Igalofu ngumdlalo osebenzisa amaqembu egalofu ahlukene (amakilabhu) ukushaya amabhola egalofu angene emigodini. Igalofu ngumdlalo onekhono elikhethekile, ovumela abantu ukuthi bavocavoce endaweni enhle yemvelo, bahlakulele imizwa yabo, bahlakulele ukuzilima kwabo, futhi baxhumane ngamakhono. Waziwa ngokuthi "umdlalo wemfashini nobuhle".

Igalofu laqala eScotland ngekhulu le-15, futhi igalofu yokuqala yayidlalwa kakhulu yizikhulu nezikhulu. Ngokuthandwa nokuthuthukiswa kwemishini yegalofu, igalofu laqala ukuthandwa phakathi kwabantu abaphakathi nendawo. Ngekhulu lama-20, ngokusungulwa kwemithetho nezinhlelo zegalofu, imicimbi yegalofu yamazwe ngamazwe yenziwa kabanzi. Ngawo-1820, igalofu yethulwa e-Asia, kanti igalofu yethulwa eShayina ngo-1896, okwaphawulwa ukusungulwa kweShanghai Golf Club eShayina. Ngo-2015, iVolvo China Open yama-21 yaphela eShanghai. UWu Ashun wawina ubuqhawe. Lesi yisikhathi sokuqala umdlali waseShayina ohamba phambili ewina umklomelo we-European Tour Player of the Month.

I-United States Golf Association kanye neRoyal Ancient Golf Club yaseSt Andrews eNgilandi baqashelwa njengeziphathimandla zokuhumusha nokubuyekeza imithetho yegalofu. [3] Imincintiswano yegalofu ebaluleke kakhulu emhlabeni ihlanganisa iNdebe Yomhlaba, i-US Open kanye neminye imicimbi.