What do the architects like to read?

[Matthew Delahunty]

I was wandering around the Borders bookshop at my local shopping centre here in Melbourne (Aust.) the other day and spotted from across the store a prominent local architect (former pro) perusing the golf section. I thought about going across and asking him if he was looking for copies of his own book (which didn't seem to be stocked on the shelves), but alas he moved on. However, it did make me ask myself the following:

What golf books do golf architects like to read on a recreational (rather than professional) basis?

Do they like reading golf architecture books? Many professional people like to leave their work at the office. However, some love it so much it goes everywhere with them. I suspect many golf architects found their job through a general love for the game? So, what golf subjects do the archies on this forum like to read about - architecture, golf history, interesting stories/anecdotes, books about how the pros thinks, stats, golf travel or no golf books at all?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mathew,

It's a great question.

I'm also curious as to what they have read and continue to read/study.

[Chris Kane]

Matthew, the architect you saw across the store has a very impressive collection of golf architecture books - pretty much everything of note.  From memory he also has a collection of rare older works in his office.

Spending time with him you get the strong impression that golf and golf architecture is more than just a job.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if he devours golf literature in his "spare time".

I'm sure he'd be pleased if he couldn't find a copy of his own book, which means they're selling well.  That means it can be reprinted without all the spelling errors  

[Matthew Delahunty]

Chris,

...and the caption reference to the 9th hole at Royal Melbourne West

[Chris Kane]

And all the other minor errors of fact - ie. Hoylake to host the 2007 Open.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I reread the classic golf design books often.  In past years, I would read them while watching NHL hockey on TV (never in the arena, although there is that lady in Detroit who always knits while the game is on) thinking I could kill two birds with one stone and feeling a little less like a couch potato.

No NHL hockey this year, but I will often ride the excercycle at the gym and read the same under the same theory.

Current re-read is Colt's Essays on Golf Course Architecture.  Also recently read the book on Larry Packard called Double Doglegs and other hazards, and look forward to the Joe Lee tome.

When not reading golf design books, I read history (US Civil War and WWII) or business books - mostly on sales and marketing, an area where I need to get better for professional reasons.

Of course, I spend too much time reading golf club atlas.....

[Kelly Blake Moran]

Great question Matthew because I love reading and love book stores.  I think there is a magazine, maybe Vanity Fair, that does a little blurb on famous people and what books are on their nightstand.  But, for what is worth from a lowbrow architect my nightstand contains the following active reads:

Biography on Leonardo da Vinci I believe titled Flights of Mind???

Tour Tempo by John Novosel

Golf Greens by Hurdzan

God,  by can't remember, I think Jack Miles

Collapse,  or something like that  a book about why some civilizations collapsed and why some survived from an environemntal angle.

There are about 10 other books stuffed in there that I have yet to retire to the downstairs bookshelves like Ledbetters book on Hogans 5 basics, and Pelz's bible on the short game, books I keep refering to.  

and then there is the weekly New Yorker, one article I am reading is about how prescription drugs administered to kids is not tested properly by the FDA, that doctors are having to make educated guesses about the dose rate for kids because many of the drugs are tested on adults but not children, it is a hard read when you have kids, not the best night time reading.

[Jeff_Mingay]

There's a very interesting book I recently read, and continue to re-read called Preserving the World's Great Cities.

And, I've recently started The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida, which has received a lot of buzz over the past year or so.

[ian]

I read to relax and rotate my reading to avoid getting fixated on one are, in particular golf. I don't think all golf is healthy for me.

The last five:

golf book:The Evangelist of Golf
classic:Seven Pillars of Wisdom, TE Lawrence
something for fun: Rule of Four
one picked by my wife: Tuesday's with Morrie

currently reading:Micheal Palin, Himilaya

always reading (slowly): all issues of Canadian Golfer 1915-1940

[Brad Klein]

Ross read practical magazines, no books that I ever saw a reference to. Was big on "Popular Mechanics" and solved a big drainage issue at Seminole on the basis of an article he read there. The photo of him sitting in his "reading room" at Dornoch Cottage (p. 224 in my book) shows standard issue volumes, inc. encyclopedia-like books, most of them arrayed by size. Not much evidence of extensive reading habits.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Brad,

Was it a staged photo? To get real reading habits, you would have to have a picture of him on the throne, no?

[Mike Nuzzo]

My bathroom book has been Golf Greens by Hurdzan.
I read "Favorite holes by design" by Daley on a recent plane trip.  
In the car I've been listening to The Davinci Code.  
On deck is a book about Newton by James Gleick who wrote a good book on Chaos.
Cheers

[Ron Kern]

Recently completed, ongoing and on deck:

Wilco - Learning How to Die, Greg Kot

Escaping the Delta - Robert Johnson and the Invention of Blues , Elijah Ward

Younger Than That Now - The Collected Interviews with Bob Dylan

Chronicles - Bob Dylan

The Rolling Thunder Logbook - Sam Shepard

Crisis of the Real - Writings on Photography since 1974, Andy Grundberg

Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson

Ten Little Indians, Sherman Alexie

Magazines - Monthly - UNCUT, MOJO,  Acoustic Guitar.  Bi-Monthly - No Depression.


You asked....

[JNagle]

Recently finished -

McCollough's - John Adams

John Lawrence - The Cat From Hue'

Now reading -

Gettysburg - Stephen Sears

Book of Galatians - The Bible

Golf Related - The Architectural Side of Golf - Whether & Simpson

On deck -

Biography on Robert E. Lee

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ron,

I figured there was no other "guy in golf" familiar with No Depression! Cool.

[Brad Klein]

If you're oscillating between "No Depression" and GCA, you probably need to up your dosage of Lithium or Lexapro.

[Kelly Blake Moran]

Ron Kern,

I enjoy Wilco, I have A Ghost is Born, and have probably played the guitar solo way to much in the first song, but maybe you know about Uncle Tupelo since there is that connection with Wilco, are all of the CD's put out by Tupelo really good??  I have Anadyne (sic) but have not purchased more.  Thanks.

[Joe Hancock]

The architect I hang around with can't read.....

Joe

[Ron Kern]

Ron Kern,

I enjoy Wilco, I have A Ghost is Born, and have probably played the guitar solo way to much in the first song, but maybe you know about Uncle Tupelo since there is that connection with Wilco, are all of the CD's put out by Tupelo really good??  I have Anadyne (sic) but have not purchased more.  Thanks.

KBM:

Uncle Tupelo is much more raw than the current Wilco (as you probably have already figured out...).  Tupelo's vision and direction doesn't really relate to the current version of Wilco.  I'd recommend the 89/93: An Anthology.  It has an excellent selection of tracks and very good remastered sound.  If you are into checking out a band's body of work in context, then the entire catalog is essential.  Otherwise, the Anthology will do the trick.

I'd also recommend Son Volt's (Jay Farrar's offshoot band from Uncle Tupelo) first album Trace.  Very strong.  The other two Son Volt albums are OK but not essential, IMHO.  Farrar's solo work leaves me a little cold.  He's resurrecting Son Volt, so I guess he's looking back for a new direction.

As for Wilco I really enjoy all of their albums.  It is interesting to see Tweedy's vision and artistry develop and evolve album to album.  Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Summerteeth, Being There  and A.M. are all worth having.  Summerteeth is by far their most underrated work, again, IMHO.  And Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is definitely a watershed moment for Tweedy.  The documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart is well done, but really only hard-core fans will find it fascinating rather than somewhat boring, yet the live performances are top notch.

Check out Wilcoworld.net for a free EP (YHF outtakes) in the records page and a streaming concert from The Fillmore.

That's probably more info than you wanted...

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ron and Kelly,

I'm a huge Son Volt fan; probably haven't given Wilco enough of a chance. Although, the tune "Don't forget the Flowers" on their double LP is amazing. One of the best songs I've ever heard.

I'm thrilled to hear Farrar's bringing Son Volt back. I've been disappointed with his solo stuff a bit, too. Didn't expect to hear this news at GCA.com though  

[Ken_Cotner]

Ron Kern,

I enjoy Wilco, I have A Ghost is Born, and have probably played the guitar solo way to much in the first song, but maybe you know about Uncle Tupelo since there is that connection with Wilco, are all of the CD's put out by Tupelo really good??  I have Anadyne (sic) but have not purchased more.  Thanks.

KBM:

Uncle Tupelo is much more raw than the current Wilco (as you probably have already figured out...).  Tupelo's vision and direction doesn't really relate to the current version of Wilco.  I'd recommend the 89/93: An Anthology.  It has an excellent selection of tracks and very good remastered sound.  If you are into checking out a band's body of work in context, then the entire catalog is essential.  Otherwise, the Anthology will do the trick.

I'd also recommend Son Volt's (Jay Farrar's offshoot band from Uncle Tupelo) first album Trace.  Very strong.  The other two Son Volt albums are OK but not essential, IMHO.  Farrar's solo work leaves me a little cold.  He's resurrecting Son Volt, so I guess he's looking back for a new direction.

As for Wilco I really enjoy all of their albums.  It is interesting to see Tweedy's vision and artistry develop and evolve album to album.  Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Summerteeth, Being There  and A.M. are all worth having.  Summerteeth is by far their most underrated work, again, IMHO.  And Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is definitely a watershed moment for Tweedy.  The documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart is well done, but really only hard-core fans will find it fascinating rather than somewhat boring, yet the live performances are top notch.

Check out Wilcoworld.net for a free EP (YHF outtakes) in the records page and a streaming concert from The Fillmore.

That's probably more info than you wanted...

Ron and KBM,

Just to continue this terribly off-topic tangent...

What think ye about "A Ghost Is Born" and the Wilco documentary; I'm been vascillating on whether to buy either.  Every release since "AM" has just been OK to my ear.  They are coming to Charlotte next month also, and I'm debating whether to even go.

Ironically, just last night my band just started covering "Give Back The Key To My Heart" from Anodyne (originally by Doug Sahm).

Ditto on the Son Volt and UT recommendations.

God, it's scary seeing this discussion on GCA.  Please don't tell me you tune in to Postcard2 or Guitartown.

Architectural content:  I want to play a Biarritz.

Ken, dreaming of Austin in March...

[TEPaul]

I'd tell you all what Max Behr liked to read but somehow I don't think you want to know!

[Ken_Cotner]

Ron and Kelly,

I'm a huge Son Volt fan; probably haven't given Wilco enough of a chance. Although, the tune "Don't forget the Flowers" on their double LP is amazing. One of the best songs I've ever heard.

I'm thrilled to hear Farrar's bringing Son Volt back. I've been disappointed with his solo stuff a bit, too. Didn't expect to hear this news at GCA.com though  

Jeff,

The original Son Volt got back together for one song (on the Alejandro Escovedo benefit CD), but apparently they couldn't come to agreement on moving forward.  So there are now 3 other guys with Farrar that they are calling Son Volt.  Or as one of my buddies said, "So it's just another Farrar solo project that sucks?"

Ken, from planet More Than You Want To Know...

[Ron Kern]

Ron and Kelly,

I'm a huge Son Volt fan; probably haven't given Wilco enough of a chance. Although, the tune "Don't forget the Flowers" on their double LP is amazing. One of the best songs I've ever heard.

I'm thrilled to hear Farrar's bringing Son Volt back. I've been disappointed with his solo stuff a bit, too. Didn't expect to hear this news at GCA.com though  

Jeff,

The original Son Volt got back together for one song (on the Alejandro Escovedo benefit CD), but apparently they couldn't come to agreement on moving forward.  So there are now 3 other guys with Farrar that they are calling Son Volt.  Or as one of my buddies said, "So it's just another Farrar solo project that sucks?"

Ken, from planet More Than You Want To Know...

I found a live recording of the "new" Son Volt on easytree - not good...not good at all.

This discussion led me to dig through the Uncle Tupelo section in the record room and I found the double vinyl LP - Still Feel Gone & March 16 - 20 on Rockville.  Now there's an Uncle Tupelo album worth finding....the sound quality of the pressing is dynamite.

Trying to add something to the GCA aspect of the thread, as for golf books that I enjoy reading, I always come back to Hazards edited by Aleck Bauer and Aspects of Golf Course Architecture 1889-1924 edited by Fred Hawtree.

[Billsteele]

Ron Kern-Did I sense a heavy Dylan influence when I played Purgatory? If so, what period of Dylan? Glad to see you your reading interests lean to the non-technical and more esoteric.

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