Why does Golf reference birds?

Answer 1

From www.golfhistory.net In common with others, the Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms (1993) believes that "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par on a given hole comes from the 19th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent. The Country Club in Atlantic City lay claim to the first use, as mentioned on the USGA website. In 1962 the US greenkeepers' magazine reported a conversation with Ab Smith. He recounted that, in 1898/9, he and his brother, William P Smith, and their friend, George A Crump, who later built Pine Valley, were playing the par-four second hole at Atlantic City, when Ab Smith's second shot went within inches of the hole. Smith said "That was a bird of shot" and claimed he should get double money if he won with one under par, which was agreed. He duly holed his putt to win with one under par and the three of them thereafter referred to such a score as a "birdie". The Atlantic City Club date the event to 1903. Whether this claim is an exaggeration or not, the word Birdie is certainly derived from the American vox pop term 'a bird of a score' and hence a Birdie. Eagle, Albatross, etc are just extensions of the "bird" theme.