1809/ 10. If a ball is lost on the green, the player shall drop another behind the place where the other was lost, and lose one.
Unplayable....1920: Ball now can be 'deemed' unplayable anywhere on
the course; penalty stroke and distance in match play, stroke and distance
or tee behind the place for 2 strokes in stroke play.
Although a ball could be declared unplayable anywhere at this time,
if a player's ball was in a water hazard, by following the water hazard
Rule he could get back into play for one penalty stroke instead of two
in stroke play
The first 'procedure' for dropping a ball came in 1754: throwing it
behind a water hazard 'six yards at least'.
1950 penalties reduced to distance only for lost, out of bounds and
unplayable.
1952 Lost, Unplayable, OOB all under same rule and penalties. Player
is sole judge whether his ball is unplayable, and it can be declared
Unplayable anywhere.
1960 USGA. reduced penalty to 1 stroke and removed Provisional option.
1968 R&A. OB penalty reduced to 1 stroke, no provisional.
In 1908 the new procedure of dropping over the shoulder introduced.
1851 With the consent of one's adversary, a player could lift and drop
behind the place for 1 penalty stroke.
Leith code of 1775, the rule was stroke only, and a player dropped a
ball where he judged the original was lost.
1964 USGA allowed a stroke-only option if it was felt that stroke and
distance would be "'unduly severe."
1956 Ball may be declared lost by player.
1947 (USGA) said "It is impossible to lay down exact rules to govern
always the play of a ball which lies in a water hazard.
The five minute time limit for searching for a lost ball was introduced
by the Aberdeen Golfers in 1783.
1812 XIII. All loose impediments of whatever kind, may be removed upon
the putting green.
1891 all balls must be holed out in SP.
1899 ball must not be pushed scraped or spooned.
1899 play on putting green when another ball in motion, 1 penalty stroke.
No practice on the course and 'undue delay' introduced 1950
R &A 1891 The rectangular shape of the teeing ground is stipulated
for the first time: a ball must not be teed in front of, nor on either
side of, nor more than two club lengths behind the teeing markers.
The wooden tee peg was patented in 1899 by George F. Grant
Through the green was first defined in 1899, as being all parts of the
course except hazards and the putting green. The teeing ground was added
to the definition in 1933.
The hole size was standardised in 1891 at the dimensions of today.
1956 No penalty for striking an unattended flagstick from any distance.
1960 Lifting a ball on the putting green was allowed, so cleaning was
added to the list.
Burntisland 1828, which allowed the removal of 'loose obstructions'
on the fair green.
Practice anywhere on the course was prohibited from 1950 (1952 in USGA);
at the same time playing a practice stroke during play was also banned.
giving unsolicited advice was not an offence until 1947 (USGA) and 1952
(R&A).
The competitor was obliged to countersign his card for a brief period,
1899-1901
Steel shafts were initially banned by the R&A and USGA in 1914 as
"not a permissible departure from the traditional form and make
of golf clubs". However, following further developments and pressure
from manufacturers, the increasingly popular steel shafts were legalised
in April 1924 by the USGA, and in Sept 1929 by the R&A, the main
reasons being that steel shafts conferred no playing advantages, and
conservation of the world's supply of hickory.
1909 The Rules of Golf Committee is, however, of opinion that it is
not allowable to employ the vertical croquet stroke as a method of putting.
July 1921 deeply grooved irons made illegal by the R&A.
1947 USGA. Grips must be substantially straight and plain, but may have
flat sides.
1952 Putter shafts may be fixed at any point in the head.
steel shafts were legalised in April 1924 by the USGA, and in Sept 1929
by the R&A, the main reasons being that steel shafts conferred no
playing advantages, and conservation of the world's supply of hickory.
Legal number of clubs carried becomes 14 on 1 Jan 1938; the R&A
followed suit 1 May, 1939.