History Section - Golf First Played

How Golf Was Originally Played

This game that people were beginning to play in Scotland, seemed to take a hold of the people. The game was interesting and fun and therefore, people began to play. As more people played, the Scottish parliament began to get worried at the sudden craze. What was this game called golf? Is it wise for us to let this game be played in our country? So, they tried three times to suppress and ban golf, but the people disagreed with with the Scottish Parliment's "unjust rules" and the bans failed.

At the time, the sport was open to all - no fees to pay, no starting times to book - just a simple game of golf followed by a visit to the local tavern where wagers were won. Anyone could pit his skills against an opponent down at the links (sandy, hilly courses). And because of the simple game, that required skill and finesse, people enjoyed playing. (Not to mention, betting was fun!) So, to meet the demand of the people, many courses were built along high bluffs on the eastern coastline in Scotland. It was here that natural dunes, ridges, gullies and hollows were formed by the strong winds and forceful water. That is why the courses were built here!

Who Played The Game

As the game grew and expanded in its success, and to succeed in life, money is a big issue. So (you guessed it), golf was primarily played by the affluent club members. In 1744 Leith golfers requested to form a club or society to be formed. They wished to have an annual tournament in which a silver golf club was to be presented to the victor. But to have a tournment, you need rules. So they requested that a list of rules be drawn up.

In 1744 the Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh approved the first rules and regulations of golf, "Articles and Laws in Playing Golf - The Rules of The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith," as follows:

1. You must tee your ball within one club's length of the hole.
2. Your tee must be on the ground.
3. You are not to change the ball which you strike off the tee.
4. You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club for the sake of playing your ball, except on the fair green, and that only within a club's length of your ball.
5. If your ball comes among water, or any watery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your adversary a stroke for so getting out your ball.
6. If your balls be found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first ball till you play the last.
7. At holeing you are to play your ball honestly for the hole, and not to play upon your adversary's ball, not lying in your way to the hole.
8. If you should lose your ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another ball and allow your adversary a stroke for the misfortune.
9. No man at holeing his ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the hold with his club or anything else.
10. If a ball be stopp'd by any person, horse or dog, or anything else, the ball so stopp'd must be played where it lyes.
11. If you draw your club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your club; if then your club shall break in any way, it is to be accounted a stroke.
12. He who whose ball lyes farthest from the hole is obliged to play first.
13. Neither trench, ditch or made for the preservation of the links, nor the Scholar's Holes or the soldier's lines shall be accounted a hazard but the ball is to be taken out, teed and play'd with any iron club.