[3 (ads)], vi, [2 (ads)], 80 pp. Folding linen-backed frontispiece course map printed in two colors, wood engraved ad on verso of frontispiece, plates from a photograph and a few drawings. 7¼x4¾, original olive green cloth-backed flexible tan-green cloth, cover printed in red. One of 1000 copies. First Edition.
Bennett's rare book, one of the few primary sources of information on the Royal and Ancient (aside from Balfour's and Flemming's), provides the most definitive account of the evolutionary stages in the design, development, and growth of the courses, as well as their condition prior to 1898, the year in which major alterations were implemented, and customs, traditions, rules and history of the Club. The book contains the first published color pull-out plan of the course. This item, aside from Flemming's 1893 publication, apparently is the most elusive work on the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Previously in the library of Max H. Behr (1884-1955) with his rubberstamp on the rear inside cover. Behr was a legendary golf book collector, golf champion, course designer, editor of “Golf Illustrated” (1914), a rules authority, and a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Among his other accomplishments in golf, Behr was runner-up to Jerome Travers in the U.S. Amateur in 1908 and twice winner of the New Jersey Amateur. Includes a few of his inked notes in the text. Donovan & Murdoch 690; Murdoch 57.