The first golf journals

[Tom MacWood]

What were the first golf magazines in Britain and America?

Correct me if I'm wrong but British Golf Illustrated dates back to 1890, though I believe originally he was called something else. Is that the first? In America there was something called The Golfer that began around 1895 and ran through 1903. Is that the first in the US?

[Tim_Cronin]

In the U.S., according to Dr. Robert Smith of Buffalo, as printed in the June 29, 1949 issue of Golf World:

1. Golfing (monthly, 1894-1898). (A different Golfing, run by Herb Graffis, started in 1933.)
1A. The Golfer (monthly, 1894-October 1903). Which came first? Smith didn't indicate. I'd think the USGA would know.
3. Golf (monthly, September 1897-May 1917). Two like-named magazines have followed, with Golf III still in existence.
4. Western Golfer (monthly, May 1899-May 1902, when it was renamed The Golfer's Magazine, and continued to September 1931). Published in Chicago.
5. American Golf (monthly, March 1900-April 1902). (The similarly named American Golfer started in November 1908.)

As for across the pond, others will have to respond.

[Niall C]

Tom

I'd need to check but I think Golfing (1890 ?) came before Golf Illustrated but I could very well be wrong. Golf Monthly I think was after that but again could very well be wrong.

Incidentally I think Golfing had a US edition round about 1900.

Niall

[Tom MacWood]

Tim
I'll see what I can find out at the USGA. According to one of the club histories of Brookline 'Golfing' was the first American golf journal. They claim it began May 1895, but i don't know if that is accurate or not. The USGA has 'The Golfer' digitized, and apparently the first issue was November 1895.

Did Herb Graffis's 'Golfing' turing into 'Golfdom'?

Niall
I thought the precursor to 'Golf Illustrated' was 'Golf', though I've seen some references that is was called Golfing.

[Tim_Cronin]

Tom,
Golfing and Golfdom were separate. Golfing was a consumer pub, came out five times (Feb-June) annually for much (maybe all) of it's run. Golfdom was a business monthly. Golfing, I believe, was purchased by the original owner of the current Golf Magazine, at least for the subscription list, when it started in 1960.

[Tom MacWood]

I did find 'Golf : a weekly record of "ye royal and ancient" game' ran from 1890 to 1899, and then changed its name to Golf Illustrated. I'm pretty sure that it was the first British golf journal.

Does anyone know where the American magazine Golfing (1895-1898) might be found?

[Niall C]

Tim
I'll see what I can find out at the USGA. According to one of the club histories of Brookline 'Golfing' was the first American golf journal. They claim it began May 1895, but i don't know if that is accurate or not. The USGA has 'The Golfer' digitized, and apparently the first issue was November 1895.

Did Herb Graffis's 'Golfing' turing into 'Golfdom'?

Niall
I thought the precursor to 'Golf Illustrated' was 'Golf', though I've seen some references that is was called Golfing.

Tom

Later editions of GI refer to it having been established in 1890. I'll check for Golfing and get back to you. After 1900 they were definitwely two seperate publications.

Niall

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Tom,

I just came across this in Google books, "Collecting golf-books",1743-1938, Cecil Hopkinson (Constable & Co., Ltd.), 1938 - 56 pages:

http://books.google.com/books?id=eZHgAAAAMAAJ&q=%22GOLF+ANNUAL%22&dq=%22GOLF+ANNUAL%22&hl=en&ei=5q9ATZnSOYyB4Qa1uq3JAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBjg8

In the small snippet I am permitted to view, it mentions the first golfing annual appearing in 1867.