Golf originated in Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the 15th century. The game was initially played with sticks and pebbles, and it was primarily a pastime for the Scottish nobility. Over time, the game evolved, and the first written rules for golf were established in 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith. The game's popularity spread throughout Scotland and eventually to the rest of the world. Data from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the oldest golf club in the world, supports this claim, as it was founded in 1746 and has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the game's history and traditions.