The bird that gave origin to the name birdie in golf

Golf is believed to have its origins in the 15th century and there are already many years in which this sport has been perfected to be played as it is today, considering elements such as the format or the rules themselves.

The number of strokes a golf ball takes to enter the hole has received different names such as bogey (stroke over par), eagle (double under par) and birdie (one under par) so here we tell you the origin of the latter.

The Spanish translation of birdie would be, as such, the diminutive of bird. That term was taken from said animal but it was more than 120 years ago; It was the year 1899 when – in New Jersey, United States – any golf game was played.

George Crump, William Poultney Smith and Ab Smith were playing at the Atlantic City Country Club Northfield when George made his shot and the ball, curiously, it hit a bird, approaching just inches from the hole.

The spectators of that shot began to call the under-par shot a birdie, expression that became popular among Atlantic City Country Club members and later became popular in other parts of the world until you get to where you are today: in the biggest international competitions.

The birdie was followed terms such as eagle, being a larger bird was considered a better result, like albatross and condors that followed along the same lines and were minted some years later.

SFRM