Bernard Darwin

Bernard Darwin could easily have settled into a privileged life as a respected lawyer - one who also just happened to be the grandson of Charles Darwin. But his conventional upbringing didn't prevent him from choosing a different path, abandoning the relative security of the law to follow his first and only passion - golf. While Darwin was no slouch on the links - captain of his golf team at Cambridge and twice in the semifinals of the British Amateur Championships - he achieved far greater notoriety with his pen than with his club. Starting as a weekly columnist for The Times of London (always signing his columns "Our Golf Correspondent"), he was soon acknowledged as one of the finest essayists in Britain. He was the first writer ever to elevate the discussion of golf beyond a simple reportage of events. He was also a regular contributor to Country Life and a frequent contributor to The Atlantic Monthly.

The Book of the Links features selected writings from prominent golf figures of the early 20th century, including Martin H. F. Sutton, Bernard Darwin, and H. S. Colt. Written in 1912, this collaborative guide provides rare insight into the methods and philosophies that were used to design, construct, and maintain the world's most renowned golf courses. According to Sutton, "In producing this volume, it has been my aim to provide in the first instance a compendium of information, of a more complete character than has before been compressed into a single volume, on all the points upon which golf secretaries, green committees, and greenkeepers desire instruction." Inside this classic of golf literature, the authors detail the essential features of an ideal golf course and provide insight on the proper methods of greenkeeping and design. Along with their first-hand narrative, all of the original photos and sketches have been included, ensuring that every element of the first edition has been carefully preserved. The Book of the Links includes: - The Construction of New Courses- The Formation of Greens & Teeing Grounds- Grasses and grass seeds- Golf Architecture- The Influence of Course upon Players' Style- Caddies- Greenkeeping- The Vegetation of Golf Links- Finance