James Finegan's books on Ireland, England etc

[Andy Hughes]

Has anyone read any of Finegan's golf books, such as Emerald Fairways and Foam Flecked Seas, All Courses Great And Small, or Blasted Heath and Blessed Greens?
If so, what was your opinion? Entertaining read? Educational?  Good at ferretting out lesser known, good courses?  Are they architecture-related in any way?

   

[THuckaby2]

Andy:

1. MANY people here have read those, and they have been discussed in here many times.  In fact Tom Paul seems to be a personal friend of Finegan.

2. Most loved them, they are a fun read on top of holding much insight and valuable information, PARTICULARLY about ferreting out lesser-known courses.  In fact I don't recall any negative words about any of the books.

3. Heck yeah they have architectural value - Finegan's descriptions of the courses are chock-full of such.

The books are also pretty cheap.  If you are planning a trip over there, if you are interested in the courses over there, hell if you have any interest in golf over there at all, buy the books.  You won't regret it.

TH

[Jimmy Muratt]

They all are excellent reads.  James Finegan is a wonderful writer and makes you feel as if you are there with him throughout.  His goes into much detail regarding the golf courses and the towns and also includes some of his favorite places to stay.  What I really enjoy, are his profiles of some of the not-so-famous courses that really seem like must-sees.  Many of his favorites are those that many people haven't even heard of.  

He doesn't get into much detailed architectural discussion but, that's not really the point of the books.  He does discuss many courses hole-by-hole and highlights unique featues and playability of the holes.  All of his books are very highly recommended.

[THuckaby2]

Jimmy - you wouldn't call his hole by hole descriptions, and other course descriptions, to be architectural discussion?

I guess it depends on what one means by that term....

But that sure seems to qualify to me.

In any case, I'd have to guess - and in fact recall from previous discussions here about the books - that the books are enjoyed even by the most hard-core architecture nut.

Which I'm sure you agree with.

TH

[Mike_Sweeney]

Mr Finegan used to write the School newsletter at my niece's school in Rosemont, PA. It is my understanding from my sister that it was the eagerly anticipated by parents and students. My point being that you do not need to be a golfer to enjoy his books. He has a unique style, that I personally love.

[Tom Dunne]

Andy,

I think Finegan is definitely worth reading. Not everyone loves his prose style (it can come across as mannered), but I find him charming. I took "Blasted Heath" to Fife with me last summer and enjoyed reading his reviews before and after my rounds. His books are good armchair reading and are close-to-functional as guidebooks, even. And yes, he definitely covers some of the Silloth-on-Solways and Narin & Portnoos of the world. He'll wax poetic when the mood strikes him, but he's not just a cheerleader--his passage on Carnoustie is well-worth reading (even though I disagree with him there).  It's also worth pointing out, for what it's worth, that he's quite an accomplished golfer. I believe he is several times club champion at Philadelphia, and was senior club champion at Pine Valley.

[George Pazin]

...It's also worth pointing out, for what it's worth, that he's quite an accomplished golfer. I believe he is several times club champion at Philadelphia, and was senior club champion at Pine Valley.

The funny thing is that this doesn't really come across in his writing - by which I mean that he really divorces his own game from his discussion of courses. In fact, my recollection is that if you read his books without knowing anything about him he'll come across as a less than accomplished golfer.

Quite a contrast to many of the reviews we share on here.

[Andy Hughes]

Thanks all.  I was under the impression Finegan was supposed to be quite good, but then I saw several of his books for sale very cheaply and I thought I perhaps my impression was wrong.

[Bob_Huntley]

Quite frankly, James Finegan is my favorite golf writer. His books are almost like having a conversation with him at a local pub with a nice gin and tonic to hand.

After reading his first book, I was compelled to get his telephone number from 411 and call him up to say what a wonderful read it was. He was most gracious and not once did he convey or relate that he could play a mean game.  

Bob

[Andy Hughes]

For those interested, here is a search from pricegrabber.com for Finegan's books on golf. Amazing how cheap they are.

Click here to go to the search page
I've just ordered the ones on Scotland and Ireland.

[Jason Topp]

My last two trips to play links golf, I have found Finegan's books to be be the resource I would use each day to read about the upcoming course.  

The perspective he has is that he enjoys quirky courses with blind shots and steep dunes as opposed to straightforward tests of golf where the challenges are visible.  Thus, he likes Prestwick but does not think highly of Troon (other than the holes at the end of the course).  I completely agree with his viewpoint but others I have travelled with dislike some of the gimmicky holes that he applauds.

[Jimmy Muratt]

Tom,

My point was that Finegan doesn't get into "detailed" architectural discussion.  By "detailed" I mean specific strategies required, playing angles, etc.  That is why the books are really so good and can appeal to such a broad audience.  Even the casual golfer who has no real interest in golf course architecture can pick up "Emerald Fairways and Foam Flecked Seas" before their trip to Ireland and enjoy every page of it.  

[Tom Dunne]

George,

You're absolutely right--I found that out well after the fact, and he is in fact modest to a fault in his books. The reader is much more likely to learn about the course in question, his (often colorful) playing partners, and the mutton (or whatever) in the pub down the street than about the nine-iron Finegan hit to tap-in range on #14. It's great stuff.

Finegan also produced a massive tome on the history of golf in Philadelphia, which I've never seen. Anyone have comments on that one?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

His books are just great and convey honest dependable information. I have not foound anything that I disagree with in his books. The Scotland and Ireland books are better in my opinion. The England one is lacking somehow or not up to the standards of the other two. I met him in St. Andrews in September 2001. He is a delightful man and we visited for a few hours which led to a few more hours with Tip Anderson joining us. Yes what a great day it was. I will play any course he speaks well of and stay in any hotel as well.

[Bill Gayne]

As I said on an earlier Darwin thread, I think Finegan's books about golf in the British Isles really serves as a sequel to "Golf Courses of the British Isles." In that both writers use great literary style and prose. The books aren't so much a review of golf courses or course guide. Rather they tell about the golf experience, the unique customs, and traditions of golf at the different locations.

Much like Darwin, readers will be seeking out these books eighty-years from now because of the literary style and as a historical record of golf in the culture of the British Isles at the end of the twentieth century. While most other contemporary golf guides will be forgotten.

[Thomas_Brown]

Hi Andy,
  I just finished England & Wales and thought it was a very good read.

[Yancey_Beamer]

The books are an essential guide book for links golf.
The other book is The Confidential Guide.
Also,I have the Philadelphia book,such detail!

[Lloyd_Cole]

Taken as a series of three, trilogy, or whatever you want to call it, his books may well be the best guide to links golf you can buy. His writing is excellent, for the most part, the bourgeois vacation anecdotes are rarely annoying and often amusing. His descripion of Foxy at Dornoch made me want to visit a course more than anything I've read. Darwin and Dobereiner being dead, he is pretty much my hero.

[Tags:]

Tags: