Golf has a rich, centuries-old history, filled with fascinating stories and traditions that have shaped the game. We explore a selection of lesser-known facts you might not be familiar with, along with the history behind each one. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for more facts from the fairways, and read on for our picks from the month of February.
Iceland has more golf courses per capita than any other country
Despite its small population of some 388,000, Iceland is home to 65 golf courses, roughly one for every 6,000 people. Located just below the Arctic Circle, the island nation’s golf season runs from late May to early September, and between early June and late July, you can tee off past midnight under the midnight sun. Iceland also boasts unique golf scenery, with courses integrated into natural and volcanic landscapes.
Lee Trevino was struck by lightning while playing in a tournament
The strike at the 1975 Western Open hospitalized him after a bolt hit his back, causing severe injuries that required two back surgeries and forever changed his swing. Yet he fought his way back to form and won again just two years later at the 1977 Canadian Open. The six-time major champion would go onto add six additional PGA TOUR trophies to his cabinet despite the incident, including his 6th major at the 1984 PGA Championship.
Arnold Palmer is the last player to shoot his age on the PGA TOUR carding a 71 at age 71
At 71 years old, Arnold Palmer achieved this remarkable feat during the fourth round of the 2001 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He shot a 1-under 71 on the 6,950-yard Palmer Private Course at PGA West. Palmer was in the field playing as the course designer, and was slightly surprised by the attention his 71 was receiving, as he’d shot his age before on the Champions Tour. However, no one had done so on the PGA TOUR in 22 years, since Sam Snead in 1979. The rare accomplishment has yet to be matched.
Canada has more lefty golfers than anywhere else in the world
An estimated 20-40% of Canadian golfers swing left – compared to the 6-10% global average. The high percentage here is often linked to the country’s hockey culture, where many right-hand dominant players learn to shoot left and carry that motion into golf. In some regions, like Newfoundland, the number approaches 40% and players like Mike Weir have helped popularize the “hockey effect.”
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