Mr. Punch's Golf Stories

Golf has always been a sport prone to humiliation, and in 1906, Punch magazine captured this truth with delicious schadenfreude. This collection of golfing tales introduces readers to 'Enery Wilks, a caddie whose observations on the golfers who hire him are as sharp as any mashie niblick. From earnest duffers who duff every shot to pompous professionals who take themselves far too seriously, these pages document the eternal comedy of men in plus-fours chasing a small ball across irregular terrain. The humor is distinctly Edwardian: dry, observational, and always at the expense of anyone who dares to call themselves a golfer. The illustrations add period flavor to what is essentially a love letter to golf's greatest tradition: the belief that one is about to play brilliantly, followed by the gentle crushing of that hope. Whether you've ever swung a club or merely dreamed of it, these stories understand the peculiar relationship between hope and humiliation that defines the game.