Tom Doak's Little Red Book of Golf Course Architecture

[PCCraig]

Just received an e-mail that Tom Doak is releasing a book based on his years of posting his ideas here on GCA. I'm sure most here received the same e-mail. Who's ordering?

[Chris Cupit]

I ordered two. 

[Buck Wolter]

As you have purchased Tom Doak's Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, I thought you would be interested in his newest book;


Tom Doak's Little Red Book of Golf Course Architecture.


This book is like sitting down with Tom for an in-depth conversation about golf course architecture.  It is more informal than the Confidential Guide--but no less entertaining and insightful. 



GOLF Magazine said that the Confidential Guide was like Bill Belichick offering candid reviews of every NFL team -- and of each team's head coach...The Little Red Book is like sitting down with Belichick to talk football.

                                                                     

The book covers a broad and interesting list of topics (culled from over 20 years of his writing on Golf Club Atlas and edited by Bob Crosby) including; course strategy, great holes, bad holes, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, the effects of ratings on courses, Herbert Warren Wind, Bobby Jones, conditioning, what makes a great course, how and why he designed specific holes on his courses, Pine Valley, Oakmont, Ross, Mackenzie, Tillinghast, Macdonald, Raynor, Maxwell, Pacific Dunes, Ballyneal, Cape Kidnappers, lengthening (or not) of a course, restoration--and more.


Each vignette provides an insight into the thinking of one of our era's greatest golf course architects.


Available the first week of June, you can order now at www.renaissancegolf.com. Each book is $25.00 plus $7.50 for priority mail shipping, so you will have it for Father's Day if you order now. 


Warmest regards.


Brian

[John Kavanaugh]

Check out the original CG's for sale on Amazon. The quantity and low price is shocking. I payed $225 for one on a lost bet back in November 2015. So much for playing the rare book market.

[Keith Grande]

So the book is a compilation of GCA postings?  I wonder how the book will be laid out...vignettes similar to Harvey Pennicks LRB?

[Marty Bonnar]

The Thoughts of Chairman Dao?


F.

[BCrosby]

Tom's book is formatted like Harvey's. It is collection of short(ish) comments on golf architecture, architects and the business, all taken from Tom's GCA posts over the years. Hopefully is a book you will dip into, skip around and enjoy.


Agree or disagree with Tom, he is invariably interesting. No architect alive today writes as well about the discipline. And some of his best stuff appeared here at GCA.


Bob

[John Kavanaugh]

Bob,


Congrats to you for being able to hold something in your hands that came from the thousands of hours you have spent viewing this site. A rare treat any of us would be proud of.

[JJShanley]

Check out the original CG's for sale on Amazon. The quantity and low price is shocking. I payed $225 for one on a lost bet back in November 2015. So much for playing the rare book market.

OT: I can't imagine why someone would "invest" in books, or any like them.  Buy them because you will enjoy them in some way, not in the likelihood that you could profit at some point in the proceedings.  I've only a few such items.  One I'd considering loaning in perpetuity to a golf club that could look after it properly.  Even then it has only sentimental value.

[Mike Hendren]

Oddly, I was awaiting a book by Bob Crosby edited by Tom Doak.  Two of my favorite acquaintances made through this website.  Just wonderful guys.

Mike

[Mike_Young]

Oddly, I was awaiting a book by Bob Crosby edited by Tom Doak.  Two of my favorite acquaintances made through this website.  Just wonderful guys.

Mike

Mike,
I'm thinking about writing a coloring book around golf architecture.  The initial few chapters will have "paint by numbers" and then we will progress from there.  Bob has agreed to edit it for me. 

[George Pazin]

Oddly, I was awaiting a book by Bob Crosby edited by Tom Doak.  Two of my favorite acquaintances made through this website.  Just wonderful guys.

Mike

How funny would it be to see a compilation of each poster as chosen by another?


I can't imagine many of us would be happy with the result. Maybe Sean Arble would. Paul Turner would have, years ago. Those guys are always on point with phenomenal English golf courses.


And I will fight anyone who posts a bad compilation of Bob Crosby - that would be fake news in the extreme.


 

[Steve Lang]

   and so the Little Red Book will be followed by a Little Green One with the byline "And if you talk gca, you're my friend?"

[BCrosby]

Mike -


Don't let Tom hear you say that!!


One of the remarkable things about Tom's posts here at GCA (my best guess is that there are a couple thousand of them written over about 15 years) is their spontaneity and honesty. Not to mention his ability to articulate some fairly complex ideas, most of which he has not expressed elsewhere.


For a number of reasons you don't find as much of that in his interviews, articles and books. (I think us wack jobs at GCA must stimulate him to address things more 'normal' interlocutors don't.) That is why the project appealed to me and why I thought a collection of his GCA posts would make for an appealing, unique book.


I hope others will agree.


Bob


P.S. Mike's coloring book is coming along nicely. We are keeping it to one color and all straight lines.

[PCCraig]

Well, I ordered a copy. Looking forward to getting it next month!

[Tim_Weiman]

Ordered and look forward to seeing the book.

[Colin Macqueen]

Gents,


I want to order a copy but cannot work out the postage cost to Australia.  Anybody know what I should do? Contact Renaissance possibly?  The postal charge might well cost more than the jolly book!! But I want it.
Cheers Col

[Ash Towe]

Colin,


The cost is $25 for international buyers.

[Matthew Mollica]

Thank you Bob and Tom for the effort on this book. It is really appreciated. Cannot wait to sink my teeth into it.

[jeffwarne]

Oddly, I was awaiting a book by Bob Crosby edited by Tom Doak.  Two of my favorite acquaintances made through this website.  Just wonderful guys.

Mike

Mike,
I'm thinking about writing a coloring book around golf architecture.  The initial few chapters will have "paint by numbers" and then we will progress from there.  Bob has agreed to edit it for me.

I can't wait to renovate that.
Then you can restore it

[Bill_McBride]

Oddly, I was awaiting a book by Bob Crosby edited by Tom Doak.  Two of my favorite acquaintances made through this website.  Just wonderful guys.

Mike

Mike,
I'm thinking about writing a coloring book around golf architecture.  The initial few chapters will have "paint by numbers" and then we will progress from there.  Bob has agreed to edit it for me.

I actually suggested to Bob today that you write a book and he edit it.  The sound of silence was deafening. 

[Peter Pallotta]

Bill - the thing is, any book that Mike might write wouldn't *need* any editing. I can already imagine it:

Chapter 1 - The Golden Age
It never happened.

Chapter 2 - Restorations
There's no such thing as a restoration. 

Chapter 3 - Master Plans
Try getting on an excavator and actually building something instead.

Chapter 4 - Signature Architects
A real-estate play, with a photo-op.

And so on...

Bob, Tom - congratulations on getting this out. I couldn't market my way out of a paper bag, but I think a little red book on architecture is a terrific idea. Best

Peter

[RJ_Daley]

I'm happy to have ordered the book.  Anything Bob and Tom might be involved in, is something I'd look forward to having. 

I have a pretty fair collection of books on GCA and GCM collected over the GCA.com years and before.  My biggest challenge is finding someone to leave them with when I depart the scene.  Unfortunately, the enjoyment I get/have gotten from them is lost on my own son...non golfer