One of the World’s Oldest Scorecards: A Document of Golf’s Early History

One of the world’s oldest known golf scorecards dates back to 1820 and offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the game. This particular round was recorded on June 3, 1820 on the Links the Leith, on the edge of Edinburgh, Scotland. The scorecard is significant not only because of its age,  but also because it showcases the evolution of the game of golf.

The scorecard, records the score of a round played at the 5 hole course at Leith Links, where the rules were first recorded in 1744. The game, initially popular among Scottish nobles, was played with long nose wooden clubs and leather golf balls stuffed with goose feathers that were far simpler than modern equipment, and the courses were often much less manicured than today’s golf courses.

The Leith Links scorecard is remarkable for several reasons. Firstly, it provides historical context, showing that golfers in the early 19th century were already concerned with recording scores in a structured way, even if the scoring system was not as standardized as it is today (no terms for par or birdie). The scorecard’s owner John Cundell was the Secretary of the Thistle Golf Club which was founded at Leith only 5 years prior.

Mr. Cundell in 1824, would go on to publish the Thistle Club’s Rules, as well as a short history on the game of golf (one of the earliest written histories of our game).

Over time, golf scorecards evolved into the standardized forms we use today, with clear markings for each hole’s par, distance, and space to record individual scores. But the Leith Links scorecard remains a rare artifact that connects today’s golf culture to the sport’s early beginnings. For historians and golf enthusiasts alike, it’s a treasured piece of golfing history.

While the game of golf has undergone immense changes since 1820, the discovery of this scorecard serves as a reminder of golf’s long tradition and its enduring appeal through centuries.

(What we do know from this 1820 scorecard is that a score of 81 over ten holes was considered a “Disgraceful” score.)

130 Years of the USGA

Happy 130th Anniversary to the United States Golf Association. This Sunday, December 22nd the USGA celebrates 13 decades of existence.

One could argue that the USGA was born out of the two back to back United States Amateur Championships of 1894 & two runner-up finishes by Charles Blair Macdonald. Out of the moderate chaos of two pre-USGA U.S. Amateurs and one pre-USGA U.S. Open, five clubs came together to form a governing body designed to work in conjunction with the R&A.

This coming Sunday we celebrate the leadership of Newport Country Club, St Andrew’s Golf Club, Chicago Golf Club, the Country Club and Shinnecock Hills for becoming the founding members of the USGA.

On Sunday, December 22, 1894 these five clubs came together to form the Amateur Golf Association of the United States which later became the United States Golf Association.

To my friends at the USGA and USGA Museums- Happy Anniversary!

Putting this 1894 in Perspective

What occurred to me in writing this newsletter was that just 29 year prior to the founding of the USGA, the Civil War had ended. The founders of the USGA and its charter clubs, in many cases were golfers who were in their fifties who had also fought to keep the Union intact in the Civil War.

Special Note:

The SOCIETY Newsletter will likely take a one week break for the holiday.

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. If you enjoyed it please consider sharing it with your friends and family. If you disliked it please consider sharing it with your enemies.

Until next time…

Yours in Golf History,

Connor T. Lewis