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Sébastien Dhaussy

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Need your help for my golf library !
« on: November 23, 2004, 07:22:25 AM »
Hi,

I've read all the good golf books (few) in french language.

So now, as I can order books in US with amazon.com, I search for good golf books in english.

Can you give me advices on golf architecture books, and also on other golf books (biography, tournaments,...)? What are the golf books you love and others I can avoid ?

Hope the reading of english books will improve my english language  ;D !!!

Thanks all.  
"It's for everyone to choose his own path to glory - or perdition" Ben CRENSHAW

Mike_Sweeney

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2004, 08:06:00 AM »
I would start with The Golden Age of Golf Design by Geoff Shackelford.

JakaB

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2004, 08:13:51 AM »
I would avoid every piece of crap ever written by someone who calls themself a golf writer or who wrote a book intended for a golf audience....that being said go to ebay and pick up a copy of...Robert Bain's...Clans & Tartans Of Scotland...for about $7...

If you are really lucky...you might pick up something by Padraic Colum...my favorite being...Anthology of Irish Verse...

Golf books for golfers are an evil scam that can be traced back to the fall of the Golden Age....they breed contempt and copycatism...
« Last Edit: November 23, 2004, 08:15:00 AM by John B. Kavanaugh »

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2004, 08:24:13 AM »
Dan Wexler recently published a book that surveys the golf literature. I forget the title, but you should be able to locate it by searching Amazon under Dan's name.

I own the book and it is invaluable in sorting through the thousands of books on golf.

Si je me souviens bien il ny'a pas beaucoup de bouquins en francais.

Bienvenue a Golf Club Atlas.  

Bob

wsmorrison

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2004, 08:38:06 AM »
Sebastien,

Not to plug my friend's book, but it may prove helpful to get Dan Wexler's new book "The Golfer's Library" published by Sports Media Group.  The book is broken down into a number of categories covering 300 or more years of golf writing.  Some of the chapters include excellent examples of biographies, histories, tournaments, architecture, instruction, etc.

I agree with Mike Sweeney, if you are interested in the classic age of golf design in America, this is an excellent starting point.  Geoff's book "Grounds for Golf" is likewise excellent as is Tom Doak's "Anatomy of a Golf Course."

My good friend, Jeff Silverman, would say read anything you can get your hands on by Bernard Darwin.  You won't go wrong with this advice.

For golf humor and great storytelling, I absolutely love PG Wodehouse's collection of short stories found in "The Golf Omnibus."

« Last Edit: November 23, 2004, 08:42:47 AM by Wayne Morrison »

rgkeller

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2004, 08:40:39 AM »
Any and all works by Henry Longhurst.

wsmorrison

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2004, 08:42:10 AM »
The phone rang before I could push the post button so you beat me to the punch, Bob.  Sage advise as always.  By the way, I'll send you some of the disks we spoke of over the weekend.  I hope that you and the entire Crosby clan have a terrific Thanksgiving.  Try looking at the CC York materials in between football games and turkey  ;D

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2004, 08:43:39 AM »
rg -

Agreed on Longhurst. But check out Longhurst's contemporary - the under-appreciated Pat Ward Thomas. He was awfully good as well.

Bob

Tyler Kearns

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2004, 09:38:58 AM »
Sebastien,

Of recently published works, volumes 1 & 2 of Paul Daley's "Golf Architecture" offers a wide range of architectural topics. The book is a collection of essays, written by many people who are intimately involved in the process of building golf courses.

TK

Michael Wharton-Palmer

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Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2004, 09:52:48 AM »
No golf library can be complete, without..
The spirit of St Andrews..by Dr Mc   and
Masters of the links..Edited by Gene Shakelford
Two classic encounters

Jimmy Muratt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2004, 10:07:38 AM »
These are some of my favorites that will give you a very solid base for your library:

Classics that are still readily available:
Spirit of St. Andrew's - Alistair MacKenzie
Scotland's Gift - CB MacDonald

Modern books on architecture:
Grounds for Golf - Geoff Shackelford
Anatomy of a Golf Course - Tom Doak
Golf Architecture Vol 1 & 2 - Paul Daley
Favorite Holes by Golf Design - Paul Daley

Coffee Table books:
Legendary Golf Clubs of the American East - A. Edgeworth
Emerald Gems - L. Lambrecht
The Sandbelt - Paul Daley
Scottish Golf Links - Ian Lowe



Sébastien Dhaussy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2004, 02:28:36 AM »
Thanks all for your help. Very appreciated.

I've now to search for my "Mastercard" because my wife has hidden it after reading this thread  ;D ;D ;D

Nobody suggest "Discovering Donald Ross" from Bradley Klein.
What about this book ? Is there better introduction to Ross  design ?

On golf players biography, I've see hundred of books on Palmer, Nicklaus,...
For you, what is the better biography on:
Hogan
Jones (Bobby)
Palmer
Nicklaus
Nelson (Byron, not Larry)
Snead

Thanks for your help.


"It's for everyone to choose his own path to glory - or perdition" Ben CRENSHAW

Shane Gurnett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2004, 03:41:17 AM »
Sebastien,

Use www.addall.com as a search engine for the best deals. I find it very useful.

I highly recommend Paul Daley books which are superb and importantly give an appreciation of worldwide architecture rather than just an American perspective.

Mike_Trenham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2004, 08:33:13 AM »
The Architects of Golf by Cornish and Whitten really spurred my interest in golf architecture.  It is 50% a history of the evolution of the business and 50% a detailed (although not 100% accurate) index of course's architectural pedigree and a listing of the works of each architect as well as a short biography.  Unfortunately it was last reprinted 10+ years ago and is only availble second hand keep your eyes open.  
Proud member of a Doak 3.

Mike_Trenham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2004, 08:37:16 AM »
Also for a great laugh see if you can find

"On Tour with Harry Sprague, Letters of golf pro to his sponsor" by Herbert Warren Wind.  
Proud member of a Doak 3.

Jay Carstens

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2004, 10:08:27 AM »
Also for a great laugh see if you can find
"On Tour with Harry Sprague, Letters of golf pro to his sponsor" by Herbert Warren Wind.  

"Harry Sprague" may also be one of the more collectable Wind titles.  I don't think it sold at the time.  Don't give it away!  ;)
 
Play the course as you find it

mark chalfant

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2004, 10:38:27 AM »
Sebastien,  Brad Kleins book is excellent, both on Ross and
restoration. Its also important because it delves beyond
his best known layouts and discusses places like Metacomet,
Hyde Park,and Essex County.Welcome to gca !
Mark

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2004, 10:52:04 AM »
Nobody suggest "Discovering Donald Ross" from Bradley Klein.
What about this book ? Is there better introduction to Ross  design ?

I'd guess nobody suggested it because they were focusing on more general books on architecture. Discovering Donald Ross is a terrific book on Ross - interesting biographical info, compelling architecture writing, and great photos. Golf Has Never Failed Me, a relatively recently released book penned by Ross and lost for years, if I'm not mistaken, may be a better intro to Ross, simply because it's in his own words.

As for those bios you brought up, Curt Sampson wrote a good book on Hogan, though it's probably not as in depth as Dodson's new bio on Hogan. Afternoon's with Hogan (or something like that) is a lighter book relating a caddie's experience spending time with Ben as he wound down his career - it's a fun and quick read. There is a giant coffee table book on Hogan called The Hogan Mystique that has so many great photos that it is practically golf porn. :) Jack's autobiography is interesting, I found many of the books on Jones very interesting, particularly Golf is My Game. I haven't read too much on the other players you mention. Architecture-wise, Pete Dye's Bury Me in a Pot Bunker is a fun and relatively light read.

Peruse the feature interviews - many authors are interviewed and discuss their works, so you can get a good idea of what their work is like. My own personal opinion is that you can't go wrong with anything by Geoff Shackelford, Tom Doak or Paul Daley, and you can also throw Daniel Wexler, George Bahto and Brad Klein into that category as well. (I'm sure I'm overlooking something obvious, so I apologize to anyone I left out.)
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Agman

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2004, 12:03:07 PM »
Wayne --

     Much as I appreciate the personal plug and public admissiion of friendship, it's imperative that you get the title in there. "Bernard Darwin on Golf." Out December 1 in paperback with a much improved cover, and still atop T&L Golf's list of the best golf books ever.

     Sorry for the blatant commercialism, but a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do...

js

Dan Kelly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #19 on: November 24, 2004, 12:27:38 PM »
...a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do...

Shouldn't that be: "A writer's gotta do what a publisher never does"?
"There's no money in doing less." -- Joe Hancock, 11/25/2010
"Rankings are silly and subjective..." -- Tom Doak, 3/12/2016

wsmorrison

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #20 on: November 24, 2004, 12:35:09 PM »
Jeff,

Maybe one of these days I'll understand  your perspective first hand "that a writer has gotta do..."

By the way, Tom and I are making some real progress as a result of your guidance.  A round at Rolling Green--or maybe somewhere else ;) and Gulph Mills await in the spring.

Anyone at all interested in the writings of Bernard Darwin should pick up Jeff's book "Bernard Darwin on Golf" as it is truly excellent.

Agman

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #21 on: November 24, 2004, 01:33:35 PM »
Dan --
    You've got that right...especially when you wind up saddled with the morons who buy out you're original publishing house.

Wayne --
    Now that's more like it. You'll learn in time -- and I'll certainly drum it into you -- that you've always got to get the title out there. Like this: "Bernard Darwin on Golf"... the paperback reissue arriving at Amazon and your local bookstore on Dec. 1 in plenty of time for your Christmas shopping list.
    See, after awhile it's second nature...

js

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #22 on: November 24, 2004, 01:44:14 PM »
Jeff's compilation of Darwin essays was one of my best purchases last year - way too good to simply buy the paperback. The hardcover wasn't that expensive, and worth every penny ten times over.
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

JakaB

Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #23 on: November 24, 2004, 01:56:23 PM »
George,

In all seriousness....Do you really read that crap and if you do....have you made any tee-shirts with clever Darwinisms I might be able to purchase...

I personally am waiting for nuclear winter to start reading my large collection of books....so I do think collecting this stuff is worthwhile....but I really am curious if anybody has time to read any of it...

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Need your help for my golf library !
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2004, 02:18:24 PM »
As I was explaining to one of our other esteemed posters recently, I have a reading affliction which borders on ADD. I have stacks of books that I pick up and put down with regularity depending on my whims, and it's actually getting kind of unusual for me to finish a book. These stacks are not confined to golf books; in fact, golf books are probably 3rd on my list of topics.

As I look over the books in my initial post, interestingly enough, all were strong enough to hold my attention long enough to get all the way through, with the exception of Dodson's bio on Hogan (which is also why I couldn't compare it to Sampson's book on Hogan). I bought that one, but have been too distracted since with books mostly on the law and politics. I have been doing more reading than ever lately, primarily since this year was a write-off for me golf-wise. Between a blown out (and subsequently surgically reconstructed) knee and a newborn son who is simply the most amazing gift I have ever been granted, I have had a lot of time to read.

Amazing what eliminating 5 hour rounds and range time can do to free up time - thanks for asking. :)

Judging by the prose in many others' posts, I'd guess I'm not even in the top 10 or 20 most literate posters on this site. Thankfully, my wife did not marry me for my reading ability, nor, quite obviously, my golfing ability, as anyone who has been unfortunate enough to tee it up with me will attest. Hopefully next year will see a resurrection in my game.

P.S. Sorry, no t shirts with Darwinisms - dead guys don't pay the bills.... I will probably be printing Roethlisberger t shirts galore in the upcoming weeks, if you want one of those. :)
« Last Edit: November 24, 2004, 02:19:28 PM by George Pazin »
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04