History of Golf in Timeline

Golf is a sport where players use different clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course. The goal is to complete the course using the fewest possible strokes. It's a popular recreational and competitive activity played worldwide.

1900: Golf at the Summer Olympics

Golf was featured in the Summer Olympic Games official programme in 1900.

1904: Golf at the Summer Olympics

Golf was featured in the Summer Olympic Games official programme in 1904.

1930: Bobby Jones Praises Joyce Wethered

In 1930, Bobby Jones praised Joyce Wethered after they played an exhibition against each other, considering her potentially the best golfer, man or woman.

1934: First Masters Tournament

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

1937: Senior PGA Founded

In 1937, the Senior PGA was founded, making it the oldest of the senior golf 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: LPGA Formed

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

1960: Jack Nicklaus 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.

1961: Jack Nicklaus Wins U.S. Amateur

In 1961, Jack Nicklaus played one more amateur year, winning that year's U.S. Amateur.

1962: Jack Nicklaus Turns Pro

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

February 1971: Alan Shepard Golfs on the Moon

In February 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to golf on the Moon during the Apollo 14 mission, hitting two golf balls with an improvised club.

1972: Title IX Passed

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

1977: Renee Powell Plays British Men's Tournament

In 1977, American Renee Powell moved to the UK and became the first woman to play in a British men's tournament.

1984: First Golf Course in China

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

1984: Nintendo's Golf Game

Nintendo's "Golf", released in 1984, 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 PGA Tours

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

2000: Decrease in Frequent Golf Players in the United States

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

2000: Canadian Tour Becomes Associate Member

In 2000, the Canadian Tour became an associate member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

2001: Changes to Women's Golf Majors

Changes to the list of majors recognised by the LPGA Tour occurred in 2001, with the Women's British Open replacing the du Maurier Classic as a major.

2003: Senior Open Championship Recognised

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

2004: Expansion of Golf Courses in China

From 2004 to 2009, the number of golf courses in China tripled, despite the development of new golf courses being officially banned.

2004: The R&A Spun Off

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

2005: Golf Courses Per Capita Ranking

In 2005, Golf Digest calculated the countries with the most golf courses per capita, with Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia leading the list.

2005: Decrease in Golf Players in the United States

In 2005, the number of people who played golf at all decreased from 30 to 26 million in the United States, according to the National Golf Foundation.

2007: Tour de las Américas Joins 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 Events

Beginning in 2008, the Ladies European Tour scheduled an event opposite the LPGA Championship, changing the tacit acknowledgement of the LPGA Tour's dominance.

2009: Number of Golf Courses in China

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

2009: Expansion of International Federation of PGA Tours

In 2009, eleven new tours became full members of the International Federation of PGA Tours including Canadian Tour, Tour de las Américas, China Golf Association, 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

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

2011: Luke Donald Wins Money Titles

In 2011, Luke Donald claimed both the PGA and European Tours' money titles.

2011: PGA Tour takes over Tour de las Américas

In 2011, the Tour de las Américas was effectively taken over by the PGA Tour.

2011: Women Golfers in the United States

Since 2011, the percentage of women golfers in the US increased from 19 percent

2012: PGA Tour Canada

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

2012: Rory McIlroy Wins Money Titles

In 2012, Rory McIlroy claimed both the PGA and European Tours' money titles.

2013: Henrik Stenson Wins FedEx Cup

In 2013, Henrik Stenson won the FedEx Cup points race on the PGA Tour and the European Tour money title.

2013: The Evian Championship Added

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

2014: Rory McIlroy Wins Money Titles

In 2014, Rory McIlroy claimed both the PGA and European Tours' money titles.

2016: Return of Golf to the Olympics

After a 112-year absence, golf returned to the Summer Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio.

2016: Pay Gap in USGA

As of 2016, women golfers were still fighting to have the same opportunities as male golfers, including a significant pay gap in the USGA.

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 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 Golf Rule Book Effective

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: Golf Courses by Country

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

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

2021: Women Golfers in the United States

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