in 2001.
    Your options: [ Mastercard Colonial ] [ Mercedes Championships ] [ Buick Classic ] [ EDS Byron Nelson Classic ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [3]
38 After graduating from the University of Southern California, American golfer Craig Stadler carded his first professional win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Bob Hope Desert Classic

Stadler, also known as "The Walrus" won the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1980. Stadler has also won the U.S. Amateur and The Masters during his career.
    Your options: [ Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open ] [ Bing Crosby National Pro-Am ] [ Byron Nelson Golf Classic ] [ Bob Hope Desert Classic ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [2]
39 Fijian golfer Vijay Singh won 12 professional golf events in Asia, Africa, and the European Tour, before carding his first win at which event on the U.S. PGA Tour?
Answer: Buick Classic

Singh won the 1993 Buick Classic in a playoff over Mark Wiebe. The win helped Singh win 1993 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
    Your options: [ Phoenix Open ] [ Buick Classic ] [ Memorial Tournament ] [ Sprint International ]
  From Quiz: Golf Firsts [1]
40 In the 1968 Masters Tournament, Roberto de Vicenzo signed an incorrect scorecard costing him the chance to play eventual winner Bob Goalby in a playoff. Who was the playing partner who scored de Vincenzo incorrectly?
Answer: Tommy Aaron

In professional golf your score is kept by your playing partner. However, it is your responsibility to check the scorecard before signing. Aaron incorrectly listed a 4 on the 17th hole instead of a 3. This extra stroke caused de Vincenzo to finish 1 shot back instead of a tie with Goalby.
  From Quiz: Mixed Bag of Golf [3]
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