THE ART OF GOLF

Sir Walter Grindley SIMPSON

Published by David Douglas, 1887

About this Item

Joseph Murdoch describes this book as "one of the classic books of golf literature", and it is the first book to use photographs to demonstrate the swing, and also the first to show actual players in action on links courses, including "Old" Tom Morris. Sir Walter Simpson was a 19th century Scottish philosopher and a Captain of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. He was one of the first people to define what was meant by a golf "links": "The grounds on which golf is played are called links, being the barren sandy soil from which the sea has retired in recent geological times. In their natural state links are covered with long, rank bent grass and gorse. Links are too barren for cultivation: but sheep, rabbits, geese and professionals pick up a precarious livelihood on them." First Edition. 8vo. xii + 186pp + one advertisement leaf. 20 plates, 10 diags, nuermous text illustrations, engraved title-page, lacks last page 185/186. Original upper board decorated with an engraving of the Winter Medal of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh. original lower board decorated with a pile of four golf balls, small mark to lower left portion. Rebacked in dark brown morocco, title in gilf lettering within a gilt panel on the spine. Corners somewhat bumped. Bright red end-papers. Small bookseller's sticker and small, ink, previous owner's inscription to half title with tape repair to join. Contents very clean and tight. A good copy. [D&M, 3860]. Seller Inventory # 7008

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE ART OF GOLF

Publisher: David Douglas

Publication Date: 1887