[Frank Pont]

Now that we are almost finished with the building of my latest new course Swinkelsche, the client has asked me for what I think are the best / most beautiful stroke savers out there.

I think I like the pen drawn hole diagrams best, but I do also like the photo realistic diagrams based on aerials.

Did a quick search on this discussion board but did not find much.

Can you guys share some of your favorite style strokesavers with me? Much appreciated!

[Ben Jarvis]

Frank,

I like the artistic looking yardage books.

Based in UK/Europe, Graeme Heinrich does some good books - http://www.heinrichgolf.com/Club.html

Also, Mike Cocking (from Ogilvy Clayton) does some great sketch style books.

Hope this helps!

Ben

[Mark Pearce]

If I'm using a yardage book I want the information to be clear and easily accesible.  I find the books based on aerials quite hard to use.  I also prefer simple diagramatic illustrations with plenty of measuring points.  They may not be the most beautiful but they are very easy to use.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Frank, I agree entirely with Mark. I need glasses to read, but not to play golf (maybe I would play better if I did!). I find it a great nuisance if I cannot read the information on the page because it is embedded in dark background material. For my taste, the original simple Strokesavers were perfect. Also, as I carry the booklet in my back pocket, if the booklet is bulky (because of too many pages of advertisements) it can be a drawback, easily getting stuck in the pocket. If putting surfaces are very complex I am more likely to get some sort of clue about them by using my eyes, rather than trying to decode a complex diagram. I am very happy to find a simple factual comment from the pro such as 'drive down the left to open up a view of the green.' It is also useful if the pro advises 'Have a look at the pin position on the 9th as you leave the 7th tee. You won't see the bottom of the 9th flag as you play to it.'

[Matthew Mollica]

Hard to go past those by Michael Cocking, seen at www.golfrenderings.com.au

The Barnbougle, Kingston Heath and Commonwealth books are particularly attractive, and highly functional.

Matthew

[Scott Warren]

Another vote for Mike's books. Attractive and functional.

[David_Elvins]

Hard to go past those by Michael Cocking, seen at www.golfrenderings.com.au

The Barnbougle, Kingston Heath and Commonwealth books are particularly attractive, and highly functional.

Matthew

Agree Matthew,  The Kingston Heath book, in particular is a beautiful work of art.

[Tom_Doak]

Frank:

Homemade yardage books are much more attractive than the commercial ones.  Over the years, Don Placek and Michael Cocking have drawn them for several of our courses.  [I had a client recently who said he wanted one drawn by me; he had never seen one drawn by me!]

Unfortunately, it's difficult to get paid what you ought to get paid for doing a nice one.  Clients tend to look at is as part of the fee / marketing effort.  And the commerical companies can provide the "artwork" very inexpensively, because they are used to just churning it out.

[Michael Moore]

Frank -

David Cummings draws yardage books for me and does a wonderful job.

[Tim Gavrich]

I have always liked the black-and-white style of sketch-like yardage books that mimic those touring pros use.  Ones in glossy color are schlocky and often lacking in pertinent information.  If you're looking at a hole, it's obviously green(ish), so why does the yardage book need to reinforce this?

[Ben Stephens]

Frank,

Definitely Mike Cocking - I have been fortunate to see golf course layout plans by Mike at Ogilvy Clayton's office - they are unbelievably detailed and beautifully drawn which makes the hole stand out like a 3D on a flat paper!

Cheers
Ben

[Cristian]

Some are really nice looking, some are pedestrian, that is true.

As for ease of use, I find that with some course guides it is very hard to read the distances to fairway bunkers, doglegs and other hazards from the tee, because the distances are only given from the tips. This means not only extra calculating, but also often the angles from the medal tees are just different so you are left guessing exact distances anyway. A sure way to keep people contemplating in stead of golfing and hold up play.

Also I like the guides which read like a flipover, that you can put in your pocket at the right page without damaging the booklet. So you don't need to look up the corresponding page of the next hole every time you take the booklet out of your pocket again.

The biggest objection I have to course guides is that they delay play, because everybody stands around looking at them for too long. At the very least it should therefore be easy to use and read. That is even more important to me than having nice pictures or drawings.

St George's Hill have a very good strokesaver, one that meets above criteria, and you probably have it. If not:  It is printed by CourseGuide. Also I like the bandon course guides which the caddies use, but I couldn't get my caddie to sell me one.

www.courseguides.org
www.golfbusiness.com

[Simon Holt]

I urge you to find Lee Wybranski's details.

He does the 'old school' posters for the US Open, The Open, has just secured the course guide contract for The Old Course in St. Andrews, has done Merion, did the logo for Cabot....the list goes on and on.

I have met him a few times- super cool dude and extremely talented artist.  Group W Artworks is his company but it is hard to find them on the web.  Fire me a PM if you want me to get his email for you.

Simon

[Adrian_Stiff]

If I'm using a yardage book I want the information to be clear and easily accesible.  I find the books based on aerials quite hard to use.  I also prefer simple diagramatic illustrations with plenty of measuring points.  They may not be the most beautiful but they are very easy to use.

If your looking for which yardage books sell best this is the correct answer. Mr Average finds the more detailed ones with long lines depicting slopes not so easy, if you watch people they pick the sketch ones up in the pro shop but struggle to understand them and quietly pop them back. For the better golfer or more learned the sketch types seem better.

[Michael Moore]

If your looking for which yardage books sell best this is the correct answer. Mr Average finds the more detailed ones with long lines depicting slopes not so easy, if you watch people they pick the sketch ones up in the pro shop but struggle to understand them and quietly pop them back. For the better golfer or more learned the sketch types seem better.

"And so the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and complexity - rather than to fault the data for an excess of complication. Or, worse, to fault viewers for a lack of understanding." Edward Tufte, Envisioning Information, p. 53

[Jason Topp]

The Barnbougle book is probably my favorite.  I'm guessing that one might be Mike Cocking.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I saw one of the best last week at The Golf club of Scottsdale in Arizona.  My caddie had made his own.  He had gone to google earth and used an image gleaned from it for each hole. It really helped to see a real picture of the hole.

[Niall C]

If I'm using a yardage book I want the information to be clear and easily accesible.  I find the books based on aerials quite hard to use.  I also prefer simple diagramatic illustrations with plenty of measuring points.  They may not be the most beautiful but they are very easy to use.

If your looking for which yardage books sell best this is the correct answer. Mr Average finds the more detailed ones with long lines depicting slopes not so easy, if you watch people they pick the sketch ones up in the pro shop but struggle to understand them and quietly pop them back. For the better golfer or more learned the sketch types seem better.

Adrian

I wonder if there is different markets, eg. one for people like me who buy them as souvenirs but rarely refer to them in the course of the round, in which case well produced and attractive stroke savers "work" better than the more functional ones that some one might want if they were actually going to refer to them during a round. Perhaps people like me don't matter as we're going to buy the stroke saver anyway, I don't know.

I'll tell you what I do like though, is strokesavers which have background info on the club/course. I appreciate that perhaps there isn't much to tell by way of history on a new course but perhaps thats an opportunity to slip in some chat about the design ?

Niall

[Mike Benham]

Why are they called Stroke Savers?  Isn't that false marketing?

[John Mayhugh]

"And so the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and complexity - rather than to fault the data for an excess of complication. Or, worse, to fault viewers for a lack of understanding." Edward Tufte, Envisioning Information, p. 53

Would love to see ET's take on a yardage book.

I'm with Marks P & R above - the photo version is really tough to use.

[Benny Hillard]

One of the coolest yardage books I have ever seen is of The California Golf Club by Josh C.F Smith. Its all Oil paintings  
Unfortunately mine is back in Aus but perhaps someone here has a copy.

I'm also a massive fan of Mike Cocking's work both functional and pretty.

Benny

[Joel_Stewart]

Tommy Naccarato also does some very thoughtful work.

[Kris Shreiner]

Frank,

As Simon mentioned, Lee Wybranski's work is superb. His art, accompanying graphics and stylish text really pull it all together and deliver a classy, timeless look. He's big on the on-site visit to really capture the holes' moods. You'll be glad you tapped him.  

A gem of a guy as well, he really has a deep passion for the game and his efforts ooze that. IM me your direct email and I'll get you his cell and details.

Josh Smith and Mike Cocking also do quality books. A comparison of all three of the artists would certainly yield a style and useful yardage book choice for your client.

Cheers,
Kris

[Joe Bausch]

Hard to go past those by Michael Cocking, seen at www.golfrenderings.com.au

The Barnbougle, Kingston Heath and Commonwealth books are particularly attractive, and highly functional.

Matthew

Agree Matthew,  The Kingston Heath book, in particular is a beautiful work of art.

That book is awesome.  The best in my limited collection.

[Adrian_Stiff]

If I'm using a yardage book I want the information to be clear and easily accesible.  I find the books based on aerials quite hard to use.  I also prefer simple diagramatic illustrations with plenty of measuring points.  They may not be the most beautiful but they are very easy to use.

If your looking for which yardage books sell best this is the correct answer. Mr Average finds the more detailed ones with long lines depicting slopes not so easy, if you watch people they pick the sketch ones up in the pro shop but struggle to understand them and quietly pop them back. For the better golfer or more learned the sketch types seem better.

Adrian

I wonder if there is different markets, eg. one for people like me who buy them as souvenirs but rarely refer to them in the course of the round, in which case well produced and attractive stroke savers "work" better than the more functional ones that some one might want if they were actually going to refer to them during a round. Perhaps people like me don't matter as we're going to buy the stroke saver anyway, I don't know.

I'll tell you what I do like though, is strokesavers which have background info on the club/course. I appreciate that perhaps there isn't much to tell by way of history on a new course but perhaps thats an opportunity to slip in some chat about the design ?

Niall

Niall - I think there is a market for both at some clubs. At the lower end perhaps even the planner is nearly dead so the only market may be the souvenier one shortly. Our sales are down by more than 50% since sky caddies and DMDs have existed, I said this would happen a few years ago but no one thought it could be stopped. Its about a £4000 per year loss at the moment, probably is going to grow.

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