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Dates to Remember
in Golfing History during the Twentieth Century
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| 1903 | The first PGA (News of the World) Matchplay tournament was held. |
| 1907 | Open Championship was won by Arnaud Massy who became the first overseas player to win this Championship. |
| 1908 | The R & A decided that the Rules
should be freely available to all players. A deal, which is still
in operation today, was made with the Royal Insurance for sponsorship to enable the publication of all the English language copies. |
| 1909 | A limitation is placed for the first time on the form and make of golf clubs. |
| 1910 |
The definition of a legal club is incorporated within the Rules of Golf. The Open Championship is won for the fifth time by James Braid. |
| 1912 | A record of eight times is achieved by John Ball as he wins the Amateur Championship. |
| 1914 | Sixth time winner of the Open Championship - Harry Vardon. |
| 1920 |
Previously run by various host clubs, the Open and Amateur Championships become the responsibility of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club. The first regulation on the ball is introduced to
the Rules of Golf by the R & A and the USGA. The Scottish Golf Union was formed. |
| 1922 |
Council of National Golf Union is constituted. Long Island, New York hosted the Walker Cup for the first time in the USA - the USA won Great Britain & Ireland 8-4. |
| 1927 | USA beats Great Britain & Ireland in the Ryder Cup by 9.5 - 2.5 when it was played at Worcester, Massachusetts for the first time. |
| 1929 | This year sees the legalising of steel shafts on golf clubs by the R & A. |
| 1930 | The Grand Slam ( the Open, US Open, the Amateur and US Amateur Championships) is won by Bobby Jones. |
| 1931 | A new legal ball limit is set by the USGA - maximum weight 1.62 ounces and minimum diameter of 1.68 inches. |
| 1932 | Introduction of the Curtis Cup was won by USA at Wentworth when they beat Great Britain & Ireland 5.5. - 3.5 |
| 1939 | New limits are placed on the number of clubs that can be used in golf tournaments. The R & A stipulate no more than fourteen can be used. |
| 1946 | Sam Snead wins the Open Championship in the year that walkie-talkies are first introduced on the course during this competition. |
| 1947 | Winner of the Open Championship this year is Fred Daly. |
| 1948 |
Third win in the Open Championship by Henry Cotton. The R & A take control of the Boys' Amateur Championship. |
| 1951 |
Ireland hosts its first Open Championship at Royal Portrush where Max Faulkner takes the trophy. The English Ladies' Golf Association was founded. |
| 1952 |
An important year for golf as the first worldwide unified code of rules is brought into effect. The Golf Foundation to promote and develop golf among the young players is established. |
| 1953 | Ben Hogan wins the Open Championship at Carnoustie and returns home to a heroes welcome. |
| 1955 | St Andrews provides the venue for the Open Championship which is covered on live television for the first time. |
| 1957 | To cooperate with the television coverage of the Open Championship the leaders after 36 holes go out last for the first time ever. |
| 1958 | Introduction of the Eisenhower Trophy - World Amateur Team Championship. |
| 1962 |
A step forward for women's golf as they are allowed to join the PGA on the same basis as men. |
| 1963 |
The only left-handed player ever to win the Open Championship - Bob Charles. Youths (Mid-Amateur), Championship is taken under the wing of the R & A. |
| 1965 | Fifth time win for Peter Thomson in the Open Championship. |
| 1967 | The US Women's Open which was played
at Hot Springs, Virginia. was won by Catherine Lacoste of France.
She became the first and only amateur winner of this competition. |
| 1968 | 1.68 inches for the golf ball diameter becomes compulsory in all PGA tournaments - initially for a three year period. |
| 1970 | For the fifteenth time the Irish Ladies' Championship is won by Philomena Garvey. |
| 1971 | This is the year that the PGA European Tour with twenty seven events and a prize fund of almost £500,000 is founded. |
| 1973 | A record of ten appearances in the Ryder Cup is achieved by Christy O'Connor Senior. |
| 1974 | Live Television coverage of the European
Tour begins in this year and the larger ball of 1.68 inches becomes compulsory for the Open Championship. |
| 1975 |
The inauguration of the LPGA Championship. |
| 1976 | Women's golf progresses again with the institution of The Women's British Open Championship. |
| 1977 |
Headquarters for the PGA is set up at The Belfry. A tenth win in the Irish National PGA for Christy O'Connor Senior. |
| 1978 | The WPGA ( Women's Professional Golfers Association) is formed. |
| 1979 |
The Ryder cup becomes Europe v USA for the first time as Continental players become eligible for play. A prize fund of £80,000 is found for the first WPG (European) Tour. |
| 1980 | At Muirfield Tom Watson wins the first Open Championship to be played from Thursday to Sunday. |
| 1984 | The Rules undergoes a major reorganisation with a language update. |
| 1986 | World Ranking makes its appearance and the European Satellite Tour is started. |
| 1987 |
This year sees the first British Womens' golfer win the US Womens' Open - Laura Davies. Europe wins the Ryder Cup in America for the first time. - The Championship took place at Muirfield Village. |
| 1988 |
A knighthood is posthumously bestowed on Henry Cotton for his services to golf. The US Masters is won for the first time by a Briton - Sandy Lyle. |
| 1989 |
At Peach Tree, Atlanta, the Walker Cup is won for the first time in America by Great Britain & Ireland. |
| 1990 |
The Solheim Cup is established between women professionals of Europe and the USA. The larger ball is now the only legal golf ball for all golfers. |
| 1997 | A record is set by Nick Faldo as he makes his eleventh appearance in the Ryder Cup. |
| 1998 | The European Ladies' Tour is the new name for the WPGET. |
| 1999 |
The Order of Merit is achieved for the seventh consecutive year by Colin Montgomerie. |
