Golf Trivia

Why did golf come to be played with an odd number of holes, 18? There are several theories about the origin of golf being played with 18 holes.

Scotch whisky theory
Scotland, said to be the birthplace of golf (though there is also a theory that it originated in China), is also famous as the home of whiskey.
Golf courses in Scotland are known as links courses, where strong winds blow and the temperature is so cold that it chills you to the core.
In the early days of golf, Scottish golfers would carry a bottle of Scotch in their back trouser pocket and drink a capful after each hole to beat the cold and enjoy their game.
One theory is that at some point, the bottle of Scotch would be empty and the game would end just after the 18th hole, and this became a rule.

●St. Andrews Old Course Theory
Before golf became a sport competed on strokes, when match play was the mainstream format, the number of holes varied from course to course.
The Old Course at St. Andrews, known as the mecca of golf, also started out as a 12-hole course.
St. Andrews was eventually remodeled several times to include 22 holes, but the exact date is uncertain (it may be the mid-18th century or the mid-19th century), and the course was forced to return part of its land to the city because it was causing inconvenience to residents' lives.
As a result, four greens were eliminated and the golf course became an 18-hole course.
Since then, 18-hole golf courses have been opened one after another, with the St. Andrews Old Course serving as the standard, and this is how it remains to this day.