Forgolf’strueenthusiasts,thegameisfarmore--andfarmorecomplex--thanasimplehobby,commodity,orsliceofthesportsindustry.Itisaphysicalandmentalplacetobe,acommunity.Ithasahistory,ahierarchy,laws,alanguage,andaliterature.AndinRichardJ.Moss,ithasachronicler.FromitsbeginningsinthenortheasternUnitedStatesinthe1880s,golfhasseenitspopularity,anditsfortunes,waxandwane,affectedbypoliticsandeconomics,reflectingtensionsbetweenaristocraticanddemocraticimpulses.TheKingdomofGolfinAmericatracestheseupsanddowns,insandouts,inthegrowthofgolfasacommunity.Mossdescribesthedevelopmentoftheprivateclubandpubliccourseandtheimpactofwealthandtheconsumercultureonthosewhoplaygolfandthosewhowatch.Heshowsthatfactorslikerace,gender,technology,suburbanization,andthetransformationoftheSouththatshapedthenationalsoshapedgolf.Theresultisaunique,anduniquelyentertaining,workofculturalhistorythatshowsusgolfasacommunitywhosestoryresonatesfarbeyondtheconfinesofthecourse.RichardJ.MossisJohnJ.andCorneliaV.GibsonProfessorofHistory(emeritus)atColbyCollegeandtheauthorofGolfandtheAmericanCountryClubandEdeninthePines:AHistoryofPinehurstVillage.
AMERICA KINGDOM TECHNOLOGY COMMODITY alanguage GOLF
