History of Yardage Books

THE HISTORY OF GOLF YARDAGE BOOKS

YARDAGE BOOKS HAVE BEEN A STAPLE ON THE PGA TOUR SINCE JACK NICKLAUS STARTED USING THEM IN THE 1970’S.

FOR YEARS TOUR CADDIES WOULD ARRIVE AT THE COURSE OF COMPETITION WEEKS BEFORE AND PACE OFF ALL THE YARDAGES TO AND FROM IDENTIFIED TARGETS AND MAP GREEN COMPLEXES BY SIGHT.

TOUR PLAYERS WOULD MODIFY THESE CUSTOM BOOKS AS THEY PLAYED AND KEEP COMPETITIVE NOTES LIKE A DIARY YEAR AFTER YEAR

AS YARDAGE BOOKS GAINED POPULARITY SO DID THEIR DEMAND. OVER TIME EXPERT CADDY/YARDAGE BOOK MAKERS BEGAN SELLING YARDAGE BOOKS TO ROOKIES AND NEW PLAYERS AND MAPPED OUT THE ENTIRE TOUR CIRCUIT AS A CAREER. THE YARDAGE BOOKS WERE LIKE GOLD AND ONLY TOUR PLAYERS WITH THEIR CARD WERE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THE CUSTOM BOOKS. AS OF TODAY MANY TOUR CADDIES AND PLAYERS KEEP A COLLECTION OF YARDAGE BOOKS IN THE SAME ROOM AS THEIR TOURNAMENT TROPHIES. YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND ANY PLAYER ON ANY TOUR NOT CARRYING A YARDAGE BOOK IN THEIR BACK POCKET.

SOME WOULD THINK THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY WOULD PUT AND END TO YARDAGE BOOKS DEMAND. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. THE ABILITY TO USE LASER RANGEFINDERS, DIGITAL GREEN READERS, AND SATELLITE GPS HAS MADE THE YARDAGE BOOK SOMETHING ALL GOLFERS CAN CREATE AND USE TO LOWER THEIR SCORES!