Sports · 15th century–
Golf History Timeline
Links, written rules, major championships and a game carried around the world.
18 MomentsGet your own timeline now — free
14571539162117031785186719492026
GGolfSports
← Drag, scroll or swipe through the timeline →
About this timeline
About Golf
The documented story of golf from Scottish links and the first rules to major championships, women’s professional competition, global stars and its Olympic return.
Page updated
Choose any Moment on the timeline to read its story, see why it matters and continue to the original source. Connected Moments open the other person’s timeline.
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team.
Golf history
Golf timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
A Scottish record of golf
An act of the Scottish Parliament banned golf and football because they distracted from archery practice—early written evidence of the game.
Source: www.randa.orgThe first written Rules of Golf
The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith drafted thirteen articles for a competition, creating the earliest known written code.
Source: assets.randa.orgSt Andrews adopts eighteen holes
Combining shorter holes established the eighteen-hole round that became golf’s standard.
Source: www.randa.orgThe first Open Championship
Eight professionals competed for the Challenge Belt at Prestwick in golf’s original major championship.
Source: www.theopen.comFirst US Open
The United States Golf Association staged its first national open championship.
Source: www.usopen.comWomen and men play Olympic golf
Golf debuted at the Olympics; Margaret Abbott won the women’s event and became the first American woman Olympic champion.
Source: www.igfgolf.orgPGA of America is founded
Golf professionals formed a national organisation that launched the PGA Championship.
Source: www.pga.comFirst Ryder Cup
Teams from the United States and Great Britain contested the first official Ryder Cup.
Source: www.rydercup.comThe Masters begins
Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts launched an invitational tournament at Augusta National.
Source: www.masters.comFirst US Women’s Open
Patty Berg won the inaugural championship, then organised by the Women’s Professional Golfers Association.
Connected: Annika Sörenstam
Source: www.uswomensopen.comThe LPGA is founded
Thirteen founders created a durable professional tour for women golfers.
Source: www.lpga.comTiger changes the Masters
Tiger Woods won by twelve strokes, becoming the tournament’s youngest champion and a transformative global star.
Connected: Tiger Woods
Source: www.masters.comAnnika shoots 59
Annika Sörenstam recorded the first 59 in LPGA competition.
Connected: Annika Sörenstam
Source: www.lpga.comAnnika competes on the PGA Tour
Sörenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play a PGA Tour event.
Connected: Annika Sörenstam
Source: www.annikasorenstam.comGolf returns to the Olympics
After 112 years, Olympic golf returned with separate men’s and women’s competitions.
Source: www.igfgolf.orgTiger’s comeback at Augusta
Woods won a fifth Masters and fifteenth major after injuries and repeated back surgery.
Connected: Tiger Woods
Source: www.masters.comNew Olympic champions
Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda won gold as Olympic golf’s modern era continued.
Source: www.igfgolf.orgOlympic golf at Le Golf National
Women’s and men’s 72-hole tournaments returned for a third consecutive Games.
Connected: Tiger Woods · Annika Sörenstam
Source: olympics.comExplore related timelines
Annika Sörenstam timelineTen majors, seventy-two LPGA wins and a standard of fearless excellence.Tiger Woods timelineFifteen majors, eighty-two PGA Tour wins and a sport reshaped.Football timelineFrom local ball games and common laws to the world’s largest global sport.Basketball timelineFrom two peach baskets in Springfield to a worldwide indoor and Olympic game.Tennis timelineFrom monastery courtyards to global tours, Grand Slams and precision technology.Athletics timelineRunning, jumping and throwing—the oldest contests measured against time and distance.
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Golf or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Danielle McBride / U.S. Space Force · Public domain
Schools, fan clubs & cultural organisations
Help maintain this public story.
Bring knowledge, archives and a community together around a carefully sourced timeline.
Quick answers
About the Golf timeline
What is Golf?
The documented story of golf from Scottish links and the first rules to major championships, women’s professional competition, global stars and its Olympic return.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 15th century–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
Your life deserves its own story.
Bring your photographs, videos and most important Moments together in one beautiful timeline.
Start your own life story now — free