John R. Mifsud, in his letter Golf: Men Only (February 10) suggested that we take as historical fact that "many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen only... Ladies forbidden...' and thus the word 'golf' entered into the English language".

He gleaned this information from the internet. 

Well, it goes to show that more than a pinch of salt is needed with the multitude of claims that circulate on the www. Another, for example, is that Coca Cola used to be green... Like most modern words, "golf" derives from older languages and dialects. In this case, the languages in question are mediaeval Dutch and old Scot.

The mediaeval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club". It is believed that the word passed to the Scots, whose dialect transformed the word into "glove", "gowl" or "gouf". By the 16th century, the word "golf" had emerged.

Sources: British Golf Museum, USGA Library.