Today's Rules of Golf run to dozens of rules with detailed interpretations, but they began with just 13. Over nearly three centuries, the rules have grown, been unified across the world and, more recently, been simplified. Here's how golf's rules developed.
The first written rules
In 1744, golfers in Edinburgh wrote down 13 rules for a competition. These "articles" covered teeing, not changing the ball, removing stones, water, lost balls and putting, many of which echo today's rules. Other clubs soon wrote their own codes.
Local codes
For more than a century, each club had its own rules, adapted to its course. As golf spread and golfers travelled, differing rules caused confusion.
Unified rules
In the late 19th century, clubs increasingly adopted a common set of rules, and governing bodies took responsibility. For decades, two bodies issued rules for different parts of the world, with some differences. In the 1950s, they agreed a joint code, and since then they have issued the Rules of Golf together, updating them periodically.
Key milestones
| Change | Approximate era | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| First written rules | 1744 | Thirteen rules for a competition |
| Club codes | 18th and 19th centuries | Local variations |
| 14-club limit | 1930s | Limited the number of clubs carried |
| Joint rules code | 1950s | Unified the rules between governing bodies |
| End of the stymie | 1950s | Players could no longer leave a ball blocking an opponent's path on the green |
| Single ball size | 1990 | One standard minimum diameter worldwide |
| Equipment rules | Late 20th and 21st century | Limits on club heads, faces, grooves and balls |
| Anchoring ban | 2016 | Anchoring the club when making a stroke prohibited |
| Major modernisation | 2019 | Simpler rules on dropping, searching, the flagstick and greens |
| World Handicap System | 2020 | A single handicap system worldwide |
| Amateur status update | 2022 | Simplified amateur status rules |
Read the evolution of golf clubs and the history of the golf ball.
The 2019 modernisation
The 2019 changes aimed to make the rules easier to understand and to speed up play:
- Drops from knee height.
- A three-minute search time.
- Putting with the flagstick in.
- Repairing almost any damage on the green.
- Penalty areas replacing water hazards, with more flexibility.
- No penalty for accidental double hits or accidentally moving the ball while searching.
Read golf rules myths and golf rules every golfer should know.
Rules for all golfers
Modified rules have been introduced for golfers with disabilities. Read adaptive golf.
Frequently asked questions
When were the first rules of golf written?
In 1744, when 13 rules were written for a competition in Edinburgh.
What was the stymie?
A situation where an opponent's ball blocked your path to the hole on the green, which you had to play around. It was abolished in the 1950s.
When was the 14-club limit introduced?
In the 1930s.
What changed in the 2019 rules?
Simpler dropping, a three-minute search, the flagstick option, more green repairs and penalty areas, among other changes.
The bottom line
The Rules of Golf have grown from 13 simple articles to a detailed worldwide code, recently simplified to make the game easier and faster. Knowing their history helps explain why golf's rules look the way they do. For more history, read the history of golf.