September 16, 1869: Young Tom Morris and Golf's First Major Hole-In-One

On this day in 1869, 18-year-old Tom Morris Jr.—better known as Young Tom Morris—secured his place in golf history by recording the first-ever hole-in-one during a major championship. The ace came during the Open Championship, which was then the only major golf tournament, making it the earliest recorded hole-in-one in major championship play. Though likely not the first hole-in-one ever made, it is the first known to be widely reported, marking a significant milestone in golf’s storied past.

Young Tom’s hole-in-one was achieved at the 8th hole of Prestwick Golf Club, a 166-yard par 3 known as the ‘Station’ hole. Prestwick’s original 12-hole layout was one of the earliest championship courses, but over time, this hole—and the course as it existed then—has been lost to history. Unfortunately, no records remain of which club Young Tom used to sink the ball in a single stroke, but this remarkable feat continues to be remembered as a defining moment in the sport.

Young Tom was the son of the legendary Old Tom Morris, who was a four-time Open Championship winner himself (1861, 1862, 1864, 1867) and one of the most influential figures in the early history of the game. Old Tom was more than just a champion; he was also a pioneering course designer and greenskeeper, helping to establish many of the standards that still define golf today. His influence on golf course architecture, including famous courses like St. Andrews and Muirfield, left a lasting legacy. It was in the shadow of his father’s greatness that Young Tom emerged as a dominant force in his own right, proving that the golfing talent ran deep in the Morris family.

At just 17 years old, Young Tom had already made history by winning the Open Championship in 1868, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. His 1869 triumph—including the historic hole-in-one—solidified his status as the game’s rising star. He would go on to win the Open Championship three more times in a row, making him the first to claim the prestigious Championship Belt outright in 1870.

Despite his youthful success, for years there was confusion surrounding the exact date of Young Tom’s famous ace. The original scorecard had been undated, leading many to believe that the feat occurred in 1868, during his first Open win. It wasn’t until later that the correct year was attributed, though by that time, the card had already been mistakenly altered to reflect the wrong date. The matter was eventually settled by a report in the Ayr Advertiser on September 23, 1869, which confirmed that the historic hole-in-one took place during the 1869 tournament.

Beyond this ace, Young Tom’s career was brief but legendary. He dominated the sport during his short life, establishing himself as one of golf’s earliest greats. His father, Old Tom Morris, was deeply proud of his son’s accomplishments, though tragedy would later strike the family. Young Tom’s life was cut short at the age of just 24, following a series of personal losses and illnesses, bringing an end to what could have been an even greater legacy.

Nevertheless, September 16, 1869, remains a key date in the history of golf. The young prodigy’s hole-in-one at Prestwick Golf Club marked not just a personal triumph, but a defining moment in the sport’s early development. Today, we remember Young Tom Morris not only as one of golf’s first champions but also as the player who achieved the sport’s first reported major championship ace—setting the standard for generations to come.