[Sean_A]

Many good choices have already been listed.  I would add:

Patric Dickinson - A Round of Golf Courses: The prose is every bit as good as Darwin's and the approach of 18 courses was unique for its time. Plus, there are some great little sketches demonstrating the lighter side of golf.

Another "tour" book that is essential - Donald Steel - Classic Golf Links...  Along with the World Atlas, it is at the top of the tree for this sort of thing.

Of course, Darwin's Golf Courses... should go without mention

Scott Macpherson's Evolution of the Old Course is a superb look at TOC - sort of a course history, but also a history of the reactions to technology

One that gets very little mention, Keith Mackie - Open Championship Courses

For a fascinating look back into the past - Horace Hutchinson - British Golf Links

R Goodale - Experience Royal Dornoch - the imagery is second to none - I only wish that if the series continues that he goes back to this "system"

The Finegan trilogy is excellent

I still haven't decided about some of the new "World Atlases", Planet Golf & Where Golf is Great.  The problem with Where Golf is Great is that it is too large to handle properly.  I still haven't decided about Edgworth de St Jorre's Legendary Golf Clubs trilogy, but they do pass along some good stories and more of a look into the clubs rather than the courses.

Ciao

[CJ Carder]

R Goodale - Experience Royal Dornoch - the imagery is second to none - I only wish that if the series continues that he goes back to this "system"

I second that completely.  I suspect one of my favorite books might get a bit of flack, but I also really enjoyed Curt Sampson's book on Augusta National.  I recognize that it needs to be taken with some salt in conjunction with other books on the club and the tournament, but this was one of the first books in my golf book collection so it has a sentimental value... I simply could not put it down.

[Ken Moum]

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.

My favorite is probably Grounds for Golf as it gives a newbie a way of looking at golf courses and critiqueing golf course design based on their own criteria.

As far as sources, I have gotten many on eBay, some directly from publishers, some from places like abebooks.com and hamiltonbook.com.

Right now http://www.hamiltonbook.com has some good ones, including Future of Golf, Golf Courses of the British Isles, Seventh at St Andrews, Golfin on The Worlds Most Exceptional Courses, St Andrews Sojourn all for $5 to $7.

Ken

[David Stamm]

For me, golf course architecture books begin and end with Thomas' book, with MacKenzie's own a close second (Spirit of St Andrews). Honestly, I was quite disaapointed Doak's book on the good doctor, but then again I'm a big AM fan and wanted some more "meat". For what it was designed to do, I understand why it was presented the way it was presented. Not to pick on Tom, but I have never thought much of The Confidential Guide either. Now The Anatomy of a Golf Course, that is a different story. A must. Uncle George's book on Chuck Mac is a fantastic book. And Shack's book on GT is just wonderful along w/ his Cypress Point history.

[Rob Rigg]

In terms of learning about the process of creating a golf course/resort, I thought "Dream Golf" was quite interesting.

I think that anyone who appreciates GCA will also appreciate what Mike Keiser has done at Bandon, and what needed to happen for the resort to ever come into existence is educational for anyone not in the business.

[Pete_Pittock]

With the exchange rate dropping all of Paul Daley's books are more affordable to the US market. Check out his Sandbelt book

Donald Steel's Classic Golf Links of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and Marlene Roeder's Courses withour Par in Australia are both great pictoral books with course maps, hole by holes.

[Thomas MacWood]

A couple of older books I enjoy often are Choice of Golf Courses by Frank Pennink and 25 Great Austrlian Golf Courses by Tom Ramsey. The re-print of British Golf Links by Horace Hutchinson is a classic. History of Golf in Britain by Guy Campbell, Bernard Darwin, et al is very interesting too. That last is a reprint too.

[Scott Macpherson]

I read golf books for different reasons;

For work and Reference (golf course design) I respect things like;
C&W 'The Architects of Golf'
Hurdzans; 'Golf Greens'
Daley's; 'Golf Architecture' Vol 1-4
Dodsons; Sustainable Golf Courses'

For additional reading I've enjoyed,
Hawtrees; 'Colt & Co'
Barretts; 'Golf Courses of the US Open'
Darwins; 'Golf Courses of the British Isles'
Shacklefords; 'The Future of Golf' (That was good fun)

But for just for a darned a good read I've liked,
Sarazens, 'Thirty Years of Championship Golf'
O'Conners; The Feeling of Greatness- the Moe Normon Story'
Nashs; series on stories from the Secretary of the Golf Club.

scott

[PCCraig]

These are some great suggestions guys, I have been googling like mad!

In the last day I have ordered Geoff's book on Cypress Point, Joel Z's book on Pete Dye, the 1976 copy of the World Atlas of Golf, and the new 2008 verson of the World Atlas of Golf.

[Tom Ferrell]

I'll add three to the generally excellent list being compiled...

Lines of Charm, by Geoff Shackelford:  A great collection of quotes from architects through the ages.

Routing the Golf Course, by Forrest Richardson:  A nuts and bolts look at laying out and building a course.

Bunkers, Pits and Other Hazards, by Forrest Richardson and Mark Fine:  A comprehensive look at hazards and their role in architecture.  Very, very good.

I don't think I saw The Links, by Robert Hunter, mentioned, either.  Bill Coore refers to it as the Bible of GCA.  Pretty good recommendation.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

No golf library is complete without 'My Life and Soft Times' by Henry Longhurst. It's his autobiography. There is not a lot of golf - his newspaper essays are published in other volumes, and well worth obtaining - but the humour, style and sharply-observed writing is entrancing. His description of Blondin at Niagara Falls is incomparable, and his observations on Lord Castleross at Killarney and Ballybunion is simply one of the funniest pieces of writing imaginable.

[Bob_Huntley]

No golf library is complete without 'My Life and Soft Times' by Henry Longhurst. It's his autobiography. There is not a lot of golf - his newspaper essays are published in other volumes, and well worth obtaining - but the humour, style and sharply-observed writing is entrancing. His description of Blondin at Niagara Falls is incomparable, and his observations on Lord Castleross at Killarney and Ballybunion is simply one of the funniest pieces of writing imaginable.

Mark,

Quite possibly my favorite book with a slight golfing bias.

Lord Castlerosse's admonition to his caddie after a foozled shot in his last game of golf was a gem.

"Caddie, retrieve the ball, destroy the clubs and leave the course."

Bob

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Bob, One of the funniest moments is the reaction of the air-raid warden after a raid in which their block of flats was bombed when they asked him what he did. But I'll not spoil it for those who have yet to read the book.

[Jason Topp]

No golf library is complete without 'My Life and Soft Times' by Henry Longhurst. It's his autobiography. There is not a lot of golf - his newspaper essays are published in other volumes, and well worth obtaining - but the humour, style and sharply-observed writing is entrancing. His description of Blondin at Niagara Falls is incomparable, and his observations on Lord Castleross at Killarney and Ballybunion is simply one of the funniest pieces of writing imaginable.

Mark and Bob:

I've never made it though that book.  With my Midwest American background I have no idea what he is talking about most of the time.  I had the same problem with a recent Churchill biography I attempted to read.

[J_ Crisham]

Legendary Clubs of The American East is a fine book. Offers great insight into  the premeir clubs in the East . Some very nice pictures as well.
                                                                Jack

[Bob_Huntley]

No golf library is complete without 'My Life and Soft Times' by Henry Longhurst. It's his autobiography. There is not a lot of golf - his newspaper essays are published in other volumes, and well worth obtaining - but the humour, style and sharply-observed writing is entrancing. His description of Blondin at Niagara Falls is incomparable, and his observations on Lord Castleross at Killarney and Ballybunion is simply one of the funniest pieces of writing imaginable.

Mark and Bob:

I've never made it though that book.  With my Midwest American background I have no idea what he is talking about most of the time.  I had the same problem with a recent Churchill biography I attempted to read.

My dear Jason,

Take the time to read it and digest it, you will be well rewarded by some of the best writing anywhere. I am not quite sure where the barrier lies but the language surely is not that much different from your norm.

Bob

[PCCraig]

Jack-

I have to agree on Legendary Clubs of The American East, the wirte up on TCC-Brookline is very good.

Bob / Mark - 

Your quotes are certainly funny, even though I'm not quite sure what you are talking about!

All-

I am still curious about various club histories. Does anyone on here collect them? I think that may be kind of neat to collect a few from some different clubs you admire.

[Jason Topp]

No golf library is complete without 'My Life and Soft Times' by Henry Longhurst. It's his autobiography. There is not a lot of golf - his newspaper essays are published in other volumes, and well worth obtaining - but the humour, style and sharply-observed writing is entrancing. His description of Blondin at Niagara Falls is incomparable, and his observations on Lord Castleross at Killarney and Ballybunion is simply one of the funniest pieces of writing imaginable.

Mark and Bob:

I've never made it though that book.  With my Midwest American background I have no idea what he is talking about most of the time.  I had the same problem with a recent Churchill biography I attempted to read.

My dear Jason,

Take the time to read it and digest it, you will be well rewarded by some of the best writing anywhere. I am not quite sure where the barrier lies but the language surely is not that much different from your norm.

Bob

Bob:

I will.  A long winter approaches. 

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