Golf quiz questions: from Augusta to the Ryder Cup

Golf is one of those sports where even casual fans pick up a surprising amount of knowledge. Most people know Tiger Woods and have heard of Augusta, but the sport's history goes back over 600 years and is full of odd traditions, Scottish origins and bird-themed scoring. These ten questions work well in a pub quiz sports round, mixing easy crowd-pleasers with a couple that'll get teams arguing.

The questions

1In which country did the game of golf originate?

Answer:Scotland(click to reveal)

The game dates back to at least the 15th century on the eastern coast. It was so popular that King James II banned it in 1457 because young men were playing golf instead of practising their archery. The ban lasted until 1502, when James IV took up the game himself. History of golf on Wikipedia.

2Which astronaut famously hit two golf balls on the surface of the Moon in February 1971?

Answer:Alan Shepard(click to reveal)

He smuggled a modified 6-iron club head onto Apollo 14 and attached it to a sample collection tool. His first swing was a complete duff, but the second sent the ball flying. In the Moon's low gravity he claimed it went "miles and miles," though later analysis suggests it travelled about 40 yards. It remains the only sport ever played on another world.

3What colour jacket is awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament?

Answer:Green(click to reveal)

Augusta National members started wearing green jackets in 1937 so that spectators could easily identify club officials. In 1949, Sam Snead became the first champion to receive one. The winner can only take it off the premises for the year they hold the title, after which it stays in their locker at the club. Masters Tournament on Wikipedia.

4What are the four men's major golf championships?

Answer:The Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship (British Open) and the PGA Championship(click to reveal)

The Masters is held at Augusta National every April. The other three rotate between different courses each year. Winning all four during a career is known as the "career Grand Slam," and only six men have done it. Men's major golf championships on Wikipedia.

5Which golfer holds the record for the most men's major championship wins, with 18 titles?

Answer:Jack Nicklaus(click to reveal)

He won his first major at the 1962 US Open and his last at the 1986 Masters, aged 46. That span of 24 years is remarkable on its own. Tiger Woods sits second on the all-time list with 15 majors. Jack Nicklaus on Wikipedia.

6Tiger Woods' real first name isn't Tiger. What is it?

Answer:Eldrick(click to reveal)

His father Earl gave him the nickname Tiger after a South Vietnamese military officer named Vuong Dang Phong, whose nickname was also Tiger. The two men served together during the Vietnam War and were close friends. Woods has used the name Tiger since childhood, and most people have no idea his birth certificate says Eldrick Tont Woods.

7The Ryder Cup is a biennial team competition in golf. Which two teams compete?

Answer:Europe and the United States(click to reveal)

The competition started in 1927 as Great Britain vs the USA, but the Americans dominated so heavily that continental European players were invited to join from 1979. The change worked: since then, Europe has won 13 of the 19 contests. The 2025 edition at Bethpage Black was won by Europe. Ryder Cup on Wikipedia.

8Which Northern Irish golfer completed the career Grand Slam by winning the 2025 Masters?

Answer:Rory McIlroy(click to reveal)

It was his fifth major title, following the 2011 US Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014 PGA Championship. He became the first European to complete the career Grand Slam and only the sixth man overall. Rory McIlroy on Wikipedia.

9In casual golf, players sometimes take an unofficial do-over after a bad tee shot. What is this informally called?

Answer:A mulligan(click to reveal)

The origin of the term is disputed, but the most popular story credits a Canadian golfer named David Mulligan who, after a shaky drive at a Montreal golf club in the 1920s, simply re-teed and hit again. His playing partners started calling the extra shot "a Mulligan." It's completely banned under the official rules, but it's one of the most widely used terms in recreational golf.

10In golf slang, what is the "19th hole"?

Answer:The clubhouse bar(click to reveal)

Since a standard round finishes after 18 holes, the "19th hole" is the place where golfers head for a drink and a post-round chat. It's one of golf's most enduring traditions, and many clubhouses lean into the joke by naming their bar or restaurant the 19th Hole. Nineteenth hole on Wikipedia.

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Golf questions sit nicely alongside other sports topics in a quiz. For more sports round ideas, have a look at our sports quiz questions or our football quiz questions.