“PUTTING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN GOLF”: PARK’S ART OF PUTTING, 1921

PARK, William, Jr. The Art of Putting by Willie Park. Edinburgh [United States]: J. & J. Gray [Donald Mathieson], 1920 (i.e. 1921). Slim octavo, original green cloth gilt, top edge gilt, uncut. $1750.

First American edition of this early instructional manual by a man who has “devoted more time to the study and practice of putting than any other golfer, amateur or professional,” with 12 photographic plates of set-ups for long and short putts.

Willie Park not only played the game professionally, but he operated a successful club manufactory and designed golf courses. His British Open victories in 1887 and 1889 set the stage for the introduction of four new clubs of his invention, and made him the most famous club-maker in Britain. In his treatise on putting, Park discloses “several points which [he had] kept a close secret until now,” one of which was hitting the top half of the ball, thereby imparting topspin. The first edition was published in Edinburgh in 1920 with the same title page, but with a different half title, containing on the verso “Copyright 1921 by Donald Mathieson. Printed in the United States of America.” Donovan & Murdoch 28680.

Light scattered foxing, occasional finger marks, minor rubbing to extremities of original cloth. An extremely good copy.