This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... A B C OF GOLF i THE ONE ESSENTIAL THING IN golf, as in all other departments of human knowledge, it is necessary to distinguish clearly between the essential and the non-essential. Many books have been written upon the art of propelling that elusive little sphere of rubber and "gutty"; many pundits have essayed to expound the mystery; many despairing duffers have sought to purchase, with mere ducats, the easy grace, the well-nigh supernatural skill of the local "pro." The earlier golfing authors seemed to look upon it as a literary rather than an athletic exercise; the ingenious gentleman who has favored us from time to time with ponderous tomes bearing the great names of Braid, Verdon, et al, undoubtedly considers it an exceedingly abstruse science; to Mr. Arnold Haultain, delightful essayist, golf is merely a state of mind. Certainly in golf, wisdom does not reside in the multitude of counselors. Essentials and non-essentials; but to enumerate the latter would be a hopeless task. Time and time again the would-be golfer has stumbled upon (or purchased) what he fondly imagines to be the prime, great secret. And for a little while it does work; then come a few bad shots, loss of confidence follows, and the "cure-all" is sent to join its predecessors in the discard. In golf, as in medicine, quacks and nostrums nourish monstrously well, and there is never any end to the procession of willing victims; the canny professional may fool the duffer all the time if he chooses to do so. Let us begin then by putting aside all speculation and worry over such unimportant DEGREES-details as grip, stance, the snap of the wrists, timing of the stroke, and a score of similar shibboleths. I don't intend to say that these things mean nothing at all, but they...