Birdie, One-Under-Par, - 1

There is no doubt that the term "birdie" is of American origin.  There are, however, several versions of the origin and how the term "birdie" came into existence.  This term or expression was first coined in 1899 at the atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey.  Three golfers, George Crump, William Poultney Smith and his brother Abner "Ab" Smith were playing together.  All stories agree on this point.

 

William E. Kelly, Jr., the author of "Birth of the Birdie", and a freelance journalist, has posted on his website: http://kellysgolfhistory.blogspot.com, a wonderful historical piece titled "Birth of the Birdie - Atlantic City Country Club.  I will use his version of the event ~

 

“The term 'birdie' is one word in the English language that can be traced back to the original moment in time and place when it was first used.  Even the green where the celebrated first 'birdie' occurred has been preserved for posterity…

 

“Except for the whistle of a strong bay breeze, all fell quiet as Abner "Ab" Smith lined up his shot down the long twelfth fairway at the Atlantic City Country Club. It was late in the afternoon on a windy, but mild Saturday, a typical winter weekend outing for the group from suburban Philadelphia who frequented the Jersey Shore course when their home fairways were covered with snow. "Smith slowly took up his backswing, then let go with a wallop, putting the ball on the green, inches from the hole allowing for an easy putt and a one-under-par for the hole.  It was such a fine shot that someone in the group was moved to say it was a "bird of a shot".  With the putt, Smith won the hole in one-under-par, and because the players were playing for a ball-a-hole, they then agreed to double the wager on a hole where a golfer who hits such a "bird of a shot" wins with a one-under-par "birdie".  

 

“Thus began a tradition of the club, and the coming of a new term.  Visitors who learned of the local "birdie" tradition took it back to their home clubs and it eventually spread around the world.  It would become universal in its meaning and usage.  Today a plaque marks the spot where Ab Smith made the first "bird of a shot", now it is being used as the practice green.”

Reference: http://www.doubleeagleclub.org/index.php?suffix=scoring_terms