The Wisdom and Advice of Harry Vardon

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As noted earlier today I purchased Harry Vardon's The Complete Golfer. This was written in 1904 and completely revised November 1914 since as he says in the forward to 1914 edition 'very much has happened in and to the game of golf since 1905'. Indeed one wonders what these changes were that required a complete revision of the book and what he'd think of today's golf!

Anyway - even at first glance the book is full of fabulous words of wisdom that still apply today - and also fascinating insights into times past.

I may note further snippets from time to time, but one that immediately jumped out to me as I browsed that may be of interest to those who follow matters here (and DfT in particular) I found in Chapter XII Some General Hints. And I quote:

Be careful that you always stand on the proper side of the tee when your opponent is preparing to drive

Well we did debate whether there was such a thing as the HNSP did we not?

 

[Crow]

Brilliant!

I've got a couple of old tomes by Joyce Wethered, I'll have to see if it's in mentioned there.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Brilliant!

I've got a couple of old tomes by Joyce Wethered, I'll have to see if it's in mentioned there.

Haven't spotted mention of it in my Henry Cotton or tommy Armour books - but this one is much older and much broader in it's scope.

I'll note that some of Vardon's general hints advice is interesting...and just maybe a bit out of date but perhaps worth considering - on clothing...

Always use braces in preference to a belt round the waist. I never play with a belt. Braces seem to hold the shoulders together just as they ought to be. When a man plays in a belt he has an unaccustomed sense of looseness, and his shoulders are too much beyond control. It is a mistake to imagine that you can swing better with a belt than with braces. For the same reason I do not advise a golfer to play without his coat, even on the warmest day, if he wants to play his best game

Love it!

 

[williamalex1]

Are you thinking of changing your forum name to SIlV? .

 

[tjgreenway]

For the same reason I do not advise a golfer to play without his coat, even on the warmest day, if he wants to play his best game

So that's where I've been going wrong!

 

[Slab]

My favourite from the book:

"If he is playing several more in a vain endeavour to extricate himself from a bunker, do not stand near him and audibly count his strokes. It would be justifiable homicide if he wound up his pitiable exhibition by applying his niblick to your head"

 

[MashieNiblick]

"For the same reason I do not advise a golfer to play without his coat, even on the warmest day, if he wants to play his best game"

Might be something in it. Imagine shooting back to back 74's in a day round RSG wearing this



Breathable compression tweed jackets could be the next big thing in golf clothing.

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

Breathable compression tweed jackets could be the next big thing in golf clothing.[/QUOTE]


I'm just checking eBay . . . . nothing as yet.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Good to see I'm not the only golf geek who goes around buying old golf books

On matches:

At the beginning of a match do not worry yourself with the idea that the result is likely to be against you. By reflecting thus upon the possibilities of defeat one often becomes too anxious and loses one's freedom of style

top tip!...if I had any style...

 

[Slab]

Good to see I'm not the only golf geek who goes around buying old golf books

On matches:

At the beginning of a match do not worry yourself with the idea that the result is likely to be against you. By reflecting thus upon the possibilities of defeat one often becomes too anxious and loses one's freedom of style

top tip!...if I had any style...

Sorry to stick a pin in that bubble, its available as a free ebook in several formats here[/URL]


edit: I've removed the link as I'm not sure their free use copyright operates in the UK for you guys

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Sorry to stick a pin in that bubble, its available as a free ebook in several formats

Aye - fair enough.

Though you don't get the feel and smell of an old book - knowing that nearly 100yrs ago a keen golfer read the book you have in your hands - fretting about his belt or braces; which tweed jacket to wear, whether he has the right nails in the best pattern hammered into the soles of his golf shoes - shoes being preferable to boots as shoes 'allow more freedom for the ankles, and make it easier to pivot on the toes'

Now for me there is something a bit magical about that.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

My favourite from the book:

"If he is playing several more in a vain endeavour to extricate himself from a bunker, do not stand near him and audibly count his strokes. It would be justifiable homicide if he wound up his pitiable exhibition by applying his niblick to your head"

gold

 

[Crazyface]

Sorry to stick a pin in that bubble, its available as a free ebook in several formats here[/URL]


edit: I've removed the link as I'm not sure their free use copyright operates in the UK for you guys

Let us worry about that.

 

[Slab]

Let us worry about that.

well SILH quoted me before my edit so crack on

 

[Foxholer]

Are you thinking of changing your forum name to SIlV? .

How about adding 'GILH' -Grips it Like Vardon!

Anyone playing South Herts (not the best example, at least condition-wise, of a Willie Park course when I played it) will be reminded of that grip and Vardon's association with the club!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

well SILH quoted me before my edit so crack on

..and I edited my quote to take it out

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

How about adding 'GILH' -Grips it Like Vardon!

Anyone playing South Herts (not the best example, at least condition-wise, of a Willie Park course when I played it) will be reminded of that grip and Vardon's association with the club!

The photos of the grip look great - some of the photos of Vardon deliberately showing things going wrong are brilliant.

 

[Region3]

Sorry to stick a pin in that bubble, its available as a free ebook in several formats here[/URL]


edit: I've removed the link as I'm not sure their free use copyright operates in the UK for you guys

As far as I know, copyright expires 50 years after the death of the author. It's why you can get a lot of old books free from iTunes.

 

[Slab]

As far as I know, copyright expires 50 years after the death of the author. It's why you can get a lot of old books free from iTunes.

No worries, (I did hear 75 years once too) anyway I just didn't want to break any forum rules but I'm sure those that want it will find it

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

You can download it completely legally via this link . . . .

https://archive.org/details/completegolfer01vardgoog