Historical Dictionary of Golf
By (author) Bill Mallon, Randon Jerris
Publication date:
21 January 2011Length of book:
864 pagesPublisher
Scarecrow PressISBN-13: 9780810871977
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.
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.
Historical Dictionary of Golf is the third volume in the Historical Dictionaries of Sports series. Its format and content are similar to what has been presented in the other volumes in the series. A comprehensive history of the sport is revealed through a chronology, introductory essay, main dictionary section, a 72-page bibliography, photos, and 11 appendixes. The chronology records golf's first date as 1297, the year in which a golflike game called kolven was played on February 26 in the Netherlands, not in Scotland, where most people believe golf originated. The introduction adds immensely to the value of the volume by showing the historical arc of the sport. The main dictionary section has 300 cross-referenced entries on places, teams, terminology, and people. Most of the entries are golf biographies. This volume should find its way into most library collections.