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Kalen Braley

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #50 on: November 25, 2019, 02:51:43 PM »
Kalen,

Apologies - I hadn't saved the update, but the link should have a 'None of the above option' now.

I'll close results in a few hours. If there are any more votes to be had, now is the time - it's tight at the moment.


Not a problem, I've cast my vote.


Thanks for putting this together Tim!

Frank Sekulic

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #51 on: November 25, 2019, 03:15:38 PM »
As someone who has a keen interest in course architecture but, not a depth of knowledge, I would welcome the chance to join the discussion

Tim Gallant

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #52 on: November 25, 2019, 03:30:25 PM »
As someone who has a keen interest in course architecture but, not a depth of knowledge, I would welcome the chance to join the discussion


Would love for you to join Frank! Fill in the survey if you have a second. At the moment, the results are tied  :o

David Jones

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #53 on: November 25, 2019, 04:26:13 PM »
Thanks Tim, count me in. Vote has been cast!

Frank Sekulic

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #54 on: November 25, 2019, 06:12:13 PM »
Took the survey and cast my vote

Tim Gallant

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #55 on: November 26, 2019, 04:27:27 AM »
THE RESULTS ARE IN!


It was neck and neck for a while, but a late surge of votes pushed one book over the top. But! Before we get there, it is worth noting that we had 60!!! votes, which is incredible, and I hope that if you're lurking or an infrequent poster that you join us.


In fact, one of the surprising points was that we all seem to be in a very similar boat. As you'll see from the below, only one book was read by more than 50% of participants (The Links) and 5 out of the 7 books have been read by less than 40% of us. And only one participant has read all seven books.





Therefore, I'd encourage us to see this book club as a genuine opportunity to grow our passion for GCA and talk about different ideas / theories / examples. And if you think you don't want to jump into the conversation because you don't know as much as others (as per the pizza guy), then just remember that we're all in a similar position!


Now onto the winner....




The book that we will read for the 2019 GCA Winter Book Club is: THE LINKS BY ROBERT HUNTER


While it was the most read book by those that took the survey, it was also the most requested as the book we read for the book club. One really neat point was that on several occasions, participants who had read The Links still nominated it as a book they wanted to read again. Surely a testament to the strength of the book.





Ian Galbraith posted a link where the book could be had for £11! If everyone aims to pick up the book over the coming weeks, that would be grand.


The date for the discussion of the book will be 27 January. I will send reminders on this thread, but then when it comes to the discussion thread, I will start a separate thread.


Enjoy reading and be sure to take notes (mental or otherwise) and we'll have good discussions, good debates and good times in January!

Luke Eipper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #56 on: November 26, 2019, 07:24:42 AM »
Terrific idea Tim. I've just purchased a copy via Amazon. Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.
Cheers
Luke

Frank Sekulic

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #57 on: November 26, 2019, 11:50:21 AM »
Ordered through Amazon this morning, looking forward to what I am sure will be a great discussion

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTION SURVEY LIVE!
« Reply #58 on: November 26, 2019, 12:05:58 PM »

The date for the discussion of the book will be 27 January. I will send reminders on this thread, but then when it comes to the discussion thread, I will start a separate thread.



I would suggest doing one chapter every few days, or something like that.


The foreword alone, and Hunter's story about playing golf with "Johnny Ball" at Hoylake, is worth its own discussion.  IMO it was experiences like that which gave Hunter the authority to write what he did, even though he was still a relative novice at golf course architecture.  But, then, I was a relative novice when I wrote my first two books, and so were Dr. MacKenzie and George Thomas, so maybe that's an important qualification!

Dave McCollum

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #59 on: November 26, 2019, 12:59:15 PM »
I missed this thread and was rather hoping we would pick The Links or the Wethered/Simpson both of which I own and have read, but a long time ago.  So, it will be interesting to see how I've changed.  Times fly.

Enno Gerdes

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #60 on: November 26, 2019, 01:04:12 PM »
Excellent! I bought The Links a year ago, and it’s been on my digital “to read” stack ever since. Now I definitely have a good reason to finally read it!

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #61 on: November 26, 2019, 01:56:27 PM »
Spoiler Alert.
The Butler did it!
Been at least ten years since I wallowed in the deliciousness that is The Links.
Count me in. My copy is ready and waiting.
F.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Colin Macqueen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #62 on: November 26, 2019, 03:19:57 PM »
Gentlemen,


A wonderful choice!


The Links was one of the first golf architecture books I bought after Golf Club Atlas. I didn't buy it because all of a sudden I recognised that this was a seminal tome ... oh no. I bought it because it seemed like an old book and I might as well read an early piece of golf course architecture writing. Also I was sooooooo taken with the first photo in the fly-leaf protected by a page of parchment! The incurable romantic in me got scotched for $25 back in 1980 but unwittingly I had bought a first edition.


It will be good fun reading it again, slowly and with purpose, knowing that all and sundry will be throwing their tuppence worth into the mix.


Cheers Colin
"Golf, thou art a gentle sprite, I owe thee much"
The Hielander

Dave McCollum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #63 on: November 26, 2019, 06:59:41 PM »
Curious about Hunter's biography, I stumbled on this article about his politics and golf.  Not that any of this should be relevant to our discussions nor the publisher of the piece which I know little about.  I'd always heard that Hunter was some kind of millionaire socialist, a skilled golfer, gifted writer, trusted MacKenzie partner, and a founding member of Cypress.  That always seemed like an unusual mixture of interests to me.


https://www.the-american-interest.com/2007/09/01/finding-the-fair-way/ 


mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #64 on: November 26, 2019, 07:37:35 PM »
 Sorry that I haven’t read all the posts.


 I have the book. Can I participate?
AKA Mayday

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #65 on: November 26, 2019, 08:54:47 PM »
Just ordered, I am in.

Michael Whitaker

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #66 on: November 26, 2019, 09:29:09 PM »
I'm in, Tim. Thanks for pulling this together.
Whit
 
"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #67 on: November 26, 2019, 09:46:38 PM »
Curious about Hunter's biography, I stumbled on this article about his politics and golf.  Not that any of this should be relevant to our discussions nor the publisher of the piece which I know little about. 


Thanks for this link, which I had not seen before.  I did not know that he had written a third book:  "Revolution:  How, Why, and When?"  I am going to see if I can find a copy of that one, as it seems particularly relevant right now.


I spend so much time thinking about politics these days that I sometimes wonder if I am going to live out Hunter's career, backwards.


John McCarthy

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #68 on: November 26, 2019, 10:23:45 PM »

dumb joke.  nevermind.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2019, 10:34:11 PM by John McCarthy »
The only way of really finding out a man's true character is to play golf with him. In no other walk of life does the cloven hoof so quickly display itself.
 PG Wodehouse

Kalen Braley

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #69 on: November 27, 2019, 12:13:25 PM »
Book is on order, i'm in too!


Some guy on Amazon is like "Holy hell these are moving like hot cakes all of a sudden"  ;D

Marty Bonnar

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Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #70 on: November 27, 2019, 12:18:35 PM »
Book is on order, i'm in too!


Some guy on Amazon is like "Holy hell these are moving like hot cakes all of a sudden"  ;D


I was thinking the exact same. Watch the price suddenly rocket!
 ;D
F.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Michael Whitaker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #71 on: November 27, 2019, 02:00:30 PM »
Book is on order, i'm in too!


Some guy on Amazon is like "Holy hell these are moving like hot cakes all of a sudden"  ;D


I was thinking the exact same. Watch the price suddenly rocket!
 ;D
F.
You can purchase a paperback on Ebay for $9.99: https://www.ebay.com/itm/173781575495

There is also an E-book version available through Google for $2.99:  https://books.google.com/books?id=z29yDwAAQBAJ
"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Mark Smolens

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #72 on: November 27, 2019, 11:59:54 PM »
Thanks for the eBay link. Very easy. Look forward to reading something not law related for a change

Jerry Kluger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #73 on: November 28, 2019, 01:10:08 PM »
I would like to participate - I will order the book this week.

Jerry Kluger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 2019/20 Winter GCA Book Club - BOOK SELECTED!!!!!!!!
« Reply #74 on: November 28, 2019, 01:38:18 PM »
I thought it sounded familiar - I have it and read it quite a few years ago - I look forward to reading it again.