as ball-maker for Aberdeen. 1658 – Golf is banned from the streets of Albany, New York-the first reference to golf in America. 1682 – In the first recorded international golf match, the Duke of York and John Patersone of Scotland defeat two English noblemen in a match played on the links of Leith. Andrew Dickson, carrying clubs for the Duke of York, is the first recorded caddie. 1687 – The student diary of Thomas Kincaid includes his Thoughts on Golve, and contains the first instructions on playing golf and an explanation of how golf clubs are made. 1721 – Earliest reference to golf on Glasgow Green, the first named course in the west of Scotland. 1724 – "A solemn match of golf" between Alexander Elphinstone and Captain John Porteous becomes the first match reported in a newspaper. Elphinstone fights and wins a duel on the same ground in 1729. 1735 – The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is recorded as having formed; it claims to be the oldest golfing society in the world. 1743 – Thomas Mathison's epic The Goff is the first literary effort devoted to golf. 1744 – The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers is formed, playing at Leith links. It is the first golf club. The Royal Burgh of Edinburgh pays for a Silver Cup to be awarded to the annual champion in an open competition played at Leith. John Rattray is the first champion. 1754 – Golfers at St. Andrews purchase a Silver Cup for an open championship played on the Old Course. Bailie William Landale is the first champion. The first codified Rules of Golf are published by the St. Andrews Golfers (later The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews). 1759 – Earliest reference to stroke play, at St. Andrews. Previously, all play was matchplay. 1761 – The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society of Edinburgh is formed. 1764 – The competition for the Silver Club at Leith is restricted to members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The first four holes at St. Andrews are combined into two, reducing the round from twenty-two holes (11 out and in) to 18 (nine out and in). St. Andrews is the first 18-hole golf course and sets the standard for future courses. 1766 – The Blackheath Club in London becomes the first golf club formed outside Scotland. 1767 – The score of 94 returned by