The Society of Golfers at Bruntsfield became the Burgess Golfing Society in 1800, and the Royal Burgess Golfing Society from 1929.
The origin of not touching the ground in a hazard can be seen in rule V.
Ball substitution allowed if agreed by both parties.
Elementary relief for an embedded ball.
Ball taken by an outside agency may be replaced without penalty.
Caddies were worth no more than a penny per round - the player was fined six times as much should he give an old ball to a caddie!

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Regulations to be Observed by the Members of The Society of Golfers
in and about Edinburgh at Bruntsfield Links
8 April 1773.


I.  In order to preserve the holes, no Golfer or Cadie shall be allowed to make any Tee within ten yards of the hole, and no Ball shall be teed nearer the hole than two Club lengths, nor farther from it than four.

II.  In case two or more parties meet at the hole, the party who playes first must be allowed to play their second strokes before the party who plays after them shall be allowed to strike off their first Ball. And if the first party’s ball be in a hazard, the said party shall stand aside till the second pass them.

III.  To prevent Disputes in taking up Balls from water, every Ball taken from water or Tee, either upon the Green or a hazard such ball shall be teed behind and lose one, excepting in the case of a made hazard, when the ball is to be dropped behind by the opposite party and played with an iron club.

IV.   Any Golfer losing his Ball either by accident or in a hazard, shall go to the place from whence he last struck and lose one: But in case the Ball is seen fairly on the Green, and afterwards stolen, or run away with by a dog, then a new ball must be drop’t where the former one was last seen, and no loss ensue.

V.   Every Golfer addressing himself to his Ball shall not have liberty to put down Earth, sand or anything else, nor in drawing his stroke take anything away from behind his Ball except a Stone or a Bone.

VI.   No Golfer is to change his Ball either in the Green or hazards except agreed on by both parties, and then the opposite party is to take up the one Ball and lay down the other.

VII. If any Golfer shall be at a loss to know his own Ball from his opposite, he shall not lift any of the Balls till they both agree.

VIII.  If a Ball shall be so played as to stick fast to the ground, the said Ball shall be loosened by the opposite party to the owner of the Ball so fastened.

IX.  When a Ball is struck into the Whins or any part where it may be covered, so much of the fogg grass, &c., must be set aside, that the player may have a view of his Ball before he playes, but no whins must be laid aside excepting such as he shall set his foot upon when playing his ball.

X.  No Golfer shall under any pretence whatever give any old Balls to the Cadies, if they do, they shall for every such Ball given away forfeit sixpence to the Treasurer.

XI1.  That no member of this Society pay the Cadies more than one penny p. round.



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