"There is only one categorical imperative in golf, and that is to hit the ball. There are no minor absolutes." It was Ernest Jones who first brought the above quotation to our attention. It is, from cause to effect, golf. And it is taken from the remarkable book by Sir Walter Simpson - THE ART OF GOLF - the first book in this trilogy (edited, formatted and illustrated.) It really is an interesting read that will bring a smile or two to the reader's face. The text, great even in the present day for tips and humour, will enrich the bookcase of every fan. Sir Walter Simpson managed to capture the heart and mindset of the lone hero on the links like no-one before or since.
His The Art of Golf contains many tips and incisive tactics and strategies on how to get the best from your game - physically and mentally. It is a pure joy to read and is frequently hilarious with a dry, sardonic humour that encapsulates the flights of fancy of a golfer as much as those of his ball. Contained within are the first known examples of "instantaneous photography" used in golf tutelage with, amongst others, shots of Tom and Jim Morris and Ben Sayers. What Sir Walter Simpson inspired in Ernest Jones when he first read this book, Ernest Jones has been teaching ever since in the Ernest Jones Method, as described in his book THE GOLF SWING - the second book in this trilogy (edited, formatted and illustrated.) And by the way, we are the Dutchy Golf Team who have fallen victim to and been left paralysed (at times) by our crazy modern-day teaching systems. As a result we developed the Dutchy Golf Swing Trainer and related exercises - BOOK III in this trilogy. In this Golf Swing Trilogy we present the original writings and illustrations from the 1880s and the 1920s. We are amazed at the clarity behind the thoughts of those times that unveil themselves to us as universal truths seemingly unaffected by the passing of time.
And as readers have commented to us "some inconvenient truths about the modern day professional teaching system." There is an inherent danger to studying our golf swing closely. Information by itself is dangerous, it can destroy our game. We swing our best when we have the fewest things to think about. It's amazing how difficult this game is when we are playing poorly, and how simple it is when we are playing well. Stand and swing. golf can be this simple!.