Topping & Company Booksellers of St Andrews have an extensive and unique selection of golf titles, certainly what many experts consider to be the best in St Andrew and have increased that range to welcome back the Open Championship for its 150th edition.
Robin, who looks after the golf books section, says, “We sell only new and in-print titles with a large number of signed, first and special editions. The focus of that range are books on ‘the home of golf’. For the discerning golfer we would recommend In The Footsteps of Old Tom Morris, which we carry in a £40 paperback or Leather Bound signed and numbered special edition at £390. Malcolm & Crabtree’s Tom Morris of St Andrews: The Colossus of Golf (£95) cloth with colour plates and illustrated endpapers is the last edition in print of this colossus of golf writing.
“Perennial paperback favourites are Tommy’s Honour (£8.99) telling the story of father and son’s complex relationship which was filmed in 2016 and Roger McStravick’s Little Tommy Morris (£7.99), a lovely children’s picture book to inspire the Open champions of the future. For those wishing to dip into a good read between rounds (or if play is suspended by a seasonal thunderstorm) An American Caddie in St Andrews (£10.99) fornon-fiction or James Patterson’s novella Miracle at St Andrews (£8.99) land in the centre of the fairway St Andrews author David Hamilton’s History of Golf (Hardback, £40) is a fine comprehensive history of the game.
“New in is Early Golf (£24.99), Prof. Neil S. Millar’s excellent study of the origins of the game; signed first edition of Stephen Proctor’s study of golf’s age of glory 1864-1914 The Long Golden Afternoon (£25); and Phil (£18.99) the sensational biography of Phil Mickleson, the contemporary game’s most controversial player.
“We’re hoping to have author Alan Shipnuk in the bookshop to sign during Open week. Other authors popping in during the championship include golf photographer David Gannon who’s Seve (£35 or £120 Limited Collectors Edition) has the iconic pictures of the late 1984 St Andrews champion; and BBC Golf Correspondent Iain Carter signing copies of the R&A’s official celebration The 150th Open (£35).
“Golfland Scotland (£24.99) is the latest guide to every Scottish course and a fine addition to the golf lover’s bookshelves. Books on golf course architecture are tremendously popular and among our bestsellers are signed editions of Tom Doak’s Little Red Book (£39) and Paul Daley’s deluxe series on worldwide Golf Architecture (£99 per volume). Classic instruction manuals never age and Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons (£16.99) remains as popular as ever.
“With a huge range of golfing miscellanies covering golf club covers to classic golf buggies and golf ball collecting we have something for the informed Golf Business News reader. Tee off time is 9:00 am every day including Sunday and we’re open until 8:30pm for post-round browsing.
“We look forward to welcoming you to Topping & Company, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG Telephone: (01334) 585111