Hobbies And Interests
Golf
Many countries have historical games involving the hitting of a ball with a stick and some have claimed that their sports were the origin of golf. The reason Scotland is so widely credited with having invented the sport is that its version of the game involved hitting the ball into holes--vital to the game we now know as golf. The earliest records, which come from the mid 15th century, show golf being popular on the east coast of Scotland. The oldest still-played golf course in the world is believed to be that at Musselburgh Links, just outside the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
Tossing the Caber
Probably the most famous of all traditional Highland games is tossing the caber. Many people misunderstand its rules. A caber is a long tapered pole, similar to a telephone pole, which is held upright at one end. The aim is not to throw the caber as far as possible (as many believe), but to throw it so it turns in the air at an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible. The competitor whose pole is lying as straight in front of him as possible when it lands is deemed the winner.
Hammer Throw
An ancient Scottish game that is similar to one found in ancient Greece is the hammer throw. For this game a hammer, weighing either 16 or 22 pounds, is attached to a handle of 4 feet, 2 inches in length. The competitor must spin around, gaining force until he has gathered enough power to throw the hammer as far as possible. The person who throws the hammer farthest wins.
Tug o War
The tug o war is a game that tests team strength. Two teams of matching numbers, usually of between five and eight people, must pull on either end of a long rope. The aim is to pull the opposition team a distance of 12 feet over a line. Each team has an anchor man at the end of the rope who has the end of it tied in a loop around his middle. No hand-over-hand pulling is allowed.