History of Golf in Timeline
Golf is a sport played with clubs and a ball. The objective is to hit the ball into a series of holes on a course, using as few strokes as possible.
1900: Golf featured in the Summer Olympic Games
In 1900, Golf was featured in the Summer Olympic Games official programme.
1904: Golf featured in the Summer Olympic Games
In 1904, Golf was featured in the Summer Olympic Games official programme.
1930: Bobby Jones praised Joyce Wethered
In 1930, Bobby Jones praised Joyce Wethered after they had played an exhibition against each other. He doubted that there had ever been a better golfer, man or woman.
1934: The Masters Tournament inception
In 1934, The Masters has been played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, since its inception.
1947: Babe Zaharias won the British Women's Amateur title
In 1947, American golfer Babe Zaharias became the first American to win the British Women's Amateur title.
1950: Ladies Professional Golf Association was formed
In 1950, the Ladies Professional Golf Association was formed as a way to popularize the sport and provide competitive opportunities for golfers.
1960: Jack Nicklaus finishes second in the U.S. Open
In 1960, Jack Nicklaus gained widespread notice by finishing second in the U.S. Open to champion Arnold Palmer, with a 72-hole score of 282.
1961: Jack Nicklaus wins the U.S. Amateur
In 1961, Jack Nicklaus won that year's U.S. Amateur.
1962: Jack Nicklaus turns pro
In 1962, Jack Nicklaus turned professional.
February 1971: Alan Shepard golfs on the Moon
In February 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to golf anywhere other than on Earth when he played golf on the Moon during the Apollo 14 mission.
1972: U.S. Congress passed the Title IX of the Education Amendments
In 1972, U.S. Congress passed the Title IX of the Education Amendments, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
1977: Renee Powell became the first woman to play in a British men's tournament
In 1977, American Renee Powell moved to the UK to further her career, and became the first woman to play in a British men's tournament.
1984: Nintendo's Golf released
In 1984, Nintendo's Golf was released and is recognized as the best-selling golf video game in history.
1984: First golf course opened in China
In 1984, the first golf course in China opened.
1996: International Federation of PGA Tours founded
In 1996, the Japan, Australasian, Sunshine, PGA, and European Tours founded the trade body of the world's main tours, the International Federation of PGA Tours.
1999: Asian Tour became a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours
In 1999, the Asian Tour became a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
2000: 6.9 million people played golf 25 times or more per year
In 2000, according to the National Golf Foundation, 6.9 million people in the United States played golf twenty-five times or more per year.
2000: Canadian Tour became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours
In 2000, the Canadian Tour became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
2001: The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major
In 2001 the Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major in women's golf.
2003: The Senior Open Championship recognised as a major by PGA Tour Champions
In 2003, The Senior Open Championship was not recognised as a major by PGA Tour Champions.
2004: The number of courses tripled from 2004 to 2009
From 2004 to 2009, the number of golf courses in China had tripled.
2004: The R&A spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
In 2004, The R&A spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which was founded in 1754.
2005: Golf Digest published the countries with the most golf courses per capita
In 2005, Golf Digest calculated that the countries with the most golf courses per capita, in order, were: Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Wales, the United States, Sweden, and England (countries with fewer than 500,000 people were excluded).
2005: 4.6 million people played golf 25 times or more per year
In 2005, according to the National Golf Foundation, the number of people in the United States who played golf twenty-five times or more per year decreased to 4.6 million.
2007: Tour de las Américas became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours
In 2007, the Tour de las Américas became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
2008: LET scheduled an event opposite the LPGA Championship
Beginning in 2008, the Ladies European Tour scheduled an event opposite the LPGA Championship.
2009: Roughly 600 golf courses in China
By the end of 2009, there were roughly 600 golf courses in China.
2009: Expansion of the International Federation of PGA Tours
In 2009, eleven new tours became full members of the International Federation of PGA Tours, including the Canadian Tour, Tour de las Américas, China Golf Association, the Korea Professional Golfers' Association, Professional Golf Tour of India, and the operators of all six major women's tours worldwide.
2010: The PGA Tour and European Tour money titles claimed by the same individual three times
Since 2010, the PGA Tour and European Tour money titles have been claimed by the same individual three times.
2011: Luke Donald claimed both tours' money titles
In 2011, Luke Donald claimed both tours' money titles.
2011: Tour de las Américas was effectively taken over by the PGA Tour
In 2011, the Tour de las Américas was effectively taken over by the PGA Tour.
2011: Women account for 19 percent of golfers in the United States
In 2011, women made up 19 percent of golfers in the United States.
2012: Rory McIlroy claimed both tours' money titles
In 2012, Rory McIlroy claimed both tours' money titles.
2013: The Evian Championship added as the fifth major
In 2013, The Evian Championship added as the fifth major in women's golf.
2014: Rory McIlroy claimed both tours' money titles
In 2014, Rory McIlroy claimed both tours' money titles.
2016: Golf returned for the Rio Games
After a 112-year absence, golf returned for the 2016 Rio Games.
2016: Women golfers were still fighting to have the same opportunities as male golfers
As of 2016, women golfers were still fighting to have the same opportunities as male golfers, and there remained a significant pay gap in the USGA.
2016: Anchored putting banned on professional circuits
In 2016, anchored putting, a style that requires a longer putter shaft that can be anchored into the player's stomach or below the chin, was banned on professional circuits.
2017: USGA and R&A undertook a complete rewrite of the rules
In 2017, the USGA and R&A undertook a complete rewrite of the rules of Golf, with the aim of simplifying them.
January 2019: New golf rule book comes into effect
In January 2019, the new golf rule book, a complete rewrite undertaken by the USGA and R&A, came into effect with the aim of simplifying the rules.
2019: United States has the highest number of golf courses
As of 2019, the United States has the highest number of golf courses—as much as 43% of the total—and combined with second placed Japan together account for a majority (51%) of golf courses worldwide.
2020: World Handicap System introduced globally
In 2020, a new World Handicap System, devised by the USGA and The R&A, was introduced globally to address difficulties in translating between different handicap systems.
2021: Women account for 25 percent of golfers in the United States
In 2021, women made up 25 percent of golfers in the United States, up from 19 percent in 2011.
