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Originally, in the mid 1740's,
golf was played over a five hole
course, each hole being over 400
yards long. Later in the 18th
century, 18 holes became a full
round of golf. This started in
St. Andrews where the putting
area was played to twice, from
opposite directions; once on the
way out from town, and once
again on the way in. The first
hole was started by driving from
the putting area closest to town
and continuing to that farthest
away. After 1764. when there
were ten putting areas, this
made nine holes out. Then nine
holes in made a total of
eighteen, still the standard for
a full round of golf.
In 1744 ,the first official
rules were drawn up for a tournament on Leith Links and
these rules, 13 in all, formed the basis for the modern game
of golf. The original rules of golf along with the
applicable current rules are as follows
Articles & Laws in Playing at
Golf Gentlemen Golfers of Leith,1744
- You must Tee your Ball,
within a Club’s length of the Hole. (Rule 11)
- Your Tee must be upon
the Ground. (Rule 11)
- Your are not to change
the Ball which you Strike off the Tee. (Rule 15.1)
- 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. (Rule 23)
- 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.
(Rule 25 and 26)
- If your Balls be found
anywhere touching one another, You are to lift the first
Ball, till you play the last. (Rule 16)
- 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. (Rule 16)
- 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. (Rule 27)
- No man at Holling
his Ball, is to be allowed, to mark his way to the Hole
with his Club or, any thing else. (Rule 8)
- 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. (Rule 19)
- 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.
(Rule 14)
- He, whose Ball lyes
farthest from the Hole is obliged to play first.
(Rule 10)
- 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. (This the first
recorded local rule in the history of golf.)
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