Doctors of the Game^®

Section One

The Scottish Evolution

The Game to 1890

From the earliest written golf reference in 1457 the story advances through the growth of the artisan skills of club and ball making, the evolution of the caddie, then on to the formalization of the golf profession in St. Andrews’ own Allan Robertson in the early 1840s.

Recognized as the King of the Game for over 25 years Robertson led a cadre of “cracks” to capture the fascination of Scotland’s populace advancing the games popularity and growth. His untimely death in 1859 at age 43 directly influenced the game’s move into the Open Era, introducing the concept of the Champion Golfer of the Year title in the personalities of brothers Willie and Mungo Park, along with Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom. Combined these four champions captured 13 of the first 15 Open titles.

Learn how over the 30-year period to 1890 the profession advanced from a handful of professionals and courses to an explosion in Great Britain that spurred the exportation of the game to the United States and the world. Book One culminates with a biography of Willie Park Junior, widely recognized as a key figure in golf’s successful expansion into Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Profiles and Biographies include:

Section Two

An American Transformation

1890 through 1915

Meet a cast of Scottish and English professionals enlisted to spread the spirit of the game through their skills in instruction, equipment production, course design, and stellar competitive play. Just as notable was their palpable respect of the game’s Scottish traditions and fierce protection of the foundational rules and etiquette.

Learn the details of the American Transformation as naturalized and homebred professionals supported the growth of the game in the New World. Meet the professionals who taught premier American amateurs such as Chick Evans, Francis Ouimet, Bobby Jones, Alexa Sterling and Glenna Collett. Take a walk through the 25-year period beginning in 1890 when golf exploded in popularity reaching nearly 1,000 US courses by the turn of the century.

Even with these remarkable contributions find out how early professionals had to fight for social respectability and a rise in income potential for their specialized skills. Gain insight into the necessary 1901 formation of the Professional Golfers Association in Great Britain, and the birth of its American counterpart in 1916.

Profiles and Biographies include:

Section Three

The Golf Profession in a Changing World

1916 through 2015

From 1916 through present day follow the game and profession along a timeline highlighting the game’s socio-economic challenges and successes over five twenty-year generations culminating in 2015. Experience the inspiring stories of the men and women, both well and lesser-known professionals, who dedicated their careers to growing the enjoyment and participation in the game.

Understand the tremendous obstacles that had to be overcome for the game to survive and flourish. Read about professional efforts to advance, support and protect the game’s future through:

• World War I
• The Great Depression
• World War II
• The recession and uncontrolled inflation of the 1970s
• Golf’s remarkable 1990s boom and the bust at the turn of the Millennium

Profiles and Biographies include: