Everyone who enjoys golf, whether as a player or a spectator, owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Rev. John Kerr, MA, FRSE, FSA Scot (1852—1920). He was, in addition to being the Minister at Dirleton Kirk, East Lothian, an avid sportsman and close friend of golf legend and six-time winner of the British Open, Harry Vardon. His two great loves were the Scottish games of curling and golf, and he was a meticulous historian of both. The Golf-Book of East Lothian is a deep dive into the history and culture of golf itself, and the pivotal role the golf courses and matches held in East Lothian had on the development of the game into the global pastime it has become. It is a must-read for anyone interested in golf and particularly its early history. Sadly, only 750 copies of the original book were printed, so the book has not been widely available to the public.

Tragically, the time, social interactions, and expense of writing The Golf-Book of East Lothian destroyed the Rev. Kerr's health, marriage, and reputation as a clergyman, and led to his bankruptcy and disgrace.

Leonard Pellman is the great-grandson of the Rev. Kerr. As a golfer and genealogist he has followed in his great-grandfather's footsteps by lovingly curating a collection of the works and achievements of his great-grandfather. From those resources, he has annotated this edition of The Golf Book of East Lothian and arranged its republication for the enjoyment of the millions of golf enthusiasts in the world today. This edition contains:

• The complete text of the original 1896 edition,including illustrations, scanned page by page by Mr. Pellman
• The key role the Rev. John Kerr played in making golf a major spectator sport
• Biographical information on the Rev. John Kerr and his tragic fall from grace
• Additional photographs and background information on East Lothian and the Kerr family
• How a golf enthusiast laid the groundwork for the establishment of the modern nation of Israel.