Tom Morris

Early Golf in Scotland

King James IV of Scotland (below left) at almost 30 years old, was the first recorded player of golf as we know it (the long game) and it makes Perth the oldest dated location in the world, where a named golfer played golf (1502).

           Left: 1st Rules of Golf


The first written description for the preferred stance, address and swing to be adopted in the game of golf (1687) is accredited to an Edinburgh surgeon’s son,Thomas Kincaid the Younger.

In 1744 John Rattray (signature on 1st rules of golf -upper right) wrote the first rules of golf which was recorded in the April meeting minutes of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The St Andrews golfers adopted those rules with minor modifications in 1754.

Old Tom Morris

Tom Morris was the first golf professional at St Andrews (the home of golf). Tom Morris was (in 1834) as a young man, apprentice to Allan Robertson (considered the first golf professional). He evolved into a an excellent player, club maker and golf course designer. He won the British open four times (1861,1862,1864, 1867) then became the caretaker of St Andrews. He was an innovator in golf course design and invented modern greenskeeping, building and/or modifying 75 courses.
 

Above: 1875 sepia photo of Tom Morris in a sand trap. The 1875 putter created by Tom (left) has a wood head with a whale bone base plate and metal weighting. The wood shaft is spliced to the head and has a sheep skin wrapped grip.

Willie Park quote: " A man that can putt is a match for anyone, a man that cannot is a match for no-one".

Willie Park bent neck (below left), Harry Vardon often used a Prestwick putter (center), Vardon at St Andrews 1900 (below right). .




Taylor, Braid and Vardon dominated golf from the late 1800s thru the early 1900's. J. H. Taylor putter (below left), James Braid putter (center), 1920s picture (below right), 



                     
    Below left: Bobby Jones "Calamity Jane" putter, Tommy Armour putter (center) Tommy Armour (below right),
 
                       

Gene Sarazen putter (below left), Walter Hagen putter (below center), Picture Jock Huchison (left) Hagen (right) 

 


Transition from wood to steel shafts occured in the 1930s and 1940s.
Ben Hogan (Gerry Glynn) below left, Byron Nelson Tourney putter (center), Nelson's swing (below right)



Tommy Armour Silver Scott (below left), Bobby Locke (below right)

               

The 1950s, Ben Hogan (below left) and Sam Sneed (below right)



Julius Boros (below left) and Carry Middlecoff (lower right) 

        

Late 50s, early 60s: Acushnet bullseye (lower left), Billy Casper (below right)
 
       

Jack Nicklaus (George Low) below left,  Arnold Palmer (below right)

             

Gary Player (below left) 1960's,  Ping (1967): 1st heal and toe weighted putter (below right) Waton's early choice



Phil Mickelson (lower left- stock photo),                        Tiger Woods 2001 Masters (Tiger Slam) lower right