Bar a titanium club or two and a better standard of waterproof, the game of golf doesn't change too much.
The way it's been promoted to the world has though, and not always for the better.
As VisitScotland turn 50, it dug into its archives and pulled out some golf tourism advertising from over the years.
Back in 1970, nine per cent of domestic visitors (from Scotland and the rest of the UK) played golf while they were visiting Scotland and in 1978 there were around 350 golf courses.
Golf was once marketed as "the ordinary man’s game in Scotland. So, it is cheap as well as plentiful”.
Nowadays, not so much.
Nowadays almost half (47 per cent) of overnight golfing visitors travel from overseas to play golf at Scotland's 570-plus courses.
Research shows that overseas golfing visitors spend on average £338 per night during a trip to Scotland, which is more than four times the daily spend of an average overseas visitor (£78.90).
Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, who also celebrated her 50th birthday on Sunday, said: “Golf has grown so much since I started playing as a youngster – not just as a sport but as a Scottish institution that sees benefits spread across the country.
“VisitScotland and the tourism industry’s work over the years in bringing huge golf events to Scotland has been incredible and reinforces our country’s reputation as the Home of Golf.
“It’s great to see so many visitors are coming here to play golf as part of their holiday and I hope those coming to watch the 2019 Solheim Cup will make sure to explore and discover all the amazing places Scotland has to offer.”
Running from, 9 to 15 September, at Gleneagles, Perthshire, this year’s Solheim Cup aims to be the biggest ever European edition of the event. Tickets are priced from £25 for adults with children under-16 admitted free of charge.
