In the beginning, golf games were played by hitting a stone or a makeshift ball across a field until it traveled over a line or similar type of goal. Later, a rabbit hole was added and eventually became the ultimate target. But, how did golf grow into the modern, sophisticated game of today?


Discover as you read this story, about the men who decided on the first golf rules and how these guidelines developed to control one of most popular games all over the world.


Some good and some bad trials



When the first golfers played a game, rules were pretty much whatever all the players that were present agreed upon. Golf was played by trial and error, and that determined what rules

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would work using local customs and what kind of golf course or ground was played on.


For example, at first, many golf games were played near the beach. This meant that the rules would have to take in consideration the sand and its various pits and dunes, and any streams that fed into the shoreline.


Even though several surviving documents of ancient history talk about the etiquette and behavior required by golf players, one particular member of the Gentleman Golfers of Leith is officially credited with writing some of the original formal rules.


Golf according to Duncan Forbes


Duncan Forbes, a Leith member, attempted to explain how the game of golf was to be played from the beginning to the end. Among his first

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rules was that the ball was to be played from within one yard of the tee marker.


One interesting point about the word, “tee” is that is came from the Gaelic word “tigh” used in the ancient sport of curling. This old custom was carried on through golf.


Which player goes first


Another one of Forbes’ first rules was who went first in the game. He declared that the person whose ball lies the farthest away from the hole must play first. This rule still applies on every continent in the world, over three centuries later.


Who is controlling the rules today?


Today, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association determine and direct golf all over the

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world, even though there have been a few differences between the two large organizations.


Professional golf players and amateurs alike can follow the same standards and guidelines competing and enjoying hitting off the tee.


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Tom Straub is a successful author, and webmaster of the Best Golf Tips web site, where you can read more on The Rules of Golf and more than a dozen other golf topics.