[Andrew Balakshin]

UBC in Vancouver apparently received a big collection of rare golf books. Of course this happens just after I graduate  

Here is an article about it:

Vancouver’s Sam Martz, a retired businessman and golf aficionado, has given his entire book collection of 4,730 golf books valued at about $450,000 to UBC. The collection, dating back to early 19th-century editions, covers all aspects of golf including club histories, the genesis and art of the game, course architecture, instructions and even poetry with rare finds such as Poems on Golf, by Robert Clark, 1867.

According to Ralph Stanton, the head of Rare Books and Special Collections at UBC Library, this is the biggest collection of golf books in an academic library in the world. The next closest candidate appears to be the Arthur W. Schultz golf collection at the University of Chicago, which numbers about 1,600 books. Martz is aware of only two other bigger golf book collections – a public one at the United States Golf Association, and a private one owned by an executive at a sports, entertainment and media company.

Also notable is the condition of the books, described by Stanton as “superb.” Significant elements of the collection will be catalogued and available for viewing by summer 2008. A few of the rarest books include:

- History of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club St. Andrew’s, by Harry Sterling Everard; first edition, 1907

- The Reminiscences of Golf on St. Andrew’s Links, by James Balfour; first edition, 1887

- Poems on Golf, by Robert Clark; special presentation edition, 1867

- Chronicles of the Blackheath Golfers, by W.E. Hughes, first edition, 1897

- Keep Your Eye on the Ball and Your Right Knee Stiff, by Harry Roy Sweny; first edition, 1898

Martz, 81, still plays golf regularly. He began caddying in Montreal when he was about 10 and started collecting golf books in his 30s. He donated his collection to UBC Library because he wanted it to go to an organization where it would be maintained and protected for generations to come.

This major donation opens up new opportunities for scholars and will be of benefit to those studying the sociology of sport, urban planning and golf course design.

Glenn Drexhage
Communications officer, UBC Library
Tel: 604-827-3434
E-mail: glenn.drexhage@ubc.ca

[Andrew Balakshin]

Here is one more article. Has anyone in Vancouver (Bob? Ryan?) had a chance to see if any of the books are available to the public yet? I will check the next time I am on the campus, probably sometime in the new year.

http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/2007/10/23/ubc-receives-half-million-dollars-in-golf-books/

[Jeff_Mingay]

Wow. Thanks for this news, Andrew. Very interesting.

Happy holidays,

P.S. "Keep Your Eye on the Ball and Your Right Knee Stiff" might be my new favourite title for a golf book, ever!

[Chris Parker]

That sounds great!  It looks like that'll be another can't-miss stop if -- and when    -- I ever get around to making a golf trip to Vancouver, along with Cap and the BC Golf Museum.

[J_ Crisham]

My understanding is that Ben Crenshaw has one of the largest private collections in the world. Not sure the exact number but I've been told its quite significant.

[Dan King]

Interesting. I'd never consider myself a collector of golf books, but I have a collection of around 3,000 golf books, almost all of them I have read at one time or another. I guess I should start considering what I will do with them when I die.

Cheers,
Grandan King

A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say "How to Build a Boat."
 --Stephen Wright

[PThomas]

i believe Alaistair Johnston of IMG has the world's largest private collection....I think he has about 20,000 golf books !

[Bob Jenkins]

Andrew,

Very interesting! I had not heard of this gift. The BC Golf Museum on the UBC Golf Course already has a great collection but it would be nothing like this one. When I get the time, I will get out there.

Hope all is well with you, wherever you are!

Bob

[ed_getka]

i believe Alaistair Johnston of IMG has the world's largest private collection....I think he has about 20,000 golf books !

    That number overshoots the mark by a fair amount.

[rocket]

I going to have to get a library card.   That reminds me.  Andrew I hope you got your book back on "the life and works of Alistar Mackenzie "  

[Andrew Balakshin]

Jeff,
Happy holidays to you as well, I hope you are having a good rest back home after being in BC for so long. It was great meeting you and I wish you the best of luck with Sagebrush and future courses.

Bob,
I am well and back in Chilliwack for a while after traveling for the past couple months. I agree, the library at the BCGM is really good. It should be interesting to see how many of these books UBC catalogues by this summer.

Johnny,
I still haven’t picked up that book but definitely will one of these days. It was great working with you this summer. Have a good Christmas.  

[ed_getka]

i believe Alaistair Johnston of IMG has the world's largest private collection....I think he has about 20,000 golf books !

    That number overshoots the mark by a fair amount.

Paul,
    I checked into it and you aren't that far off after all.

Andrew,
    Thanks for letting us know about the collection at UBC.

[PThomas]

i believe Alaistair Johnston of IMG has the world's largest private collection....I think he has about 20,000 golf books !

    That number overshoots the mark by a fair amount.

Paul,
    I checked into it and you aren't that far off after all.

i was a little Ed..as you probably found out its "only"
16,000 volumes...he tries to get a copy of EVERY new book that is produced...he adds 600-700 titles each year at a cost of about $60,000...1,300 square feet of book space in his home

boy would I love to see his library sometime!

[Garland Bayley]

Finally, someone who has probably bought that Richardson and Fine book.
 

[Brent Boardman]

I wish that library was part of the Summit system here in the northwest US...

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()