In 1885, an Open Amateur Tournament (called open to signify that all countries might enter) was held by the Royal Liverpool Club at Hoylake, but the first official British Amateur Championship was held in 1886. Originally played at St. Andrews, and later at the Hoylake and Prestwick courses, the championship was later played at various other sites. John Ball is the leading eight-time winner (1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1899, 1907, 1910, and 1912). Later multiple winners include Joe Carr (1953, 1958, 1960) and Michael Bonallack (1961, 1965, 1968–70).

The British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship, the first women's golf tournament to be established, is held annually in Great Britain for female amateurs with handicaps of eight or less. There are qualifying rounds followed by the final 36 holes, which are decided by match play.

The first championship was held in 1893 at a nine-hole course at the Lytham and St. Anne's Club, Lancashire. In the following year it was held at Littlestone in Kent and has been held at various other courses in Great Britain, including St. Andrew's in Scotland. Lady Margaret Scott, who was the first championship winner, also won in 1894 and 1895. The only other woman to win three years successively was Enid Wilson (1931–33). Cecilia Leitch was champion four times (1914, 1920, 1921, and 1926), as was Joyce Wethered (1922, 1924, 1925, and 1929).