Golf Timeline Homepage
1889
Two British inventors receive the first known patent for a golf tee. Their model sat on top of the ground, and is referred to as the Bloxsom/Douglas tee.
Men's Major Championship Winners
British Open: Willie Park Jr.
Amateur Champions
British: Johnny Laidlay
John Ball of England becomes the first non-Scotsman (and first amateur) to win the British Open. He also wins the British Amateur, the only golfer other than Bobby Jones to win both events in the same year.
Born This Year
• Chick Evans, 1916 U.S. Open winner, 2-time U.S. Amateur winner
• Robert Gardner, 2-time U.S. Amateur winner, 4-time Walker Cupper
• Willie MacFarlane, winner of 1925 U.S. Open in a 36-hole playoff over Bobby Jones
British Open: John Ball
Amateur Champions
British: John Ball
Steel-shafted clubs are first advertised.
The Currie MetalWood, a metal-headed driver, is patented in Britain.
Muirfield Links, laid out and built by Old Tom Morris, opens in Gullane, Scotland.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, in its new rules, sets the standard hole size at 4.25 inches in diameter.
• Cecil Leitch, 4-time winner of British Women's Amateur
• Johnny McDermott, 1911 and 1912 U.S. Open champion
Men's Major Championship Winners
British Open: Hugh Kirkaldy
Amateur Champions
British: Johnny Laidlay
