I visited with Bob this weekend and, while the disease is spreading, his spirits remain high. I saw a copy of the Stiles book in his office and it is wonderful and I have started reading the Vardon book and it, too, is very, very well done.
Bob is also the author of "The Old Man," a biography of Walter Travis. Although the publisher at the time dropped the ball on the production value, it is a wonderful read. Most don't realize that he handled much the writing and researching for Architects of Golf. I think he also wrote a chapter about layouts in Maine for a book on nine-hole courses but I can't be sure.
A few weeks ago, I was telling Bob how I was having a difficult time getting a person to allow me to view an aerial photograph for a magazine piece I was writing. Bob said, "he's not a historian, he's a hoarder." It was a great point and Bob would know, he has always been a true historian of the game, from the clubs to the courses and has always lent a willing hand to me and other writers/historians in our quest for information.
If you’d like to drop Bob a word of encouragement that I know he would greatly appreciate, his address is P.O. Box 709, Montpelier, VT 05601-0709.
Anthony