In 1457 King James II banned golf by a Scottish Act of Parliament. He was concerned that golf was interfering with archery, the main weapon of war at the time. The ban, and others that followed, were totally ignored and on March 17th, 1744, several Gentlemen of honour skilful in the ancient and healthful excercise of Golf formed the first golf club, the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, now of course the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield.