The history of golf is full of anecdotes, traditions, and discoveries that, over time, have shaped the sport as we know it today. Among them, one of the most fascinating is the true origin of golf in the United States, a chapter that often goes unnoticed compared to more popular but less accurate versions.
While it is commonly believed that golf arrived in the United States in the 19th century with wealthy immigrants, historical records tell a much older and more surprising story. More than 280 years ago, in the port city of Charleston, South Carolina, the game that today captivates millions of people was already being played.
Available documents reveal that in 1743, a group of Scottish immigrants gathered at a place known as Harleston Green to practice their favorite sport. These modest and almost improvised meetings represent the first documented record of golf activity in America.
Often, clubs like the famous Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in New York, founded in 1888, take center stage in narratives about the origins of golf in the United States. However, the existence of Harleston Green—more than a century earlier—reveals a much deeper and lesser-known past. This historical discovery invites us to reconsider how we understand the spread of golf across America.
Unlike modern courses, the first American golf course did not have perfectly maintained greens or luxurious facilities. It was an irregular terrain, shaped by natural dunes, uneven areas, and untended grass. Players placed the holes wherever the space allowed, creating courses that changed with the landscape.
There was no clubhouse, no planned designs, no comforts—only the passion of those Scots who refused to give up the sport they had brought across the ocean.
This small corner of South Carolina, simple yet full of significance, represents the true starting point of golf in America. Its story reminds us that beyond the great clubs and iconic courses, golf was born and spread thanks to the dedication of those who loved it, even under challenging conditions.