Golf at St. Andrews
Formed by members of the Kingdom of Fife in 1754, the Royal and  Ancient Golf Club stages the Open Championship annually and is  responsible for the rules of golf throughout the world in conjunction  with the United States Golf Association. Including never-before-seen  photographs, Golf at St. Andrews is a lively examination of the Old  Course and its rise as the Home of Golf.Author Keith Mackie covers the history of the most famous golf course in  the world, discussing Open Championships from 1873 to 1990 and gives  amusing anecdotes of the lives of players from Old Tom Morris to Jack  Nicklaus.He deftly handles the subject of equipmentas golf equipment and the  upkeep of courses has changed, so has the shape of the swing and the  flight of the ball. The reader will find a hole-by-hole survey of the Old  Course and how it should be approached, as well as the way great golfers  down through the centuries have played.Mackie outlines the New Course, the Jubilee Course, and the Eden Course,  including the history and general character of the other main courses.  And in addition to telling readers about other golf facilities, he  relates the history of caddies, who "have been scurrilous, comic and  tragic," often all three in one day.Of course, readers learn about the famous events at St. Andrews such as  the Amateur Championships, the Walker Cup International between Britain  and America, and the PGA Championship. And importantly, Mackie includes a  chapter on the management of the links: the fascinating details of the  maintenance of the Old Course as well as advice on how to secure a start  time. With Golf at St. Andrews, your introduction to the world's most  famous course will be complete.Keith Mackie's ancestors were of the old, established St. Andrews family  of clubmakers and professionals. He is the former editor of Golf World in  Britain and Europe and the author of several golf books. --From the Publisher