# Dutch Sport "Kolf"-Still Played?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 22, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415 "2008-04-22T16:48:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415/1 "2008-04-22T16:48:09Z")

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Apparently, the Dutch had a game which was a lot like today’s miniature golf, called “kolf”. It was played widely in the last century-I assume it has died out?  
Anyway, was it the ancestor of modern golf?

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**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415/2 "2008-04-22T16:58:02Z")

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[QUOTE=ralph124c]  
Anyway, was it the ancestor of modern golf?  
[/QUOTE]

Here’s a data point:

**Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf** (17th C.)  
\*The figures in this painting are playing a Dutch game called “kolf,” a precursor to the Scottish game of golf. \*

> **[About the Collection](https://www.nortonsimon.org/art?url=%2Fart%2F)**

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415/3 "2008-04-22T17:56:52Z")

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OT: **Spiny Norman** introduced me to [Kubb](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb).

If I had anyone to play it with up here, I’d get a set.

EDIT: I hasten to point out that **Spiny Norman** isn’t Dutch, lest I receive a poke in the snot locker.

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**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-sport-kolf-still-played/446415/4 "2008-04-22T20:07:15Z")

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Well, what do I know. I’m Dutch, never heard of the sport, but found this Dutch [Wikipedia page](http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolven_(sport))site on it. If you have any questions, I;ll try and translate from that page.

I also found an official Dutch Kolf League, and they have a page up also in [English.](http://www.kolfbond.nl/)So someone at least is still playing it.