Hi,
Thanks for the interest in the new book. I am travelling at the moment, so it has not been easy to keep up with this thread. However what I can say right now is that since the first golf club (the Royal Perth Golfing Society) gained the royal title in 1833, 73 additional golf clubs have acquired the royal title from the British Royal Family, but today only 66 of these clubs exist.
Our book focuses on the 66 clubs. We have maps showing where all the clubs are, a history chapter explaining the long connection between royalty and golf, and a chapter explaining the 'Road to the Royal Title.' We give each club equal space in the book; 6 pages. Each club chapter features a history of the club and explains the royal connection. We also often mention the club's golf facilities. The chapters feature colour photos of each club, and a plan of the course/s the club uses, (note 4 of the club do not own their own course, so this is a book about clubs and not courses). This book is designed to be a celebration of these unique golf clubs.
The book makes it clear that there is a difference between having royal patronage and the royal title. These are separate grants, and having royal patronage does not give a club the right to use the royal title (nor does being on royal land, or having your course opened by a member of the Royal Family). The proper authority to grant the royal title is the sovereign.
To answer a couple of questions posed;
1. There are 6 clubs in Canada that have been granted the royal title from the British Royal Family; Colwood, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Mayfair and Regina.
2. We are including The Royal Port Moresby Golf Club in Papua New Guinea.
3. The most recent club to gain the royal title is the Royal Homburger Golf Club in Germany, (8 April 2013).
4. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews were the second golf club to gain the royal title.
5. 38 of the clubs that have gained the royal title from the British Royal Family are in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands. 28 are elsewhere in the world. (e.g. 4 in South Africa, 8 in Australia, 2 in New Zealand etc...)
An interesting fact is that since King William IV first granted the royal title to a golf club in 1833, every reigning monarch has granted golf clubs the royal title since, except one (King Edward VIII, who was very supportive of golf but abdicated in 1936 and thus did not really have the chance to confer the honour on any golf clubs)
The book is about 490 pages long. Will feature a leather cover and have an RRP of £60. It will be available for order through the R&A website (link to be confirmed), and for purchase at some royal golf clubs. The book is expected to be out in May.
Regards,
Scott
Here's a look at the cover;
