Golf books you'd like to see written

[Mike Hendren]

A few for starters - more to come later:
Cheater Lines, Brat Slippage and the Reverse Jans – Tales of a Modern-Day Shivas by Dave Schmidt
Jibber Jabber on the Links by Tom Doak.  Forward by Mr. T.
Monterrey Money Games – Famously Fleeced by a Game of Wolf with Uncle Bob.
Even my Bag is Tight – Confessions of Golf’s Beau Brummel by Jeff Fortson
How to Putt Like a Pro Without Pulling Your Groin by Tony Muldoon.
Musings of a Mad Man – The Writings of Golf’s Favorite Armenian by Gyro Golf
Laying Up – You Too Can Be a Chicken Shi*t by David Moriarty.
Taking a Poke at Doak (and everyone else) by John Kavanaugh.
Pebble Beach’s Rabbit, The Pizza Man and Pine Valley’s Proctologist – The Early Tales of GolfClubAtlas.com
Farmer Architecture and the Myth of Donald J. Ross by Mike Young.
You Too Can Shoot 90 – Strategies for Those with No F**king Talent by Bogey Hendren

[Niall C]

You Too Can Shoot 90 – Strategies for Those with No F**king Talent by Bogey Hendren

Bogey


Would like me to write the Foreword ?


Niall

[mark chalfant]

Architects:  Herbert Strong,  Orrin Smith, Nipper Campbell

[Bruce Katona]

1. "Best Fully Verified Caddy Stories from Those Who Have Slogged and Trudged with The Best on Tour & The Worst at The Resort" - Volume 1 -Scotland, Volume 2 USA, Volume 3 World


2. "Behind the Curtain at The PGA/DP Tour - All True Stories". This one could be four volumes, with Volume 1 from just real happenings at the annual Masters Champions Dinner, but likely would be a pamphlet since no one would want to take credit/blame for giving away closely guarded secrets. 

[Niall C]

Architects:  Herbert Strong,  Orrin Smith, Nipper Campbell

Mark


Interesting you suggest Alex "Nipper" Campbell as a subject for a book. I know a bit about him as a golfer, and in particular a wee bit of his origin story in Scotland but nothing about any design work he did. What can you tell me about him ?


Niall

[Phil Young]

Niall, he designed the Moraine Country Club In Kettering, Ohio. I love that course and how it rolls throughout the valley it was built in. It is worth the effort to play it.

[Tom Buggy]

How about a biography of Alex Findlay. He was all of a player, teacher, course architect, club maker and collector, and excelled in all of them. I imagine that his personal life, which began by being born at sea, is interesting as well. Plus, he was touted by his contemporaries as "The Father of American Golf."

[George Pazin]

Been away so long that I don't know if this book has already been written - and if it has, I'd appreciate someone letting me know - but I'd be interested in seeing Dream Golf (the story of Bandon) expanded to including ALL of the more recent efforts by Mr. Keiser: Sand Valley, the many Cabot courses, etc.


I've been watching YouTube videos of many courses, since I've been somewhat homebound financially and physically, and I'm still drawn to Sheep Ranch, the original.


I'd also like to see Mike Nuzzo and Don Mahaffey write a book about Wolf Point.


P.S. I'm a little hurt I didn't warrant a desired pamphlet by Bogey...

[Tommy Williamsen]

Been away so long that I don't know if this book has already been written - and if it has, I'd appreciate someone letting me know - but I'd be interested in seeing Dream Golf (the story of Bandon) expanded to including ALL of the more recent efforts by Mr. Keiser: Sand Valley, the many Cabot courses, etc.


I've been watching YouTube videos of many courses, since I've been somewhat homebound financially and physically, and I'm still drawn to Sheep Ranch, the original.


I'd also like to see Mike Nuzzo and Don Mahaffey write a book about Wolf Point.


P.S. I'm a little hurt I didn't warrant a desired pamphlet by Bogey...

They this. It is a fun read.


https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Game-Links-Bandon-Beyond/dp/0525658599/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=NX2LS901POX0&keywords=mike+keiser+golf+book&qid=1707943806&sprefix=mike+keiser%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-3

[George Pazin]

Many thanks, Tommy, I have been so disconnected for so long, I did not know of that book.


I hope we can hook up someday, I’d love to put a face to your terrific posts.

[Peter Sayegh]

A detailed accounting of maintenance costs...
and how much could be saved if the golfer accepted "playable/sporty" conditions in any season.

[Ian Andrew]

Golf Design's version of Ball Four.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Niall, he designed the Moraine Country Club In Kettering, Ohio. I love that course and how it rolls throughout the valley it was built in. It is worth the effort to play it.

Moraine will be site of this summer’s Western Am.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Golf Design's version of Ball Four.

Quite different from BALL FOUR, but still Tony Lema’s GOLFERS’ GOLD, is a good peek at the behind the scenes world of a pro golfer (of that time).




Some other books I have always wanted were anthologies of Charles Price & Herbert Warren Wind articles, not already in books.  Most of HWW’s Masters articles are all in books, but many of his other golf writings are still only available in New Yorker & SI archives.


Similarly, Charles Price has many great columns done for Golf magazine & Golf Digest, never published in book form.


And both writers discussed intelligently golf course architecture.




Finally, I bet the USGA could create a great anthology of excellent writings from old pages of Golf Journal.

[Garland Bayley]

Many thanks, Tommy, I have been so disconnected for so long, I did not know of that book.


I hope we can hook up someday, I’d love to put a face to your terrific posts.

I didn't know about the book either.
Tommy, Send George a picture.

[Garland Bayley]

Bill Diddle, Pete Dye mentor and designer of bunker-less golf courses.
A. V. Macan has had a book written about him.
How about equal treatment for his cohort E. Chandler Egan. Perhaps Waverley's history will have a bit on them.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Many thanks, Tommy, I have been so disconnected for so long, I did not know of that book.


I hope we can hook up someday, I’d love to put a face to your terrific posts.

I didn't know about the book either.
Tommy, Send George a picture.

]

[Jeff Schley]

"PITA - Never ending opinions and changes from green committees and golf club owners"
Let the designer, design. Sometimes it seems like a golf design order. Like to hear some of the best candid stories naming names and courses, we hear some here and are intriguing behind the scenes glimpses. From those who are retired as a tell all would likely hurt future business.

[Joe Zucker]

Thanks a lot for sharing those Tommy. I had not seen the Tillinghast book.  Bury Me in a Pot Bunker looks familiar, but I've never read it so I'll rectify that.  However, it's 25 years old so maybe time for an update!

I have recently gone back to Mr. Dye's book a couple of times for research as to what he said about Crooked Stick and Harbour Town.  It's a better book than I remembered . . . a lot of it is in Pete's own words.  He maybe doesn't get into as much detail as some would want, but I don't know who could possibly add anything to it, other than maybe a coffee table edition with photos of the courses.  [It doesn't have any photos of his work.]

I don't understand why all the references to Pete on this thread ignore that fellow member Joel Zuckerman wrote and published such a book: Pete Dye Golf Courses Fifty Years of Visionary Design.

Probably because we didn't know it existed?  I just bought a copy, thanks for sharing!

I just finished reading the very similarly named Joel Zuckerman's book Pete Dye Golf Courses Fifty Years of Visionary Design and thought I'd share my thoughts.  It's a really nice book with a lot of great pictures.  I really enjoyed the background on how each course came to be, as well as the details on Pete's various relatives in the design business.

My one complaint - It was a bit too positive on many lesser courses.  For example, if I were just reading the books and had never played any courses, it would be tough to tell that Sawgrass or Harbour Town are better than a number of his lesser courses.  Overall, definitely worth the $10 it's going for online.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Thanks a lot for sharing those Tommy. I had not seen the Tillinghast book.  Bury Me in a Pot Bunker looks familiar, but I've never read it so I'll rectify that.  However, it's 25 years old so maybe time for an update!

I have recently gone back to Mr. Dye's book a couple of times for research as to what he said about Crooked Stick and Harbour Town.  It's a better book than I remembered . . . a lot of it is in Pete's own words.  He maybe doesn't get into as much detail as some would want, but I don't know who could possibly add anything to it, other than maybe a coffee table edition with photos of the courses.  [It doesn't have any photos of his work.]

I don't understand why all the references to Pete on this thread ignore that fellow member Joel Zuckerman wrote and published such a book: Pete Dye Golf Courses Fifty Years of Visionary Design.

Probably because we didn't know it existed?  I just bought a copy, thanks for sharing!

I just finished reading the very similarly named Joel Zuckerman's book Pete Dye Golf Courses Fifty Years of Visionary Design and thought I'd share my thoughts.  It's a really nice book with a lot of great pictures.  I really enjoyed the background on how each course came to be, as well as the details on Pete's various relatives in the design business.

My one complaint - It was a bit too positive on many lesser courses.  For example, if I were just reading the books and had never played any courses, it would be tough to tell that Sawgrass or Harbour Town are better than a number of his lesser courses.  Overall, definitely worth the $10 it's going for online.

[Garland Bayley]

Tommy beat me to it

[Joe Zucker]

Thanks for fixing that Tommy

[JC Urbina]

Tommy,


I have long studied golf course architecture from old books and magazines and assumed that what was written in the books to be factual.  But as I have learned recently there is always more to the story than the printed material reveals. 


I just found out that both Bill Coore and Lee Schmidt worked together at Casa De Campo for Pete.  Pete Dye's name is on the record books and P.B Dye was also down there among others.  I know Pete was a genius,  but man would I like to know what Bill and Lee got out of the project and what they took with them to their projects years after they left the Teeth Of The Dog.  I know they were young and novices but Pete was always willing to listen and watch shapes come out of the ground, what did Lee and Bill touch and make better or at least make Pete take a second look. 


We now know that Seth Raynor gets his due credit for the works of C. B Macdonald and as far as I am concerned  Robert Hunter was the foundation that help build Alister Mackenzie's fame in the U.S.


But


How about the story of the guys who helped Tom Fazio or Jack Nicklaus create their works of Art.  Who traveled to the ends of the earth to help Jones Sr or his two sons create their designs.


You get a few mentions of names like Orin Smith, Dean Woods who helped their mentors but I know there is countless others.


That's the book I want to read as Paul Harvey always said and now The Rest of the Story

[Adam Lawrence]

Tommy,

I have long studied golf course architecture from old books and magazines and assumed that what was written in the books to be factual.  But as I have learned recently there is always more to the story than the printed material reveals. 

I just found out that both Bill Coore and Lee Schmidt worked together at Casa De Campo for Pete.  Pete Dye's name is on the record books and P.B Dye was also down there among others.  I know Pete was a genius,  but man would I like to know what Bill and Lee got out of the project and what they took with them to their projects years after they left the Teeth Of The Dog.  I know they were young and novices but Pete was always willing to listen and watch shapes come out of the ground, what did Lee and Bill touch and make better or at least make Pete take a second look. 

We now know that Seth Raynor gets his due credit for the works of C. B Macdonald and as far as I am concerned  Robert Hunter was the foundation that help build Alister Mackenzie's fame in the U.S.

But

How about the story of the guys who helped Tom Fazio or Jack Nicklaus create their works of Art.  Who traveled to the ends of the earth to help Jones Sr or his two sons create their designs.

You get a few mentions of names like Orin Smith, Dean Woods who helped their mentors but I know there is countless others.

That's the book I want to read as Paul Harvey always said and now The Rest of the Story

Jim

That's not a bad idea. You couldn't possibly do a book about one architect's associate(s) and expect it to sell enough to cover its costs, I don't think, but a volume called 'The Sidekicks' might just wipe its feet.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Tommy,


I have long studied golf course architecture from old books and magazines and assumed that what was written in the books to be factual.  But as I have learned recently there is always more to the story than the printed material reveals. 


I just found out that both Bill Coore and Lee Schmidt worked together at Casa De Campo for Pete.  Pete Dye's name is on the record books and P.B Dye was also down there among others.  I know Pete was a genius,  but man would I like to know what Bill and Lee got out of the project and what they took with them to their projects years after they left the Teeth Of The Dog.  I know they were young and novices but Pete was always willing to listen and watch shapes come out of the ground, what did Lee and Bill touch and make better or at least make Pete take a second look. 


We now know that Seth Raynor gets his due credit for the works of C. B Macdonald and as far as I am concerned  Robert Hunter was the foundation that help build Alister Mackenzie's fame in the U.S.


But


How about the story of the guys who helped Tom Fazio or Jack Nicklaus create their works of Art.  Who traveled to the ends of the earth to help Jones Sr or his two sons create their designs.


You get a few mentions of names like Orin Smith, Dean Woods who helped their mentors but I know there is countless others.


That's the book I want to read as Paul Harvey always said and now The Rest of the Story

I'd buy that book.