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PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Golf Library
« on: October 22, 2008, 02:12:01 PM »
Good morning everyone

With all this talk of new golf books being released by GCA members, it got me thinking about my own library of golf books and how it has been so long since I have added to it. I am curious to hear what books you guys have that you a) enjoy the most and b) use the most often.

A few of mine are probably the following –

1)   Lost Links – I love the write ups of NLE courses
2)   The Evangelist of Golf – CB McDonald
3)   The Anatomy of a Golf Course – T. Doak

Anyone have any others?
H.P.S.

Phil_the_Author

Re: Golf Library
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2008, 02:22:44 PM »
Tillinghast: Creator of Golf Courses... but that's just me!  ;D

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2008, 02:38:07 PM »
I'm only guessing that many on here will list the Confidential Guide. But perhaps what I am also most interested in are books that may not be written about often on here but are valued in your collection.
H.P.S.

Mike Demetriou

Re: Golf Library
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2008, 02:42:44 PM »
Golf Course Architecture: A Worldwide Perspective Vols 1, 2 and 4 are terrific. I read them often, and there are a TON of familiar names that contribute.  I suspect Volume 3 is equally excellent, but I cannot find it stateside, and I'm not yet ready to pay $100 for it, until I exhaust my used book shop remedies.

I think I've seen Paul Daley post here often about his works, but his site can be found below:

http://www.fullswinggolf.com.au/index_general.asp?menuid=070

Jon Spaulding

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2008, 02:56:06 PM »
In no order:

The Captain (or any other Shacklebooks)
Golf Arch in America
LACC club history
Missing Links

The ones you already mentioned are quite solid.

You'd make a fine little helper. What's your name?

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2008, 02:58:15 PM »
I remember seeing in the past various club histories being sold on EBay. I once read a friend's copy of Pine Valley's History and was hooked to the book. Are there any Histories that you love to read and know if they are copies available somewhere (EBay?).
H.P.S.

John Foley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2008, 03:25:47 PM »
The Evangalist of Golf IMHO is the best.

Great details on the architecture and the stories behind it.

Just waiting for Vol 2 & 3 :)

Brad Kliens book on Ross & Tom Doak's book on McKenzie are also world class.

Paul Daley's volumes are can not miss.

The Lost & Missing Links by Daniel Wexler are great.

On the cluib history side Pine Valley is very good while the Oakmont is good, but not much architectural details. I liked the Kittansett one on the development of the course & area. The Making of Sebonack was great also.

The Merion one is very good, but I am NOT going there!
Integrity in the moment of choice

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2008, 03:39:34 PM »
For a book you can read again, and again, and again and never tire of it.

 

« Last Edit: October 22, 2008, 03:47:46 PM by Kalen Braley »

Ken Moum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2008, 03:45:09 PM »
I hate to admit it, but the books in my library most likely to get multiple reads are by Dan Jenkins.

Anyway, I have also gone back for a second look at:

Cliff Robert's history of ANGC
Shackelford's Grounds for Golf and Lines of Charm
Doak's Anatomy of a Golf Course

Ken
Over time, the guy in the ideal position derives an advantage, and delivering him further  advantage is not worth making the rest of the players suffer at the expense of fun, variety, and ultimately cost -- Jeff Warne, 12-08-2010

Ted Kramer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2008, 03:45:59 PM »
Tillinghast's, "The Course Beautiful"

-Ted

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2008, 03:55:31 PM »
According to Amazon.com T. Doak's McKenzie book is almost as rare as the confidential guide. Does anyone know why that is? Has anyone found a copy recently for less than $800?

Just out of curiosity, why is the Confidential Guide and The McKenzie Book so sought after while Anatomy of a Golf Course is so easy to find for a reasonable price?
H.P.S.

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2008, 04:21:44 PM »
According to Amazon.com T. Doak's McKenzie book is almost as rare as the confidential guide. Does anyone know why that is? Has anyone found a copy recently for less than $800?

Just out of curiosity, why is the Confidential Guide and The McKenzie Book so sought after while Anatomy of a Golf Course is so easy to find for a reasonable price?

Pat,

I have The McKenzie book as well and luckily my wife picked it up for a xmas present a few years back and it was only $50-60 IIRC.  I had no clue they were going for that much now....however it would take a lot more than that for me to sell, its a damn good book.  ;D

As for Anatomy, I can only speculate that its still in print or was until fairly recently.

Eric Franzen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2008, 04:23:27 PM »
Just out of curiosity, why is the Confidential Guide and The McKenzie Book so sought after while Anatomy of a Golf Course is so easy to find for a reasonable price?

They are out of print while Anatomy of a Golf Course still is available from the publisher.


PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2008, 04:36:03 PM »
What do you all like so much about T. Doak's McKenzie book?
H.P.S.

Eric Franzen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2008, 04:41:07 PM »
What do you all like so much about T. Doak's McKenzie book?

It provides a really solid mixture of biographical writing and in-depth analysis of MacKenzie's architectural work.

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #15 on: October 22, 2008, 04:45:50 PM »
My golf library is collecting dust.

I have many years of Golf Digest Volumns and Golf Magazine that I'm getting ready to dispose of. Anyone want them?

I think I got about 16 years worth.

Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #16 on: October 22, 2008, 04:51:28 PM »
Does T. Doak cover the majority of McKenzie's courses, or does he focus on any few in particular? Sounds like a fantastic book.

I know the confidential guide isn't being published anytime soon because of industry specific reasons, but why isn't the McKenzie book still in publication? Did it not sell well?
H.P.S.

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2008, 04:56:18 PM »
Does T. Doak cover the majority of McKenzie's courses, or does he focus on any few in particular? Sounds like a fantastic book.

I know the confidential guide isn't being published anytime soon because of industry specific reasons, but why isn't the McKenzie book still in publication? Did it not sell well?

It covers a pretty wife swath of his work, including all his best stuff.  But additionally it gives lots of good background information on him and where he was from, his upbringing, etc.  It really is very well done and complemented nicely with some great photos.

Its a hybrid of sorts...a coffee book in size and being a hardcover, but certainly a book you want to dive in to with lots to study and read.

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2008, 05:08:51 PM »
Geez- I guess I am too young and totally missed the "Tom Doak: Author" period.

Where do most of you purchase your golf books? Online? There seems to be huge collections of used books for sale on various sites.
H.P.S.

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #19 on: October 22, 2008, 05:30:31 PM »
The Essentials IMO:

Missing Links
World Atlas of Golf (1st Edition)
The Spirit of St. Andrews
The Anatomy of a Golf Course
Any Book by Geoff Shackleford
The Ross, MacDonald, and Mackenzie Biographies
Rough Meditations


Others I Own but read less:

Golf Has Never Failed Me
Golf Architecture in America
Scotland's Gift
The Golf Course
Golf Course Architecture
The Architectural Side of Golf

One I want to own (badly):

The Confidential Guide
The Architects of Golf

« Last Edit: October 22, 2008, 05:40:24 PM by JNC_Lyon »
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #20 on: October 22, 2008, 05:33:03 PM »
JNC-

I am interested in Geoff Shackleford's writing, which of his books are your favorite? He seems to of written a large number of them according to amazon.
H.P.S.

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #21 on: October 22, 2008, 05:39:26 PM »
The Golden Age of Golf Course Design really got me into the details of golf course architecture along with the World Atlas of Golf and Missing Links.  These three books cover all of the greats and are fantastic starting points.  Rough Meditations is less essential for hard golf course architecture info, but it is really fun to read.

Grounds for Golf is excellent, although Anatomy is a similar book that is probably more important.

the Future of Golf in America is totally different from most of Shackleford's other books, but it too is a revealing and interesting read.

Anything else is awesome.  I feel like Geoff Shackleford really defines the perspective on golf with which I am most familiar.  His ideas (along with those in Rough Meditations) are broadly representative of the reasons for and ideas of this website.
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #22 on: October 22, 2008, 05:39:48 PM »
JNC-

I am interested in Geoff Shackleford's writing, which of his books are your favorite? He seems to of written a large number of them according to amazon.

I've got 3 of them. 

Grounds for Golf - very good
AM's Cypress Point - Excellent
The Good Dr. Returns - A little hokey but a fun read.

I would highely recommend his books as IMO, his writing style is very flowing, well written, and easy to follow.

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #23 on: October 22, 2008, 05:56:46 PM »
Interesting question;

What would everyone here consider the most "important" golf books ever written?
H.P.S.

Charlie Goerges

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf Library
« Reply #24 on: October 22, 2008, 05:57:11 PM »
My multiple-reads include the usual suspects:

The Anatomy of a Golf Course by Tom Doak (this has been my most useful book for researching the construction of a golf course)

Grounds for Golf by Geoff Shackelford (an enjoyable book with a lot more historical and classic course information)

Scotland's Gift by C.B. Macdonald (also fun and interesting but sometimes covers information that I don't really care about to the exclusion of information I'd have an interest in)


One unlikely book I've returned to, that I wouldn't necessarily recommend, is Golf By Design by Robert Trent Jones Jr. I go back to it because it provides a number of good images/sketches to illustrate the concepts in it. In fact, even if the concept doesn't seem terribly well explained, sometimes the image tells the story all on its own.

Now, not all of the images are great, and the photographs often seem to have been chosen more with an eye to making sure a diverse array of the author's courses were included than with the intent of finding the best example of a given concept.

Also, one must note that this book is not meant to be like the others; no real discussion of design (which to me is the process of accumulating a vocabulary and then making choices) is undertaken. And somewhat tangential, whenever the author discussed his contemporaries' work he often seemed to be damning with faint praise. One unqualified compliment he made was about Tom Doak, though it was quite short:

"Good examples of a Redan Hole:

Tom Doak, High Pointe Golf Club"

At $3.99 I couldn't pass it up.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2008, 05:59:52 PM by Charlie Goerges »
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

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