17C The Dutch used Golf Clubs & Balls as Toys for Their Children

 Jan Steen (Dutch artist, 1626-1679) 1665 Boy holds a club

Dutch artist Jan Steen (1626-1569) is best known for his upbeat genre paintings, which depict scenes from everyday life. Genre painting in the Netherlands began with the depiction of proverbs, allegories, & folklore by 16C artists, notably Pieter Breugel the Elder (1528-1569).  By the early 1600s, the Netherlands had come to prosper through trade & commerce. Soon a new middle-class emerged which could accumulate enough money to buy decorative items for their homes. Artists began to create images for this new type of buyer, usually subjects that they would see around them in their daily lives. Unlike the high art paintings, that the very wealthy would specially commission from artists, genre works were sold on the free market to anyone who could afford to buy them. 

Richard Brakenburgh (Dutch artist, 1650-1702)  Club and balls on floor 1700

 Jan Steen (Dutch artist, 1626-1679)  The Feast of St Nicholas where boy holds a club

Richard Brakenburgh (Dutch artist, 1650-1702) Club and ball on floor

 Jan Steen (Dutch artist, 1626-1679) Boy holds club aloft. 

Richard Brakenburgh (Dutch artist, 1650-1702) Club and ball on floor. 1685

Richard Brakenburgh (Dutch artist, 1650-1702) The Feast of Saint Nicholas  1680-89 Club and ball on floor by dog.