← Back to the timeline1744
The first written rules
Thirteen articles give competition a common framework.
The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith drafted 13 Articles and Laws for a competition at Leith Links. They addressed matters such as teeing, hazards and a ball at rest, laying a foundation for the Rules of Golf.
The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith needed agreed rules for competition over Leith Links. Their 13 articles dealt with practical situations: how to start a hole, play a ball and handle hazards. A shared code made disputes easier to resolve.
Rules did not stop changing in 1744. Clubs maintained local customs for many years, and later governing bodies worked toward the common rules used internationally today. The first written code is an opening chapter, not a finished rulebook.