May 2013
The Royal and Ancient Game - Golf and the Queens and Kings of Britain 1120 - 1920
Bob Gowland
About Bob Gowland (from his website)
The Royal element is covered from James IV of Scotland, Queen Catherine of Aragon Mary, Queen of Scots through to the present Duke of York. Early references to golf-like games from 1120 and 1350 are detailed; the Continental stick and ball games brought back by the Crusaders and developed in the Middle Ages are discussed to the late 17th century.
Stained glass window from Gloucester Cathedral showing a golf-like game c 1350.
Golf as we would recognise it today is described from the 18th century on, showing extant pictures and portraits and the types of clubs used in those pictures through the ages. The golden age of golf in the 19th century is covered with particular reference to Ladies golf and the emergence of professional golf later in the century.