A new exhibition at the home of golf claims the game and equipment have "colonial" roots as it was forced upon the colonies of the former British Empire..And a new report said colonial countries' resources were exploited to make golf balls..In a display at St. Andrews in Scotland, known as the home of golf, researchers at the University of St Andrews claim the game was 'imposed' by the British Empire in colonial countries during the 19th century. .And researchers say those countries had their rubber plantations harvested to make golf balls..The Daily Mail reports the 'Re-collecting Empire' exhibition at Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews is now open to the public and runs until October 22. .The exhibit forms part of St Andrews' pledge to continue 'examining the legacies of empire in our collections and exploring how we can build a more equitable future."."It's also part of a broader trend of academic 'decolonisation' accelerated by the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020," reported the Mail..Golf started in Scotland in the 15th century, and was banned by King James II on the basis that games were a distraction from military training. .Restrictions were removed with the Treaty of Glasgow, coming into effect in 1502. .The exhibition claims cricket, as well as golf was "imposed" across the Empire as British enthusiasts established clubs abroad. .A display at the exhibition states: "By recreating and imposing British sports in colonized countries, golf and cricket were spread around the world."."Natural resources from colonized countries were exploited to make sporting equipment."
