Although women's contributions to the game of golf can be traced back over 400 years, it was in the mid-nineteenth century that the women's game began to gain recognition. In 1842 women were the driving force behind one of golf's more significant rule changes, and created the concept of the ball drop. In addition, women golfers were also accredited with the concept of the "unplayable lie" and the resultant penalty stroke.

Although these two rule changes are evidence of the influence of women on the game as a whole, one of the biggest breakthroughs for the women's game itself occurred in 1855, when Mrs. Wolfe-Murray broke through the ranks of the elite St. Andrew's Golf Club in Scotland. Prior to Ms. Wolfe-Murray, the links at St. Andrews had been restricted to men, however, her persistence and love of the game was to have far reaching effects. At the time, women were allowed to play with only one club, the putter, however, within a few years more and more women began to play, the antiquated rules were changed, and the women's game was officially born.

The beginnings of the women's game were indeed somewhat humble, however, things were not to stay that way for long. In 1893 the Ladies Golf Union was established in London by Issete Pearson Miller, and was responsible for the introduction of the handicapping system, which allowed players of all skill levels to compete fairly. This system was particularly essential to the growth of the women's game, because at the time women golfers were forced to create and maintain their own courses. This system allowed women to compete fairly with men on longer courses, and opened more doors for women golfers.

The year 1895 marked another milestone for women's golf, with the establishment of the USGA Women's Amateur Championship in Hempstead, NY. Although only 13 contestants participated in this inaugural tournament, it paved the way for other tournaments. Due in large part to the persistence of women golfers like Harriet and Margaret Curtis, and cooperation between women golfers in England and the United States, the Curtis Cup matches were born. The Curtis Cup matches are still held today, and are held every two years, alternating between England and the U.S.

As a result of the growing popularity of the game, more important women golfers began to emerge in the 1920's and 30's. These golfers included Helen Lengfeld, who personally financed several annual tournaments in California, and Glenna Collet Vare, one of the original "big hitters" in women's golf. The love of the game displayed by these women and many other pioneers of the women's game eventually led to the formation of the WPGA, which was formed by notable names such as Patty Berg, Babe Didrikson, and Betty Hicks. Eventually, the WPGA was re-named the LPGA, and became one of the world's premier non-profit sporting organizations. At present the LPGA is comprised of over 39 events annually, with a purse of over $26,000,000, and is well backed by corporate sponsors and television coverage.