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Golf HistoryEarly golf history is unclear but it has been proved that the game of golf, as we know it, has been played since the middle of the fifteenth century. An Act of Parliament in Scotland, by James II in 1457, banned both football and golf because of their interference with the archery practice of his army. James IV also tried to stop the Scots playing golf, but became converted, and began playing the game himself towards the end of the fifteenth century.
The game was introduced to England in the early 1600’s by James VI and the first reference to golf in America was seen in 1659 when golf was allegedly banned from the streets of New York. The first golf club, or society, was formed in 1744 by a group in Edinburgh, calling themselves the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. This Society introduced the first set of golf rules. Some years following, the Society of St Andrews was formed. This Society eventually changed their name in 1834 to become The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, following the appointment of William IV as patron. In England, golf history indicates that the Royal Blackheath Golf Club came into existence in 1766, followed by the Old Manchester Golf Club in 1818. In North America the Royal Montreal Club of Canada was formed in 1873, followed by the Quebec Golf Club in 1875 and Toronto Golf Club in 1876. After years of decline the game of golf was resurrected in America in 1888 at Yonkers, New York, a three-hole course. This was followed by an 18 Hole golf course, Shinnecock Hills, in 1891, and then rapidly by hundreds of golf courses as the popularity of the game in America spread. In the early to mid 1800’s caddies were the only group that made a living from the game by carrying the clubs of the wealthy gentry and were, in fact, the first ‘Professionals’. Generally the caddie, and also the ball makers, were considered to be the best players. These professionals would have numerous matches between themselves and played for very high stakes.
Golf history tells us that in 1860 the first Open Championship was held at Prestwick, Scotland, where the first purpose built 12-hole golf course was constructed on the links of Monkton. The Championship was contested by eight leading professionals over three rounds and the first winner was Willie Park, who received a red Morocco leather belt with silver clasps as his prize. The United States Golf Association was formed in 1894. Theodore Havermeyer, who had previously built the course at Newport, was elected as the President of the United States Golf Association, an organization formed to look after the interests of golf clubs in general. Representatives of five clubs were involved. These were Newport, St. Andrew’s, Shinnicock Hills, Chicago Golf Club and The Brookline Country Club. The USGA was empowered to oversee a national championship and this was to be held at Havermeyer’s own course in Newport. The first tournament in 1895 was contested among amateurs as, at the time, there was no such thing as professional golfers. The event, which became the first US Amateur competition was played at Newport. Next day, 10 professionals and one amateur took to the course to play the first US Open which was won by Horace Rawlins, an Englishman. This was the beginning of Golf in America as we know it today.
The PGA of America was founded in 1916 when the organisation was formed by a group of professionals in New York. Their first championship, a match play competition, was held later that year. The PGA continued as a match-play championship until 1958, when it became stroke play.
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