Milestones

1744 First written code of rules. Rule 1 stated: "You must tee your ball within a club's length of the hole."

1851 With the introduction of the gutta percha ball a new rule provided that if a ball broke up in flight another ball could be dropped without penalty where the largest piece was found.

1891 Time allowed in searching for a ball reduced from 10 to five minutes.

1897 Formation of The R&A Rules of Golf Committee.

1909 Limits on the form and make of clubs applied for the first time.

1921 Restrictions on the size and weight of golf balls imposed in an effort to limit the distance they would travel. Ball specification set at 1.62 ounces and not less than 1.62 inches in diameter.

1929 Steel shafts became legal for the first time.

1939 Only 14 clubs to be carried from this date.

1949 To stop the spread of slow play, committees were empowered to disqualify players who unduly delayed others. Modified in 1952 to loss of hole or two-stroke penalty, with disqualification for repeated offences.

1952 First world code agreed between R&A and USGA. Stymie abolished - players no longer forced to chip over an opponent's ball coming to rest between their ball and the hole in match play.

1960 Distance measuring devices banned.

1974 1.68 inch ball used in The Open Championship as a Condition of Competition.

1980 Conforming Ball List introduced in Rules.

1984 Ball no longer dropped over the player's shoulder, but at arm's length and at shoulder height.

1990 The 1.68-inch ball becomes the only legal ball, marking the demise of the 1.62 British ball.

1998 USGA introduces Rule to limit driver ‘spring-like’ effect (CoR test).

2002
Publication of the R&A / USGA Joint Statement of Principles.
R&A announces decision to limit driver ‘spring-like’ effect from 2008.
Phase I of the updated Overall Distance Standard for golf balls introduced.
R&A introduces elite level Condition of Competition for driving clubs.

2003 Pendulum test introduced for the measurement of ’spring-like’ effect (characteristic time).

2004
Limits introduced on size and dimensions of wood heads and club length (excluding putters).
Phase II of the updated Overall Distance Standard for golf balls introduced.
Interpretation of Plain in Shape Rule for putters liberalised.

2006
R&A introduces limit on ‘spring-like’ effect of all clubs (excluding putters).
List of Conforming Driver Heads published.
Limit on MOI of driving clubs introduced.
Distance measuring devices allowed by Local Rule.