18 Vintage Photos of Golf Over the Decades

Sports Vintage Photos April 25, 2025

Last Updated on April 28, 2025 by Colby Droscher

Before titanium drivers and stat-track apps, golf mixed tweed caps with hickory shafts and a dash of manicured-green bravado. The 18 photos below follow the sport’s evolution from pre-war mashies to neon-pink polos of the 1980s.

1. John Daly, 1991 PGA Champion

jonesce

2. A legendary dad at the pinnacle of his golf game in the eighties

A man wearing a white polo shirt, white shorts, tall white socks, and brown golf shoes is putting a golf ball on a green golf course. Trees and a hazy sky are visible in the background.
mrnickfrench

3. Oliver Hardy playing Golf in 1934

ordinarybrilliant171

4. Sean Connery going out for a round of golf, 1960s

A man in a sweater, jeans, and beret stands at a door marked "3" while holding a golf bag and knocking. He is next to a brick wall and a potted plant, looking over his shoulder.
cascadiana88

5. Billy Martin caddying in the 1950s

Two men on a golf course; one squats and gestures while the other, wearing a glove and plaid shirt, stands poised to swing at a golf ball on the grass. Golf bags and trees are visible in the background.
hwkd86

6. Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould golfing in a scene from ‘MASH’ 1970

Two men in checkered knickerbocker golf outfits and caps pose with golf clubs in front of an old airplane, with hills in the background. Both wear sweaters and classic golf shoes, striking playful stances.
eaglemaxier

7. McLean Stevenson (left), known later as Henry Blake on MASH, playing it cool at a 1941 youth golf tournament

Four young men walk across a grassy field carrying golf clubs; two are in casual clothes, one wears a uniform and hat, and a younger boy in a jacket carries a golf bag. Trees and two seated people are in the background.
sweetstarterjacket

8. Clint Eastwood playing golf on Pebble Beach (1970)

Black and white photo of a man walking on a golf course, holding a putter. He is wearing a light sweater, patterned pants, and golf shoes. The background is blurred, showing a natural outdoor setting.
setchcluthc

9. Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer, 1966 Masters Tournament

Two men wearing dark blue cardigans stand outdoors at a golf event. One man smokes a cigarette and wears a white cap, while the other holds a golf club. Spectators in hats and sunglasses watch from behind them.
golf4days

10. Arnold Palmer at the British Open – 1960s

A man in a navy polo and yellow pants stands on a golf course, leaning on a golf club and looking down. His golf bag beside him reads "Arnold Palmer." The sky is clear and bright.
deleted

11. Chi-Chi Rodriguez with his caddie, John Lynch at the Masters circa 1970s

A caddie in a white jumpsuit and green cap stands next to a golfer wearing a gray sweater, red pants, and a dark hat, with spectators and trees in the background at a golf tournament.
wolfsbane23

12. Just a couple golfing lads back in the ’80s

Two older men standing outside on grass. The man on the left wears glasses, a dark overcoat, scarf, and black hat. The man on the right wears a white bucket hat and a black rain jacket. An apartment building is in the background.
anonymosu

13. Golfer, Sam Snead, circa 1960

A man in a patterned straw hat, tan cardigan, and red shirt kneels on a golf green, smiling and holding a putter; another person and a flag are visible in the background.
dhorlin

14. American golfer Laura Baugh, circirca 1974

A woman wearing a white long-sleeve top and yellow checkered shorts smiles while holding a golf club on a golf course, with trees and golf equipment visible in the background.
str33twise93

15. Golfer blows on his ball to try to make a hole in one, July 9, 1939

A group of men in suits and hats gather closely on a golf course, some kneeling or bending down to inspect a golf ball on the ground, with light handwriting on the grass in the foreground.
tombeale

16. Golfer Bernhard Langer when he turned pro in 1972

A young man with curly blond hair wears a white polo shirt with colorful horizontal stripes and red pants, walking outdoors on a golf course. The background is grassy and slightly blurred.
modernpoultry

17. Audrey Hepburn, one-handed golfer, 1955

A young man in a straw hat and red patterned golf shirt holds a golf club, looking into the distance with sunlight streaming through the hat’s brim, creating a shadow pattern on his face.
4harryapples

18. Audrey Hepburn, one-handed golfer, circa 1955

A woman in a sleeveless dress stands barefoot on a golf course, holding a golf club and an open umbrella. She smiles playfully, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background.
ryansmith

Craving more throwback action on grass and water? Cast a glance at our Vintage Fishing Photos, ride the waves via 13 Rare Ferry Images From the Past, or tour mid-century glamour in 25 Colorized Photos From the 1950s. Grab your niblick—time to walk the fairway through history.

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