The Random History Of Golf

A dog-legged compilation of sports reports, spoof correspondence and reminiscences from pros, caddies, playing partners and armchair pundits.

Here is a book which should prove a valuable and every welcome addition to the literature of Golf! Written in a fluent and easy style that makes reading a pleasure, this new history has the merit of literary quality, and the author’s quiet, unobtrusive sense of humour eliminates the slightest suspicion of dullness or heaviness, without in any way detracting from the seriousness of his objective or the dignity and importance that even the most rabid devotee of the Royal and Ancient would claim for it. The work also provides ample evidence of the author’s industry and research, and, in keeping with his position as editor of Golfing, conveys a quiet assurance of authority. The book deals with every aspect of the history of the game, from its earliest beginnings to the modern era of American ascendency. There are 34 chapters and a chronological table covering 600 years from 1353 to the 1950’s. We select here, more or less at random, a few of the subjects dealt with: Seven successive monarchs of the Stuart line as players—The golf of the House of Windsor—Golf as a cross-country game—The Celtic hurley, and the Belgian chole—The Scots game and the Dutch—The origin of golfing terms—Golf before the formation of clubs—Competitions came before clubs—The beginning of the championships—The start of the university match—How golf came to London—The golf boom of the gay nineties—The beginning of golf in America—The evolution of the professionals—Women’s golf originally a part of the feminist movement—Clubs and balls; wooden balls; the old featheries; the coming of the ‘gutties’; the arrival of the rubber core—Course construction—The rise of the golf architects—The evolution of the rules—American thoroughness makes golf a science instead of an art—International golf; the Walker, Ryder, and Curtis Cups—The game as a preserver of ancient landmarks—The genius of golf, the only game in which the worst player gets the best of it.

PARODIES & SPOOFS. This is the story of golf as it's never been told before. Presents a dog-legged compilation of sports reports, spoof correspondence and reminiscences from pros, caddies, playing partners and armchair pundits: Mary Queen of Scots cheers herself up at the links at Leith following the murder of her husband Lord Darnley; Dwight D Eisenhower's valet shoots the breeze as he clears up the Oval Office following a particularly gruelling Presidential putting practice session; Bob Hope's chauffeur experiments with some one-liners whilst waiting for his boss in the clubhouse car park; and John Daly's local bartender describes the unique skills of his best customer. The albatrosses, the Big Berthas, the yips and the holes-in-one that have provided the perfect excuse to linger at the nineteenth hole are amusingly recalled for the delectation of the Fair Isle sweater brigade.

PARODIES & SPOOFS. This is the story of golf as it's never been told before. Presents a dog-legged compilation of sports reports, spoof correspondence and reminiscences from pros, caddies, playing partners and armchair pundits: Mary Queen of Scots cheers herself up at the links at Leith following the murder of her husband Lord Darnley; Dwight D Eisenhower's valet shoots the breeze as he clears up the Oval Office following a particularly gruelling Presidential putting practice session; Bob Hope's chauffeur experiments with some one-liners whilst waiting for his boss in the clubhouse car park; and John Daly's local bartender describes the unique skills of his best customer. The albatrosses, the Big Berthas, the yips and the holes-in-one that have provided the perfect excuse to linger at the nineteenth hole are amusingly recalled for the delectation of the Fair Isle sweater brigade.

Discover the history of one of the world's most popular sports, and learn how to master the perfect swing along the way. Find out all there is to know about golf, from its ancient origins to its most celebrated competitions. Learn about the turning points and winning strokes of the most famous championships ever played - from the Open to the Curtis Cup. Bringing you face-to-face with the stars, such as Tiger Woods, The Golden Bear, and The Shark, entries analyse their trademark strokes and detail their finest performances. Showing you exactly what it takes to achieve an effective - and consistent - golf swing, this ebook also walks you through the fairways of all the pre-eminent courses, while working systematically through every type of shot, from tee shots, iron play, pitching, and chipping, to coping with bunkers and putting. Learn the sport's key rules and golfing terms, and discover everything you need to know about how to buy the right equipment - from drivers to carts, along with guidance on custom fitting - and the all-important golf etiquette. Brimming with detail and superbly illustrated with over 1,500 photographs, illustrations, maps, and diagrams, The Golf Book is the definitive guide to the famous game for players and fans alike.

Golf has been called the greatest of all games, but it has also been derided by none other than Mark Twain as nothing more than a good walk spoiled. Traditional teaching holds that golf originated in Scotland around the 15th century. However, there is historical evidence of games similar to golf being played in the low countries of Europe back in the 13th century. Over the many centuries of golf's evolution, the balls used have changed greatly, as have the clubs, the holes, the courses, and the entire game itself. The Historical Dictionary of Golf presents a comprehensive history of the game through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, photos, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on places, teams, terminology, and people, including Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sörenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Phil Mickelson, and, of course, Tiger Woods. Appendixes of the members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Major Championships of Golf, the International Team Events, and the Professional Tour Awards are also included.