Richardson's "Routing the Golf Course" book

[Brad Klein]

Perhaps there's been an earlier post on this fine book that I missed. In any case, I'm halfway through a wonderful new text by architect Forrest L. Richardson, "Routing the Golf Course: The Art & Science that Forms the Golf Journey" (Wiley, 2002).

Forgetting for the moment that the subtitle is syntactically incorrect, this is a stunning book for its insights, readability and thoughtful exploration. My only regret is that the publisher released it in B&W, which undercuts many of the illustrations. But what a finely honed set of observations about the golf course as planned landform.

The book is also evidence that there are some incredibly bright, thoughtul people working fulltime in the business and making a living, even if they are not household names. The book makes me want to see his courses, such as his newly opened daily-fee, Hideout GC in Monticello, Utah (featured for several years in USGA Golf Journal).

[Tim Weiman]

Brad Klein:

I believe there were one or two posts on this topic. My recollection is that previous reports on this book were not favorable, so much so that I decided not to order it. I almost never do that!

You have now offered the contrarian view. I'd like to hear if others share your perspective.

The subject matter - routing - is so critical to a good design, but it is also a topic we never seem to discuss very well here at GCA.

If you are right about Richardson's effort - if it really covers the subject of routing in depth, it will be a welcome addition to the literature.

P.S. We are in the middle of a renaissance of golf architecture books (your own Ross book included, obviously). I wonder if the bar is being raised and it is getting harder to impress people.

[nuzzo]

The book produced an AOTD suggestion.
There are a few pages describing Moundbuilders GC in Ohio.
As no interest was generated during the aerial I could only assume everyone's played a course through 3000 year old mounds.
I haven't read the entire text but there are several interesting pages.
Cheers

[Brian Phillips]

Bradley,

I posted about this book the day I bought it about two months ago and was so impressed with it I sent an e-mail to Forrest congratulating him. I received an e-mail back within hours thanking me.

It is in my top five of all time, of books to have when working with golf course architecture.

Here in Edinburgh it is not yet on the reading list but will be for next years students.  The book has been borrowed by quite a few of the students from and at least one or two have now bought the book.  I have to agree with you about not having some of the illustrations in colour.  It would have been nice to see some of the routings in colour.

If anyone wants to learn the theory but also get an insight into the practical problems of routing a golf course then this is a very good book.

A superb reference book as well as some really funny stories.

Tim,

I do find it strange that we don't discuss routing much here.  I feel it is possibly the most important part of designing a golf course.  


Brian.

[Paul Richards]

Brian:

You said:
>I do find it strange that we don't discuss routing much here.

For more information on GCA about routing, refer to most Donald Ross postings.  Ross was a master at routing.  A great example is his work at my home course, Beverly CC.  

For more on the topic, refer to Ran's write-up of his Beverly visit under, "Courses by Architect", "Ross", "Beverly."

 

[Brian Phillips]

Paul,

Thanks, it is a good write up.  But do we really ever dicuss routings on the DG?

Do have any other references than the ones you quoted?

Cheers

Brian.

[Tim Weiman]

Brian Phillips:

Thanks for commenting on the Richardson book. Sounds like you definitely share Brad's view that the book is worth owning.

As for discussion on routing, we just haven't done very much of it. I've concluded that while it is a very important topic, it is also very difficult to discuss. Maybe I'll start a thread and see if people can prove me wrong.

[Brad Klein]

I suspect there are several reasons this amazing book hasn't yet received more attetion here:

-Richardson's not a regular on GCA and so doesn't have a following;
-it's not a simple read and requires some work to get through all of the analytical detail;
-it's not color-illustrated;
-the book conveys the impression that routing is as much a science as an art, that there are "rules" to follow and that the modern understanding of the craft is more sophisticated than the classical method. This, of course, cuts against the conventional GCA view.

I'm not sure this last impression is fully justified, since Richardson appreciates both the creative/inspirational aspects as well as the economics/planning process. I also suspect that many regulars on this site want nothing to do with the actual day-to-day practicalities of routing a course amidst less than ideal regulatory/economic/soil/agronmy conditions.

The days of finding an ideal site and just building it are gone - if they ever existed. Most of what passes for actual design today as practised by architects is problem-solving and making things work. To that end, the book is valuable. It also helps explain what makes the great classical courses so enduring, since Richardson explains in detail their routing elements, psychology and allure. In any case, the book is a welcome addition to the literature and merits close study.

[JohnV]

Bradley, perhaps you could convince your boss to get it for all your raters as a Christmas present.    Think how much it should improve the ratings.

I actually hadn't heard about this book until the day before your initial post when I was updating my wish list on Amazon and it popped.  It is definitely moving to the top 2 or 3 on that list.

[Paul Richards]

Brian:

You said:
>Do have any other references than the ones you quoted?

One of the best books that I know of, and routing is discussed, is Brad Klein's "Discovering Donald Ross."  As I've said before, Ross was a Master at routing, and the topic is covered throughout this book.

Slainte.

[Forrest Richardson]

I have not ready my GCA handbook yet, so am not sure if adding to discussion about one's own book is appropriate. It is very refreshing to see the book climb on Amazon's all-time best seller ranking -- I beleive it is now up to 778,476th!

Quick comment about color: The black/white reproduction was simply a publisher's decision. Actually some bits work better as it tends to focus the attention to the concept, and not the "wow" of the hole or view. Should anyone be inclined to purchase the book and then be put off by the lack of color, please e-mail me. I will gladly describe in detail the rich hues and tones which were not allowed to make it to print.

[Scott Seward]

My quibbles with the book have nothing to do with the writing which is top notch. The lack of any black and white pictures on the paper chosen make details all but disappear - especially on some of the older illustrations. Also, for a book at that price point, Wiley should be ashamed by the 4-5 egregious proofreading errors.

[Max'd Out]

Perhaps the reason this book has not gotten much press here is that not all of us get free copies Mr. Klein.

Is it me or are the prices of these architecture books a little out of hand? I'd love to buy this book and all of the other ones, but why do they all have to start at $65 and up? That's just too much money for a book! Sorry, maybe I'm just cheap.

[Forrest Richardson]

Here I go again, getting into a discussion about my book. Regarding the price of golf architectural titles: Why not buy both a book and a Latte. Throw away both receipts and tell everyone your latte cost $37.50. The book will then seem very reasonable. No one, especially in today's world, will question the price of the latte.

[Mike_Cirba]

Forrest;

Glad to see you weighing in here.  Welcome to GCA and don't worry in the least about "protocol"...this is a free for all and your ideas will be welcomed, if possibly hotly debated.

Based on Brad's recommendation, I'm excited to pick up your book, but I'd also like to encourage you to stop in here from time to time to offer your thoughts.

For instance, Tim Weiman started a thread recently on "routing", which seems to be a topic near and dear to your heart.  Perhaps you might share some of your own personal modus operandi concerning "finding" the golf course on that thread, if you would.  

Best of luck with your book and architectural endeavors.

[Paul Richards]

Forrest:

Your book is on my Christmas wish list.  Can't wait!

[George Pazin]

I'm thankful we even have the opportunity to buy architecture books. I can't imagine they are large cash cows for the publishers - there aren't that many of us fanatics. I know I definitely receive more than $65 worth of enjoyment from them.

Welcome to the site, Mr. Richardson. Please contribute as much as you can.

[NAF]

Forrest,

I really loved your chapter on Cypress Point and the routing map you drew.  I would love to have a framed copy of that for my apartment.  It is funny but your description of what happened to you from #14 green thru the rest of the round was almost word for word what I thought.  Such a special routing, when people ask me what I think of CP I tell them it is a symphony.  When you think about it the routing at CP, it is as lovely as listening to something like the Blue Danube.

Noel

[brad_miller]

Forrest, please continue to stop by, I will be adding your book to my collection shortly, looking very much forward to the CPC chapter, Noel's idea of a framed routing map sounds very interesting.

[Paul Daley]

Sixty-five dollars is not dear for a specialist golf book. Publishing economy of scale is critical: architecture is a niche market with small print runs, which in turns pushes up binding and printing costs, squeezes margins, and increases the risk of not breaking even - let alone the publisher making any money.

Specialist art books often go up to $200-300 for this very reason.

Good luck Forrest R with your book.

[Yancey_Beamer]

I bought the book.As routing is the essence of architecture I need to learn  more about this subject.I certainly appreciated the information re-routing in" Discovering Donald Ross".The chapter in "The Anatomy of a Golf Course" is also quite good.

[Forrest Richardson]

Tom Doak's "Anatomy of a Golf Course" is a solid source of routing information, especially his comments on the "feel" of routing. He also speaks to the importance of routing. You'll note that Tom's book was among those referenced in my bibliography.

[TEPaul]

Very true--just read TomD's section on routing in "The Anatomy of a Golf Course" and it's very good on the subject and pretty comprehensive.

[Forrest Richardson]

I received a few e-mails requesting signed copies. I have none here to sell. I have had success, however, receiving copies ordered on-line (Amzaon, etc.) and then it is my pleasure to send them back to you with a lovely inscription or whatever. My mentor, Arthur Jack Snyder, also wrote a chapter and some have aske for him to sign. I'll oblige, only needing to negotiate Jack's 85-year-old schedule.

[Brad Klein]

You can tell Forrest is not concerned with writing as a souce of income. Forrest, the trick is to buy up a few boxes of the book at your standard authors' discount, mind you. Then have it available for signings. You won't make much money this way, since postage of such a book (each one of the Ross books I send out costs me $9) is expensive. But you'll promote distribution of the book, which is almost as good as getting a royalty check. Think of it as your oversized architecture brochure promoting your design services.