The Reduced History of Golf: The Story of the Royal & Ancient Game Squeezed into 72 Holes

The beloved traditional game is celebrated here with a dog-legged compilation of sports reports, comical correspondence, and reminiscences from pros, caddies, playing partners, and armchair pundits. Among the highlights are Mary Queen of Scots cheering herself up at the links at Leith following the murder of her husband, Lord Damley; Dwight D. Eisenhower's valet shooting the breeze as he clears up the Oval Office following a particularly grueling presidential putting practice session; Bob Hope's chauffeur experimenting with some one-liners while waiting for his boss in the clubhouse car park; and John Daly's local bartender describing the unique skills of his best customer. The albatrosses, the Big Berthas, the yips, and the holes-in-one that have provided the perfect excuse to linger at the 19th hole are all amusingly recalled.