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1810
First known women's tournament held at Musselburgh, Scotland.
1815
Born this year: Allan Robertson (considered golf's first professional).1819
Earliest known reference to a professional tournament. It's an event played, of course, at St. Andrews.1820
The first golf course outside of Britain is opened in Bangalore, India.
• Born this year: Old Tom Morris1826
Hickory imported from the U.S. begins to become the wood of choice for golf shafts. Ash or hazel had been most commonly used prior to the introduction of hickory.
A notice in the Montreal Herald seeks Scotsmen interested in golf. It is the earliest known record of golf in Canada.
1829
The first-known hole-cutter - the tool for cutting holes into the green - is built at the Musselburgh links (now the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club). It cuts holes to a diameter of 4.25 inches, which will eventually be adopted as the worldwide standard.1832
Mowers made specifically for trimming golf course grass are manufactured, but many courses still use sheep to keep the grass from getting high.
1833
King William IV confers the distinction of "Royal" on the Perth Golfing Society; as Royal Perth it is the first Club to hold the distinction.1834
St. Andrews, by decree of King William IV, becomes known as the "Royal & Ancient" Golf Club of St. Andrews.
1836
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers abandons the deteriorating Leith Links, moving to Musselburgh.
The longest drive ever recorded with a featherie ball, 361 yards, is achieved by Samuel Messieux at Elysian Fields. But there's a catch: the drive was downwind and on frozen turf.1848
The gutta percha, or "guttie," golf ball is introduced by Rev. Roger Paterson. It is made from the sap of a rubber tree known as the gutta percha tree. It flies farther than the featherie and is less expensive.
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