Reading Suggestions - new Atlas members

[John_Conley]

Unlike some here, I don't think Ran's child has jumped the shark just because the site was written about in "Golf Plus".  It could lead us to tremendous new blood.  Perhaps it will even cause the Pizza Man to shed the shyness and post a few.

Because all introduced to GolfClubAtlas.com have varied familiarity with the discipline of golf course architecture, I think it is a great time to share titles of books we found particularly interesting and briefly state why.  I think it would be great if it leads to more sales on Amazon or your favorite site and a higher common base for all GCA members.

"The Confidential Guide" by TOM DOAK: Cover-to-cover discussion about golf courses worldwide from a guy who has seen plenty and likes to talk about golf courses.

"Discovering Donald Ross" by BRADLEY KLEIN:  As much a biography about the man as it is a bood about his courses.  A painstaking effort well worth the wait we endured before it was printed!

"Rough Meditations" also by BRADLEY KLEIN:  A collection of short essays in an easy to digest format.  You'll learn as much about the tastes of the man who penned it as you will about the sometimes obscure courses (Astoria and the Orchards are hardly Oakland Hills and Riviera) covered.

"Missing Links" by DANIEL WEXLER:  Nothing to do with Evolution.  A fascinating, yet brief, account of courses that didn't make it to the 21st Century.

Feel free to add more that you like.  I may even look through the bookcase to come up with a couple more worth recommending.  To purchase, a lot are available direct from Sleeping Bear Press as well as Amazon or your favorite internet book retailer.

[Craig Van Egmond]

In addition to those listed above these are some of my favorites:

The Anatomy of a Golf Course -  Tom Doak

Golden Age of Golf Design - Geoff Shackelford

Golf Architecture - Alister Mackenzie

The Links - Robert Hunter

The Architects of Golf - Cornish/Whitten

[schoeller]

Two of my favorites that have not been mentioned yet are Scotland's Gift, Golf by CB MacDonald and Golf Architecture in America by George Thomas.

[George Pazin]

Just read the course profiles - they convey the thoughts of a GCA lover more clearly than just about anything else.

Can't go wrong with anything by Geoff Shackelford or Tom Doak...

[SoLa_in_NoIll]

Although I'm a new member, I thought I'd share another one:

While not a book specifically devoted to architecture, Driving the Green by John Strawn is a very interesting read about the making of a course in West Palm Beach called Ironhorse.  The author was an associate of Arthur Hills at the time (not sure if he still is), and he chronicled the entire process of making the course, from the original idea and vision of the developer to finished product.  It is more a tale of the trials and tribulations associated with the whole process than an analysis of course architecture, but it is well worth the read for anyone interested in architecture and, especially, course development.  

Please note that this book recommendation is in no way a comment on Arthur Hills and his design philosphies/principles (or lack thereof?).  

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

All of the above are great.

Cornish's new book 18 Stakes on a Sunday afternoon, is a good overview.

New World Atlas of golf.

Just about anything by Sleeping Bear Press.

[Michael_Burrows]

How about

Bury Me in a Pot Bunker by Pete Dye

The Life and Work of Dr. Alister Mackenzie by Tom Doak/Dr. James S Scott/ Raymund M. Haddock

I have learn alot from these two books

[Joel_Stewart]

Read on this web site the feature interviews.  
George Bahtos interview may be helpful if you don't know some basic architectural terms.

[SoLa_in_NoIll]

In addition to these books, Links - The Best of Golf is a good magazine primarily devoted to architecture.  In addition to features of courses and architects (both current and classic), it is one of the most picturesque magazines around.

For an example of its coverage, the Jan/Feb issue had articles on changes to Ross designs over the years, explaining Seth Raynor "standards" and the monthly submission by player/architect/contributor Nick Faldo.  

[Slag_Bandoon]

 Strokesaver for Prestwick, The Old Course, etcetera.  Hire a caddy anyway.

  In order of which to read first to hopefully not last, as introduction to golf architecture...In my humble opinion  (IMHO)

   Anatomy of a Golf Course.                     Tom Doak
   Rough Meditations.                               Brad Klein
   The Golden Age of Golf Course Design.     Geoff Shackelford
   Golf Course Design                    Robert Graves and Geoffrey Cornish
   Fountainhead                                       Ayn Rand
   Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch       Michael Jackson
  
  
  

[Slag_Bandoon]

  As stated, there is plenty of information to be read and seen right here at this site with Courses, Interviews, In My Opinion (Tom MacWood's is an education), My Home Course, etc.   Explore this multi-faceted gem.  It's strategically laid out for continuous enjoyment.    

[Slap at it]

From a newbie and at the risk of near repitition...I really recommend:

"Masters of the Links" by Geoff Schackelford
"The Course Beautiful" by A.W. Tillinghast

and of course many of the home club books about individual courses...i.e. History of Royal Dornoch, Pine Valley Golf Club History, etc...


Love GCA

[Jeff_Lewis]

To find out what a golf course is supposed to look like...

Alister Mackenzie's Cypress Point by Geoff Shackelford

[John_Conley]

Forgot a brillant book, and I don't even live in New York!

"Golf Courses of the Met Section" by Dr. Bill Quirin:  A brief course history of New York's best courses, of which there are a bunch.  Short information on the rest.  Great photography.