A comparison of the Leith Links Code and the Modern Rules

In 1744, a competition was held on Leith Links in Edinburgh, Scotland for possession of a silver Golf Club. Because this tournament was open to "Noblemen or Gentlemen or other Golfers, from any part of Great Britain or Ireland," the hosting club decided to write a code of Rules for the occasion. Many of these first rules composed by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers still are echoed in the Rules by which we play more than 250 years later.

This table indicates the similarities between the codes. Comments in italics are not part of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews or the United States Golf Association.

1744 Leith Code Modern Rules

1 You must Tee your Ball within a Clublength of the Hole 11-4a If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so played and play a ball from within the teeing ground, without penalty.

2 Your Tee must be upon the ground. 11-1 In teeing, the ball may be placed on the ground, on an irregularity of surface created by the player on the ground or on a tee, sand or other substance in order to raise it off the ground.

3 You are not to change the Ball which you strike off the Tee. 15-1 A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless a Rule permits him to substitute another ball.

4 You are not allowed to remove Stones, Bones or any Break-club for the sake of playing your ball upon the fair Green, and that only within a Club-length of your Ball. 23-1 Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.

5 If your Ball come among Water or any watery filth you are at liberty to take your Ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club, and allow your Adversary a stroke for so getting out your Ball. 26-1
If a ball is in or is lost in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke . . . b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped. . . .

Of course, the modern rules also give other methods of relief when the ball should find a water hazard or lateral water hazard.

6 If your Balls be found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first Ball until you play the last. 22
Any player may:

a. Lift his ball if he considers that the ball might assist any other player or

b. Have any other ball lifted if he considers that the ball might interfere with his play or assist the play of any other player,

7 At holing out you are to play your Ball honestly for the Hole and not to play upon your Adversary's Ball, not lying in your way to the hole. 19-5 There is no modern equivalent, as a player is allowed to lift his ball at any time (see Rule 22, above,) making this strategy impossible.

8 If you should lose your Ball by its being taken up or in any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another Ball and allow your Adversary a stroke for the misfortune. 27-1 If a ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, the player shall play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played

9 No man at Holing his Ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the Hole with his Club or anything else. 16-1 The line of putt must not be touched except . . .here the rules go on to enumerate seven instances where the line of the putt may be touched, and make it quite clear that improving the line by indenting the ground is not to be tolerated.

10 If a ball is stopped by any person, Horse, Dog or anything else, the Ball so stopped must be played where it lies. 19-1 If a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is a rub of the green, no penalty is incurred and the ball shall be played as it lies

11 If you draw your Club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your Club - if then your Club shall break in any way it is to be accounted a stroke.
Definition of 'Stroke'

and

Decision 14-3

A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball . . .

Q. A player starts his downswing and the clubhead separates from the shaft. The player continues his swing but no contact is made with the ball. Did the player make a stroke?

A. Yes.

12 He whose Ball lies farthest from the Hole is obliged to play first 10-1b When the balls are in play, the ball farther from the hole shall be played first

13 Neither Trench, Ditch or Dyke made for the preservation of the Links, nor the Scholars' Holes nor the Soldiers' Lines shall be accounted as a Hazard, but the Ball is to be taken out, Teed and played with any iron club These are now referred to as 'Local Rules,' and refer to conditions which are regularly found on a particular course.

	1744 Leith Code		Modern Rules
1	You must Tee your Ball within a Clublength of the Hole	11-4a	If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so played and play a ball from within the teeing ground, without penalty.
2	Your Tee must be upon the ground.	11-1	In teeing, the ball may be placed on the ground, on an irregularity of surface created by the player on the ground or on a tee, sand or other substance in order to raise it off the ground.
3	You are not to change the Ball which you strike off the Tee.	15-1	A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless a Rule permits him to substitute another ball.
4	You are not allowed to remove Stones, Bones or any Break-club for the sake of playing your ball upon the fair Green, and that only within a Club-length of your Ball.	23-1	Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.
5	If your Ball come among Water or any watery filth you are at liberty to take your Ball and bringing it behind the hazard and teeing it, you may play it with any club, and allow your Adversary a stroke for so getting out your Ball.	26-1	If a ball is in or is lost in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke . . . b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped. . . . Of course, the modern rules also give other methods of relief when the ball should find a water hazard or lateral water hazard.
6	If your Balls be found anywhere touching one another you are to lift the first Ball until you play the last.	22	Any player may: a. Lift his ball if he considers that the ball might assist any other player or b. Have any other ball lifted if he considers that the ball might interfere with his play or assist the play of any other player,
7	At holing out you are to play your Ball honestly for the Hole and not to play upon your Adversary's Ball, not lying in your way to the hole.	19-5	There is no modern equivalent, as a player is allowed to lift his ball at any time (see Rule 22, above,) making this strategy impossible.
8	If you should lose your Ball by its being taken up or in any other way, you are to go back to the spot where you struck last and drop another Ball and allow your Adversary a stroke for the misfortune.	27-1	If a ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, the player shall play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played
9	No man at Holing his Ball is to be allowed to mark his way to the Hole with his Club or anything else.	16-1	The line of putt must not be touched except . . .here the rules go on to enumerate seven instances where the line of the putt may be touched, and make it quite clear that improving the line by indenting the ground is not to be tolerated.
10	If a ball is stopped by any person, Horse, Dog or anything else, the Ball so stopped must be played where it lies.	19-1	If a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is a rub of the green, no penalty is incurred and the ball shall be played as it lies
11	If you draw your Club in order to strike and proceed so far in the stroke as to be bringing down your Club - if then your Club shall break in any way it is to be accounted a stroke.	Definition of 'Stroke' and Decision 14-3	A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball . . . Q. A player starts his downswing and the clubhead separates from the shaft. The player continues his swing but no contact is made with the ball. Did the player make a stroke? A. Yes.
12	He whose Ball lies farthest from the Hole is obliged to play first	10-1b	When the balls are in play, the ball farther from the hole shall be played first
13	Neither Trench, Ditch or Dyke made for the preservation of the Links, nor the Scholars' Holes nor the Soldiers' Lines shall be accounted as a Hazard, but the Ball is to be taken out, Teed and played with any iron club		These are now referred to as 'Local Rules,' and refer to conditions which are regularly found on a particular course.

A comparison of the Leith Links Code and the Modern Rules

©1999 William E. Nelson; all rights reserved