ORIGINAL 13 RULES OF GOLF
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Although the game has changed significantly since then, here we are,
250 years later, and you can still see that the essence of some of
these old rules has not been changed. If your really want to go into the history of the Rules, a book entitled
The Rules of the Green by Kenneth Chapman is available from the USGA
website for $34.95 + S&H. Those with somewhat less interest may
borrow this book from Craig Allen. |
The Rules shown below are the first known published rules of Golf.
They were published because the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith were
having a tournament which included golfers other than the regular local
players. There was a justified desire to insure that all players in
the tournament were following the same rules.|
Articles & Laws in Playing at Golf
Gentlemen Golfers of Leith,1744 2. Your Tee must be upon the Ground. 3. Your are not to change the Ball which you Strike off the Tee. 4. Your are not to remove, Stones, Bones or any Break Club for the sake of playing your Ball, Except upon the fair Green & that only within a Club’s length of your Ball. 5. If your Ball comes among Watter, or any Wattery Filth, your are at liberty to take out your Ball & bringing it behind the hazard and Teeing it, you may play it with any club and allow your Adversary a Stroke for so getting out your Ball. 6. If your Balls be found anywhere touching one another, You are to lift the first Ball, till you play the last. 7. At Holling, you are to play your Ball honestly for the Hole, and, not to play upon your Adversary’s Ball, not lying in your way to the Hole. 8. If you shou’d lose your Ball, by its being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the Spot, where you struck last & drop another Ball, and allow your Adversary a Stroke for the misfortune. 9. No man at Holling his Ball, is to be allowed, to mark his way to the Hole with his Club or, any thing else. 10. If a Ball be stopp’d by any person, Horse, Dog, or any thing else, The Ball so stop’d must be played where it lyes. 11. If you draw your Club, in order to Strike & proceed so far in the Stroke, as to be bringing down your Club; if then, your Club shall break, in, any way, it is to be Accounted a Stroke. 12. He, whose Ball lyes farthest from the Hole is obliged to play first. 13. Neither Trench, Ditch, or Dyke, made for the preservation of the Links, nor the Scholar’s Holes or the Soldier’s Lines, Shall be accounted a Hazard; But the Ball is to be taken out/Teed/ and play’d with any Iron Club. |