What is up with Books on the Opening of Courses

[Jason Topp]

It appears that is has become a standard marketing strategy for big name new courses to come out with a book when a course opens.

Dream Golf
The Sebonak Book
The Castle Course

I'm sure there are others.  

I'm starting to recoil when I see these books even though I have enjoyed the ones I have read.

[Dan Kelly]

This is heresy for me to say -- but I think I'd rather see a DVD about a new course than read a book about it.

Of course, a book w/ DVD would be perfect. Has anyone done that yet?

[JimFatsi]

I have the Sebonack book, really very nice. Anything by Brad Klein must be good, since the course is so new, there are parts of the book that mention Long Island golf and history. I ahve heard rumors that Jack and Tom Doak really didnt collaborate, it was mostly Doak.

[David Stamm]

I agree, the Sebonack book is top notch. BK did a great job with it.

[Ken Moum]

Those are three of the most special golf course projects in recent memory.

Especially Castle and Sebonack.

Who'd have ever thought that a modern designer would get the chance to do new courses in those two storied locations?

The Bandon book seems to be more about Mike K's dream than anything.

What's most interesting to me is the differences between the three. One is has become a mulit-course American resort, another is at the Home of Golf, and the third is an exclusive private.

Ken

[Garland Bayley]

I have the Sebonack book, really very nice. Anything by Brad Klein must be good, since the course is so new, there are parts of the book that mention Long Island golf and history. I ahve heard rumors that Jack and Tom Doak really didnt collaborate, it was mostly Doak.

Why do we keep getting multiple newbies on here that don't put their names on their posts?

[Dan Kelly]

I have the Sebonack book, really very nice. Anything by Brad Klein must be good, since the course is so new, there are parts of the book that mention Long Island golf and history. I ahve heard rumors that Jack and Tom Doak really didnt collaborate, it was mostly Doak.

Why do we keep getting multiple newbies on here that don't put their names on their posts?

I don't know. This one is probably protecting his gig with the New York Times Book Review.

[Adam Clayman]

Not only is that post in poor taste it is erronious. Anyone who has played the course would know it just ain't true.

[Jason Topp]

I'm primarily worried that these books will become standard pieces of marketing hype that any course aspiring to greatness will now publish.  

The books lose credibility and originality if there are too many of them.  

[Dan Kelly]

The books lose credibility and originality if there are too many of them.  

They certainly lose originality.

[Tom_Doak]

Jason:

There's a book on Barnbougle Dunes as well.

I sort of share your view on this.  Interestingly, just after I'd finished Pacific Dunes, I wrote the text for my still-yet-to-be-published book on the course -- both because my dad was in the hospital and I was trying to burn off some "waiting" time, and because I wanted to record where the various ideas came from before it became a matter of revisionist history.  However, Mr. Keiser discouraged me from going ahead and putting the book together at that point, thinking it was too presumptuous to write a book about a brand new course.  

The only problem is that once I put the book aside, we got very busy with other projects, and I've still not found the time or momentum to go back and put it together.

[Jim Franklin]

I saw the Sebonack book for sale on Amazon for $250. Can you find it anywhere else for a reasonable fee?

Off thread, did anyone see Mathias Gronberg wearing his Sebonack gear in the final group in San Antonio? I wonder what Sebonack is paying him to wear that.

[Eric Franzen]

I saw the Sebonack book for sale on Amazon for $250. Can you find it anywhere else for a reasonable fee?

Off thread, did anyone see Mathias Gronberg wearing his Sebonack gear in the final group in San Antonio? I wonder what Sebonack is paying him to wear that.

You can get it for around fifty bucks at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780978717209&itm=1

I don't know what kind of deal they have but Mathias Gronberg is an old personal friend of Michael Pascucci.

[Jim Franklin]

Thanks Eric, I did not know they were friends. I did like the logo of Sebonack being prominately displayed though. It was better than seeing Callaway splashed everywhere.

[Jim Franklin]

I just ordered the book and even got the member's discount. Thanks again.

[JimFatsi]

on the Sebonack logo, its from the original estate as is the name. there are some old shutters that were on the estate that had the logo carved in the wood.  

[Larry_Keltto]

Done well, these books should provide valuable historic documentation for clubs in future decades. The GCA explanations contained in the books could fend off the whims of yet-unborn greens-committee members, GM's and others.

[Jeff Loh]

Tom Doak
PLEASE write the book! I know you are busy and that there is not a huge market for said tome but I for one would buy 5 copies and give four away as xmas presents.

[Patrick_Mucci]

It appears that is has become a standard marketing strategy for big name new courses to come out with a book when a course opens.

Dream Golf
The Sebonak Book
The Castle Course

I'm sure there are others.  

I'm starting to recoil when I see these books even though I have enjoyed the ones I have read.

A great number of GCA.com participants regret that little is known about the origins of many courses.  They lament that there is NO official record of why and how the course was designed and built.

And now, you object to the recording of the details surrounding the creation, design and construction of these courses ?  ?   ?

The Shadow Creek, The Miracle on Breeze Hill, Sebonack and other books memorialize the efforts of the developer, architect and other involved parties.  They provide insight where none was previously available.

How could you possible object to learning more about a project and its architecture from start to finish ?

[Jeff Loh]

Patrick
BRAVO!!

[Brad Klein]

Dan Kelly, re: your reply No. 1 (above). The book that Carol Haralson and I did (we also collaborated on the Sebonack book) on Desert Forest GC in Carefree, Az. in 2004 includes a 10-minute DVD on the course and its histroy.

[PThomas]

i would think a book on Sand Hills would be a great idea

[Jeff Loh]

hello brad
you dont know me and i dont know you (except for reading a ton of your stuff--and liking wintonbury) but are you happy with the dvd that is included with the book?

[Dan Kelly]

i would think a book on Sand Hills would be a great idea

Agreed.

I proposed such a book to Mr. Youngscap in the fall of 1996. He politely declined, informing me that when such a book was put together, the principals would be doing the putting together.

I wish it had happened by now.

[Eric Franzen]

It appears that is has become a standard marketing strategy for big name new courses to come out with a book when a course opens.

Dream Golf
The Sebonak Book
The Castle Course

I'm sure there are others.  

I'm starting to recoil when I see these books even though I have enjoyed the ones I have read.

A great number of GCA.com participants regret that little is known about the origins of many courses.  They lament that there is NO official record of why and how the course was designed and built.

And now, you object to the recording of the details surrounding the creation, design and construction of these courses ?  ?   ?

The Shadow Creek, The Miracle on Breeze Hill, Sebonack and other books memorialize the efforts of the developer, architect and other involved parties.  They provide insight where none was previously available.

How could you possible object to learning more about a project and its architecture from start to finish ?

I agree with Patrick that these books will fill their purpose as valuable future historical reference material about the creation of the courses. Sure, we all know that there is a element of self promotion involved in this but you also have to consider that they hardly don't make any money at all from them since they are expensive to produce and sold in very moderate volumes.