candidate: The Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue gives the etymology of the word " golf " or " gouf " ( with many alternative spellings ) as probably from the Dutch " kolf " ( see Kolven , a Dutch indoor ballgame ) ; although the dictionary also records the noun " golf " ( with alternative spellings " golfe " or " golph " ) as deriving from Middle English " golf " or " goulf " or Old French " golfe " , meaning " a deep pool or hollow ; an abyss " ; a cognate of modern English " gulf " .