# GOLF **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/62727 "2001-04-20T22:14:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LadyKimberly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@LadyKimberly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyKimberly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/62727/1 "2001-04-20T22:14:39Z")
Does anyone know the origin of the word “GOLF”? One of my male friends tried to tell me some nonsense about it being an acronym for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.” Anyone out there got any clues? ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/62727/2 "2001-04-20T22:30:10Z")
That’s what some have believed since ladies were long prohibited from playing golf. Here is a pretty good explanation at this link for the most probable origins though 🙂 > **[Home](https://wheretraveler.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/62727/3 "2001-04-20T22:34:43Z")
Most sources claim the word is derived from the earlier Dutch game of “kolf”, which may have been one of the game’s antecedents. We had a previous thread on the history of golf. ---
**Author:** ![LadyKimberly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@LadyKimberly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyKimberly)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/62727/4 "2001-04-21T00:12:50Z")
Thank you for all the info! It proved very handy in debunking my dear friend. 🙂