FORGAN, Robert.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Golfer's Handbook. Third edition of the first golfing bestseller; this copy with an appealing golfing association. Forgan, son of the famous clubmaker, first published his "lively compilation of instruction and historical information" at Cupar in 1881 (Donovan & Murdoch); by 1897 the title had changed to The Golfer's Manual."This book, somewhat like [Farnie's] The Golfer's Manual (1857) in style but considerably more comprehensive in content, includes instruction, history, outstanding golf feats and other golfiana, such as a reprint of a magazine article by Horace G. Hutchinson and a ballade by Andrew Lang. It also includes 'Rules', the local rules for the Old Course at St. Andrews, a 'Glossary of Technical Terms' and a list of 'Clubs in Great Britain,' which included, at this early date, six in Ireland" (Murdoch). It puffs itself jauntily on the front cover: "Acknowledged by the Press and Crack Golfers the best Book of the kind Published"Provenance: W. L. Fox of Carmino House, Falmouth, with his ownership inscription on the front free endpaper. A solicitor and keen golfer, Fox was a member of the West Cornwall and Royal Cornwall golf clubs; his inscription is dated November 1889, the year the West Cornwall was founded. In the same year he took the President's Gold medal at the Royal Cornwall. The golfing notes on the rear blanks and pastedown are probably his.

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