Practically all modern sports we have come to play and love today has origins in earlier games. Golf is one of those sports. Golf in the modern day sense is played with specific rules and guidelines, but the game was never really the same when it was first invented.
It's safe to say that the modern game came into existence in the early part of 1400s in Britain. However, it is rather surprising that the game was actually outlawed by the highest authorities in Scotland, namely James II and followed by James IV. The reason at that time was that playing the game became an excuse for men not to join military training. Nonetheless, it was James IV all along who was quite interested in the sport. When peace was agreed upon by England and Scotland in the 1500s, the sport widely grew in popularity in both countries.
The Role of the Ruling Class
One good reason why the game of golf eventually rose in popularity in many parts of Europe is because the ruling class actually loved it. One example is Mary, the Queen of Scots, who played the game frequently and had her students carry the clubs for her, eventually calling them "cadets." According to some historians, the modern golf term "caddie" came from that term Mary used. Later, it was James Ii who organized the very first international match in history, featuring rivals England and Scotland. You may read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/golf-clubs/.
Original Equipment
If there was one good reason why golf was not popular among the lower class, it was because the golf ball was very expensive at that time. The golf ball was rightfully expensive because it was made of leather and feather material. Also, they were quite difficult to produce. A slight decrease in price was only seen in the mid-18th century.
Golf clubs from this homepage on the other hand were practically made of the same stuff they're made today: wood and iron. But the way they were used in the past is very different to how they're used in today's modern day game of golf. In the original version of the game, the irons were only designed for getting out of difficult spots like that of ruts and ditches. Therefore, you don't often see them used for approaches. Woods were used in all major parts of the game.
Reaching America
It wasn't until the end of the 18th for the game of golf to reach America. The northeastern United States saw a sudden increase in the game's popularity. Because of the civil war, the game didn't really enjoy the kind of success it had in Britain. It was only at the end part of the 1800s when Americans took notice and the rest is history. For helpful facts, you can visit http://www.yinyanggolfclubs.com/.