Every wonder about the history of the rules of golf. One website called Historical Rules of Golf should answer all your questions. You can pull up the rules for different time periods and see how the rules have changed along the way. The website says the earliest record golf rules were ompiled by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith, later the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, drafted on March 7, 1744. You can see the rules here. They are pretty similar to today's rules. It included rules for avoiding water and "water filth."
5. If your Ball comes among watter, or any wattery filth, you are at liberty to take out your Ball & bringing it behind the hazard and Teeing it, you may play it with any Club and allow your Adversary a Stroke for so getting out your Ball.
Lose your ball and lose a stoke.
8. If you should lose your Ball, by it's being taken up, or any other way, you are to go back to the Spot, where you struck last, & drop another Ball, And allow your adversary a Stroke for the misfortune.
If your ball hits a horse and stops that's where you play it.
If a Ball be stopp'd by any Person, Horse, Dog or anything else, The Ball so stop'd must be play'd where it lyes.
(Via golf.about.com)
