Golf in the Year 2000
Encyclopedia
Golf in the Year 2000, or, What We Are Coming To is a novel
by J. McCullough
about golf
which also may be classed as a specimen of Victorian era
science fiction
. It tells the story of Alexander J. Gibson, who falls into a deep sleep in 1892 and awakens in 2000.
The plot follows Gibson as he is introduced to the wonders of the dawning 21st century by his host, the current owner of the house where Gibson lay sleeping for 108 years. Like Gibson, the host is a passionate golf player. Much of the story revolves around the two men's visits to the golf course
, where Gibson learns first-hand the radical changes that technology has made to the game. There are golf clubs that automatically keep their user's score, driverless golf caddies
or carts, and special jackets, which everyone must wear, that yell "Fore!" whenever the player begins his swing.
Modern readers are fascinated by the many startlingly accurate "predictions" contained in Golf in the Year 2000. These include bullet train
s, digital watches, and television
(although those specific terms are not used). It correctly predicts the conversion of the British pound to decimal coins
. It notably fails to anticipate modern air travel, instead postulating that undersea trains will cut trans-Atlantic travel time to a few hours. Similarly, Gibson's jest about travel to the moon is answered with an explanation that this is still a few generations off. It anticipates a form of chemical warfare
, but suggests a very different impact.
One of the novel's "predictions" is the liberation of women
. In the book, women have achieved substantial equality with men, but with some remaining and new differences. Gibson learns that the women of 2000 dress like men, hold key positions in business (bank clerks are exclusively female) and government (but not yet prime minister
, due to petty rivalries), and in fact do almost all of the work... while the men play golf full time. In the view of the fictional narrator
, this is a true utopia
, though he does not find 21st century females to his liking.
Golf in the Year 2000 has an odd Victorian charm that appeals to general readers as well as golf enthusiasts and fans of speculative literature. The book was originally published in London by Unwin in 1892. A rare first edition
sold at auction in January 2005 for $2,240 to an American collector of golf memorabilia named James Espinola. The book was reprinted in 1998 by Rutledge Hill Press, and is also available on line.http://www.golf-in-the-year-2000.com
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by J. McCullough
J. McCullough
J. McCullough was a Scottish author and avid golfer of the late 19th century. His fame rests on two books, Golf in the Year 2000, or, What we are coming to and Golf: Containing Practical Hints, with Rules of the Game ....
about golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
which also may be classed as a specimen of Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. It tells the story of Alexander J. Gibson, who falls into a deep sleep in 1892 and awakens in 2000.
The plot follows Gibson as he is introduced to the wonders of the dawning 21st century by his host, the current owner of the house where Gibson lay sleeping for 108 years. Like Gibson, the host is a passionate golf player. Much of the story revolves around the two men's visits to the golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, where Gibson learns first-hand the radical changes that technology has made to the game. There are golf clubs that automatically keep their user's score, driverless golf caddies
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
or carts, and special jackets, which everyone must wear, that yell "Fore!" whenever the player begins his swing.
Modern readers are fascinated by the many startlingly accurate "predictions" contained in Golf in the Year 2000. These include bullet train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
s, digital watches, and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
(although those specific terms are not used). It correctly predicts the conversion of the British pound to decimal coins
Decimal Day
Decimal Day was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.-Old system:Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence , with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a...
. It notably fails to anticipate modern air travel, instead postulating that undersea trains will cut trans-Atlantic travel time to a few hours. Similarly, Gibson's jest about travel to the moon is answered with an explanation that this is still a few generations off. It anticipates a form of chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
, but suggests a very different impact.
One of the novel's "predictions" is the liberation of women
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. In the book, women have achieved substantial equality with men, but with some remaining and new differences. Gibson learns that the women of 2000 dress like men, hold key positions in business (bank clerks are exclusively female) and government (but not yet prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, due to petty rivalries), and in fact do almost all of the work... while the men play golf full time. In the view of the fictional narrator
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
, this is a true utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
, though he does not find 21st century females to his liking.
Golf in the Year 2000 has an odd Victorian charm that appeals to general readers as well as golf enthusiasts and fans of speculative literature. The book was originally published in London by Unwin in 1892. A rare first edition
First edition
The bibliographical definition of an edition includes all copies of a book printed “from substantially the same setting of type,” including all minor typographical variants.- First edition :...
sold at auction in January 2005 for $2,240 to an American collector of golf memorabilia named James Espinola. The book was reprinted in 1998 by Rutledge Hill Press, and is also available on line.http://www.golf-in-the-year-2000.com