Golf’s Early Days

There’s a good book waiting to be read this year, and you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy Tommy’s Honor. This is the story of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, golf’s founding father and son. This true story, written by journalist Kevin Cook, explores the excitement and drama of the birth of modern golf, while focusing on two prominent figures in the history of the game.

Today, there are 50 million golfers worldwide playing on more than 30,000 courses, each of which can trace its lineage back to the course—St. Andrews in Scotland—that the senior Morris remade with his callused, scarred hands. Not only does Cook share the trials and tribulations of the Morris family, he also sheds light on many historical aspects of the game.

For example, we always think of golf as a sport with character and class. But Tommy’s Honor depicts a wild and woolly era when one Scottish town’s champion challenged another while golf fanatics hooted, spat at the players, and kicked the golfers’ balls into bunkers. The 1860s and 1870s were truly the dawn of professional golf.

The elder Morris, called Old Tom, was born in 1821 and grew up a chip shot from St. Andrews links. He was a caddie and gambler who eventually became the champion golfer of Scotland. He was the game’s premier tactician, thought to be unbeatable until a younger star surpassed him—his own son, Tommy Morris, known as Young Tom.

Old Tom helped found the British Open, the most prestigious tournament in golf. Some of the records made by Young Tom Morris are still held to this day. He invented many of the techniques that are at the heart of golf play today, such as backspin, draws and fades. He turned golf from a game for Scottish shepherds into a pastime enjoyed by millions. But just as he reached his peak, his life took a tragic turn. Like James Dean, Tommy Morris met his untimely death at age 24.

After reading the book, PGA professional Ben Crenshaw said, “It’s a stirring tale of tragedy, triumph, faith and perseverance. Every golfer should read Tommy’s Honor.” The book is available at major bookstores.

Golf for Children
There’s also a children’s book that was recently published with a golf theme. Written by Jeanette Vacca-Gilliand, Skylar’s Big Adventure is the story of Skylar, a young golf ball who wants to experience all the excitement, fun, trials and tribulations that golf has to offer. He soon learns a thing or two about landing in the rough and sand traps, avoiding water obstacles and trying to achieve the Holy Grail: a hole in one.

Gilliand, a native of Alameda, California, has been a certified LPGA teaching professional since 1986. Recently, Golf For Women magazine named her one of the top 50 golf instructors in the U.S.

Illustrated by Kelly Alterman, Skylar’s Big Adventure is sure to get kids interested in the game of golf. The 24-page book is available at www.doubledotpublishing.com.

The 19th Hole (and a few chip shots)
If your New Year’s resolution includes improving your putting game, you might want to consider a new line of putters. At last year’s annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Groove Equipment Limited (GEL) Golf unveiled a colorful lineup of six putter models, each with a grooved face that will produce a truer roll because the ball will skid less as it comes off the face.

The company says this results in fewer putts getting offline; if a ball isn’t skipping or hopping as it comes off the clubface, the theory goes, it will stay on its intended line more often. “In general, a putt is more susceptible to stray off target during the skid, while a rolling putt will hold its intended line and improve the chances of going in the hole,” says company CEO Alec Pettigrew.

GEL Golf’s six putter models include the Jade, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, and Emerald. The series ranges from the traditional heel-toe design of the Jade to more exotic designs like the center-shafted, half-mallet Opal, with several interesting configurations in between. All feature brightly colored accents, including the face insert, and specially designed matching Winn grips. The suggested retail price of the first six GEL putter models is $165 each. For more information, visit www.gelgolf.com.

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com