Question 1

True or false: A golf ball has, on average, 300 to 500 dimples.

Accepted Answer

True. Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples, with 336 being a common number. The dimples reduce drag and create lift, helping the ball fly farther.

Question 2

True or false: Golf was banned in Scotland in the 15th century because it distracted from archery practice.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned golf (and football) because they interfered with mandatory archery training for national defense. The ban was later lifted.

Question 3

True or false: The Masters Tournament has never allowed women as members at Augusta National.

Accepted Answer

False. Augusta National admitted its first female members in 2012, including former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It had been men-only for 80 years prior.

Question 4

True or false: A standard round of 18 holes was chosen because a bottle of whiskey contained 18 shots.

Accepted Answer

False. This is a fun myth. The 18-hole standard came from the Old Course at St. Andrews, which had 18 holes by 1764. No evidence ties it to whiskey shots.

Question 5

True or false: The term 'birdie' comes from an old Scottish word for a small bird.

Accepted Answer

False. 'Birdie' actually originated in the US in the early 1900s. Players called a good shot a 'bird' (slang for excellent), and 'birdie' stuck for one under par.

Question 6

True or false: You can be penalized for your golf ball moving due to a gust of wind after you address it.

Accepted Answer

True. Under USGA rules, if you address the ball (take your stance and ground your club) and it moves, even from wind, you incur a one-stroke penalty—unless it's clearly caused by something else.

Question 7

True or false: The longest recorded golf putt in a professional tournament is over 100 feet.

Accepted Answer

True. In 2012, professional golfer Jamie Donaldson sank a 110-foot putt at the Irish Open. The record is often cited around 100-110 feet in PGA Tour events.

Question 8

True or false: Golf balls were originally made of wood until the 17th century.

Accepted Answer

False. Early golf balls were made of leather stuffed with feathers, called 'featheries.' Wooden balls were never standard; featheries were used from the 1600s until the 1800s.

Golf Trivia Questions