The first golf book to be successful in sales. Forgan founded a famous club-making firm in St. Andrews and his old shop is still open as a museum for visitors. Murdoch states: "This book, somewhat like 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." First published in 1881 by John Innes, Cupar, Scotland, the book went into numerous reprintings, and by 1897 the title had changed to The Golfer's Manual and contained photographic illustrations. The rare first edition, seldom seen offered at auction; the only other one offered in the past twenty-five years was the Murdoch copy in 1998. Donovan & Murdoch 1230; Murdoch 260.