The game originated as a sport in England during the 1880s, where it was played among the upper-class as an after-dinner game It has been suggested that the game was first developed by British military officers in India or South Africa who brought it back with them[SUP]. [/SUP] A row of books were stood up along the center of the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously hit a golf-ball from one end of the table to the other.