The origins of golf are a matter of mystery and controversy. In the absence of tangible evidence, it is to written sources that we must turn for reliable information. Using the archive of the National Library of Scotland, this book takes a look at golf from the 1457 Act of Parliament banning it, to the first Rules of Golf produced in 1744. Quotes from the original documents and books are reproduced, while transcripts, commentary and interpretation of the sources illuminate not only the early days of golf, but also the society which gave rise to the world's most internationally popular game. Portraits and pictures from the national collections complement the documents and the text.