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Paul Turner

RHK Browning
« on: July 03, 2002, 05:18:28 PM »
Does anyone have any information about this gent?

I reackon he must have been the best travelled golf author within Britain throughout the 30s, 40s and 50s.  Because, just about every club of note (and lots of minor ones too) has a club handbook written by him.  These slim paperbacks are really good too, fine descriptions of the individual holes and usually some decent photography
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Brad Klein

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Re: RHK Browning
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2002, 09:48:59 PM »
Would this be the same Robert Browning who wrote the brilliant "Classics of Golf" volume, "A History of Golf" (1955)? See Herbert Warren Wind's intro to that book for a brief sketch of Browning, who was editor of Britain's "Golfing" magazine from 1910 to 1955.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Dunlop_White

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Re: RHK Browning
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2002, 11:47:52 PM »
RHK Browning (Robert Browning), a Scot, was a golf scholar dedicated to determine and understand  the genuine authenticity of the game's tradition and lore.

Brad Klein was correct in that he was an editor of a magazine entitled, "Golfing", from 1910 to 1955. He also authored "Golf With Seven Clubs" in 1956, while his most popular book was, "A History of Golf", in 1955.

To oversimplify his contributions, Browning explored the history of golf. He verified the origins of the term "Fore", a military term derived from the phrase "Beware Before", I think. He confirmed that the first set of rules and regulations was written at Leith, only to be officially adopted by St. Andrews shortly thereafter. He also validated that the first golf club was the Honorable Co. of Edinburgh Golfers. He further corraborated that the first golf "hole" was in Scotland, but the game's concept was adapted from another similar game in France where the ball was required to hit a tree or a stump or something, instead of being holed.

Collectors often sell these little club histories booklets by Browning for between $30.00 and $50.00. They are not long, usually between 35 and 75 pages.

That is all I know.......
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Paul Turner

Re: RHK Browning
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2002, 05:59:19 AM »
Thanks chaps.

Those club handboks are definitely worth collecting.  Often a British club has published about 3 of these through the decades, often with the same Robert Browning course review but sometimes updated by him.  There are usually new photos, so it's really easy to se how the course changed.

Tom Scott wrote some too.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

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