Doing some research and I found a reference to an early mention of golf in the United States for 1729.
In an American Golfer magazine from May 1918...
AN EARLY MENTION OF GOLF IN AMERICA
Perhaps the earliest mention of this sport in America is to be found in the inventory of the effects of Governor William Burnet, October 13, 1729. Among the many items noted in the list we find the following:
"Nine Gouff Clubs and 1 Iron Do @4/per 2.— Seven Doz Ball @ 1/ ps 4:4-" Showing the appraised value of Golf Clubs at that period was four
shillings each, while the Balls were one shilling each. Apparently the governor lost many of the latter since he had a supply of seven dozen on hand, or it may be that he was a pioneer in this sport, bringing it from Scotland, and carried a sufficient quantity for those whom he might interest.
(The New York Historical Society Quarterly Bulletin, April, 1918.)
This seems very interesting and much earlier than most of the other mentions that I have seen. I wonder if there is any of his papers that still exist that may shed some more light on this. Here is a link to a
Wiki info on William Burnet Tully