Centuries-old stick and ball games are generally thought to have preceded the game of golf as we know it today. The modern game of golf has its origins in 15th-century Scotland, and golf played over 18 holes first made its appearance in 1764 at Scotland's Old Course at St. Andrews.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and the National Golf Association estimates that "nearly 25 million people played golf on a golf course in the United States in 2020."