Rich’s book entitled Pinehurst ~ Home of American Golf (The Evolution of a Legend) traces the growth of golf in Pinehurst for over a century. In doing so, it tracks the evolution of golf course design in America (limited golf of interest pre-1900, then the Golden Age when Pinehurst built/secured its reputation, then the Depression and the Second World War followed by a re-birth in golf course construction driven by home construction sales in the late 1950s). Rich's research is first rate and contains all kinds of new information (the crucial role that manure played in its (Pinehurst’s – not this Discussion Group’s
) growth, Dr. Leroy Culver’s early involvement, Diamondhead’s impact on the greens at No. 2
, etc.
Just as impressive as the final book is the fact that Rich backed himself after listening to, then discarding, ten different publishers and their constraints (must be ready for the 05 U.S. Open, no more than 250 pages, illustrations must be in black and white and/or as plates in the middle of the book). Rich felt that to do the subject matter justice, it required color photos (he ended up using ~280) as well as numerous overlays (here, he ended up with 17) as well as drawings/maps (another 24). Thus, he made the tough decision to self-publish.
At this point, he already had several years invested in the project but to have to go out of pocket close to $50,000
was an act of ENORMOUS courage and conviction. As Lee Trevino once said about the Skins Game, playing for other people’s money really isn’t pressure – put your own money on the line and that’s a different proposition.
Thankfully for Rich (and his wife and son!), sales have gone very well since the book was released in July during the Women’s Open at Pine Needles. Indeed, Rich has sold over 1,420 copies and recovered his cash outlay. Though he still has over 1,000 copies from the first print run to sell, he’ll be lucky to make more than minimum wage given all the time that he invested (I say this as we have lunch together every other week and I have a sense of the hundreds of hours that he poured into this project).
However, like all who elect to participate in writing golf books, it’s never about the money. As witness to that, at the end of the Feature Interview, Rich gives GCAer’s a purchase discount should you order the book through him this holiday season.
Perhaps Pinehurst ~ Home of American Golf will drive some more business to his real job of golf course architect. His answer to question eighteen is the book’s epilogue and it paints an enticing vision for the kind of golf that so many of us like – hopefully, he will get his chance to build it one of these days. In the meanwhile, he has done the game a great service by bringing so much interesting, well researched information together in one handsomely bound edition.
Cheers,