History of Golf in Timeline

Golf is a sport where players use different clubs to hit a ball into designated holes on a course. The objective is to complete the course using the fewest strokes possible. It requires precision, strategy, and physical skill, as players must navigate various terrains and obstacles while managing their club selection to optimize each shot. The game can be played individually or in teams, and is governed by a complex set of rules. A round of golf typically consists of 18 holes.

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 Praises Joyce Wethered

In 1930, Bobby Jones praised Joyce Wethered after they played an exhibition against each other, stating he doubted there had ever been a better golfer, man or woman.

1934: The Masters Inaugural Tournament

Since its inception in 1934, the Masters Tournament has been played annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, making it the only major championship played at the same course each year.

1937: Founding of the Senior PGA Championship

In 1937, the Senior PGA Championship was founded, making it the oldest of the five senior major events.

1947: Babe Zaharias Wins British Women's Amateur Title

In 1947, Babe Zaharias became the first American to win the British Women's Amateur title.

1950: Formation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association

In 1950, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) was formed to popularize the sport and provide competitive opportunities for women golfers.

1960: Jack Nicklaus Gains Notice at 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, which was the best score to date in that tournament by an amateur.

1961: Jack Nicklaus Wins U.S. Amateur

In 1961, Jack Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur tournament.

1962: Jack Nicklaus Turns Professional

In 1962, Jack Nicklaus turned professional after a successful amateur career.

February 1971: Alan Shepard Golfs on the Moon

In February 1971, during the Apollo 14 mission, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to play golf on the Moon. He smuggled a golf club head and two golf balls onboard, attached the head to a tool, and attempted two drives, with his second shot estimated to have traveled 40 yards.

1972: Title IX of the Education Amendments Passed

In 1972, U.S. Congress passed Title IX of the Education Amendments, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.

1977: Renee Powell Plays in a British Men's Tournament

In 1977, American Renee Powell became the first woman to play in a British men's tournament after moving to the UK to further her career.

1984: First Golf Course in China Opens

In 1984, the first golf course opened in China, marking the beginning of golf's presence in the country.

1984: Release of Nintendo's Golf

Nintendo's Golf was released in 1984 and is recognized as the best-selling golf video game in history.

1996: International Federation of PGA Tours Founded

In 1996, the Japan, Australasian, Sunshine, PGA, and European Tours founded the International Federation of PGA Tours.

1999: Asian Tour Joins International Federation of PGA Tours

In 1999, the Asian Tour became a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

2000: Canadian Tour Becomes 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.

2000: Decrease in Frequent Golf Players in the United States

In 2000, the number of people in the United States who played golf twenty-five times or more per year was 6.9 million.

2001: Changes to the List of Women's Golf Majors

In 2001, changes occurred to the list of major championships recognized by the LPGA Tour in the U.S., with the Women's British Open replacing the du Maurier Classic as a major.

2003: Senior Open Championship Recognized as a Major

In 2003, the Senior Open Championship was recognized as a major by PGA Tour Champions.

2004: Golf Course Expansion in China

From 2004 to 2009, the number of golf courses in China tripled, despite an official ban on new golf course development.

2004: The R&A Spun Off

In 2004, The R&A was spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which was founded in 1754.

2005: Decline in Golf Participation in the United States

According to the National Golf Foundation, in 2005, the number of people in the United States who played golf twenty-five times or more per year decreased to 4.6 million from 6.9 million in 2000, and the total number of golfers decreased from 30 to 26 million during the same period.

2005: Golf Digest's Ranking of Countries with Most Golf Courses Per Capita

In 2005, Golf Digest calculated and ranked the countries with the most golf courses per capita. Scotland topped the list, followed by New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Wales, the United States, Sweden, and England. Countries with fewer than 500,000 people were excluded.

2007: Tour de las Américas Becomes Associate Member of the International Federation of PGA Tours

In 2007, the Tour de las Américas (Latin America) became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

2008: Ladies European Tour Schedules Event Opposite LPGA Championship

In 2008, the Ladies European Tour (LET) scheduled an event opposite the LPGA Championship, marking a change from its long-standing practice of avoiding conflicts with LPGA majors played in the U.S.

2009: Number of Golf Courses in China Reaches Approximately 600

By the end of 2009, there were roughly 600 golf courses in China, despite an official ban on the development of new courses.

2009: Major Expansion of the International Federation of PGA Tours

In 2009, the International Federation of PGA Tours underwent a major expansion, with eleven new tours becoming full members, 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: PGA and European Tours' Money Titles Claimed by Same Individual

Since 2010, the money titles for both the PGA Tour and European Tour have been claimed by the same individual three times.

2011: Luke Donald Claims Both PGA and European Tour Money Titles

In 2011, Luke Donald claimed the money titles for both the PGA Tour and European Tour.

2011: PGA Tour Takes Over Tour de las Américas

In 2011, the PGA Tour effectively took over the Tour de las Américas.

2011: Increase in Women Golfers in the United States

Since 2011, the percentage of women golfers in the United States increased from 19 percent.

2012: Rory McIlroy Claims Both PGA and European Tour Money Titles

In 2012, Rory McIlroy claimed the money titles for both the PGA Tour and European Tour.

2012: Canadian Tour Renamed PGA Tour Canada

In 2012, the Canadian Tour was renamed PGA Tour Canada after it agreed to be taken over by the PGA Tour.

2013: Henrik Stenson Wins FedEx Cup and European Tour Money Title

In 2013, Henrik Stenson won the FedEx Cup points race on the PGA Tour and the European Tour money title, but did not top the PGA Tour money list, which was won by Tiger Woods.

2013: The Evian Championship Added as a Major

In 2013, The Evian Championship was added as the fifth major in women's golf by the LPGA Tour.

2014: Rory McIlroy Claims Both PGA and European Tour Money Titles

In 2014, Rory McIlroy claimed the money titles for both the PGA Tour and European Tour.

2016: Pay Gap in USGA Prize Money

As of 2016, there was still a significant pay gap in the USGA, with the men's U.S. Open awarding more prize money than the U.S. Women's Open.

2016: Golf Returns to the Summer Olympic Games

In 2016, after a 112-year absence, golf returned to the Summer Olympic Games for the Rio Games.

2016: Anchored Putting Banned

In 2016, the anchored putting style, which involves stabilizing one end of the putter against the body, was banned on professional golf circuits.

2017: USGA and R&A Undertake Rule Rewrite

In 2017, the USGA and R&A undertook a complete rewrite of the golf rules with the aim of simplifying them.

January 2019: New Rule Book in Effect

In January 2019, the new rule book for golf, resulting from the rewrite undertaken by the USGA and R&A, came into effect.

2019: United States Leads in Number of Golf Courses Worldwide

As of 2019, the United States had the highest number of golf courses, accounting for 43% of the world's total, and together with Japan, they accounted for 51% of golf courses worldwide.

2020: World Handicap System Introduced

In 2020, the USGA and The R&A introduced a new World Handicap System globally, working with existing handicapping authorities to address difficulties in translating between different systems.

2021: Women Make Up 25 Percent of Golfers in the United States

In 2021, women accounted for 25 percent of golfers in the United States, up from 19 percent in 2011, with junior female golfers accounting for 35 percent or 1.1 million golfers.