Recommend a golf architecture book that's not well known

[Jeff Segol]

Trying to figure out where I might go with my book collection. I have all the major volumes, John Low, as well as Paul Daley's series, Bahto's bio of MacDonald, etc. Please suggest something you think is good that wouldn't be as well known around here. I recall a discussion sometime back of a book that was only put out as a limited edition, but the name and title escape me now. Now reading Price's Scotland's Golf Course.


Thanks,
Jeff

[Mike_Trenham]

Driving the Green - Tells the story of a neophyte developer and golfer’s efforts to create IronHorse CC in West Palm Beach.  Course was designed by Arthur Hills.

[Jeff_Mingay]

"St. Andrews: How to Play the Old Course" by Desmond Muirhead and Tip Anderson.

[Kyle Harris]

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Golf-Mystery-Game-Revisited/dp/0743242475

Gets a bit philosophical but the architectural points are there, especially as Tom Doak and Eric Iverson are the subject of a chapter about the construction of Riverfront in Virginia.

[Brad Tufts]

My faves are Dan Wexler's Missing Links and Lost Links, but those are mainstream-ish for this crowd.


I loved "Britain's 100 Extraordinary Golf Holes," which profiles 100 wild, wacky, fun golf holes that seem to capture the essence of UK golf.

[BCrosby]

A second vote for Jeff Mingay's suggestion above.


I missed the Cullen book. Sounds interesting.


Bob

[Rob Nydick]

I really enjoyed Keith Cutten's "The Evolution of Golf Course Design".  It seems to evolved from his 500 page masters thesis (also available online and worth a read).


Cutten's book has nice photos and provides a nice primer for golf history and architecture, but what I think makes the book stand out is the global context he provides when discussing the evolution of design.  His ability to connect golf course design to global events, technology, and cultural trends offers an interesting view that reaches beyond golf course architecture.

[Stewart Abramson]

I really enjoyed Keith Cutten's "The Evolution of Golf Course Design".  It seems to evolved from his 500 page masters thesis (also available online and worth a read).

Do you have a link? I can't find it on line

[Adam Lawrence]

Here you go, but the first edition is sold out. I believe Keith is preparing a second edition.


https://cuttengolf.com/the_evolution_of_golf_course_design/

[Tony_Muldoon]

one day even the true followers on here will recognise a giant of Golf Course Architecture.


Here's the story.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G3L6KQ8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

An essential read.

[Rob Nydick]

I really enjoyed Keith Cutten's "The Evolution of Golf Course Design".  It seems to evolved from his 500 page masters thesis (also available online and worth a read).

Do you have a link? I can't find it on line

I was able to find it here:


https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/handle/10214/9681

Enjoy!

[Tom_Doak]

Trying to figure out where I might go with my book collection. I have all the major volumes, John Low, as well as Paul Daley's series, Bahto's bio of MacDonald, etc. Please suggest something you think is good that wouldn't be as well known around here. I recall a discussion sometime back of a book that was only put out as a limited edition, but the name and title escape me now. Now reading Price's Scotland's Golf Course.


Thanks,
Jeff

A Round of Golf Courses, by Patric Dickinson


A Matter of Course [Herbert Fowler bio], by Derek Markham


Golf: Sustainable By Design, by Paul Jansen


The Complete Golf Course:  Turf and Design, by Claude Crockford  [which could be the limited edition you are thinking of]

[David_Tepper]

James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses by J. Moreton and I. Cumming.

https://www.finegolfbooks.com/pages/books/7141/john-f-moreton-iain-cumming/james-braid-and-his-four-hundred-golf-courses

You can probably buy it for a much better price thru the Brora GC pro shop. I did.

[Bernie Bell]

Fazio, Golf Course Designs
Pennink, Golfer's Companion
not architecture, but I enjoyed Preferred Lies by Andrew Greig

[jeffwarne]

Driving the Green - Tells the story of a neophyte developer and golfer’s efforts to create IronHorse CC in West Palm Beach.  Course was designed by Arthur Hills.

I read that back in the 80's or early 90's.
Can't remember the details, but it made the process seem incredibly daunting.

[Marty Bonnar]

Driving the Green - Tells the story of a neophyte developer and golfer’s efforts to create IronHorse CC in West Palm Beach.  Course was designed by Arthur Hills.

I read that back in the 80's or early 90's.
Can't remember the details, but it made the process seem incredibly daunting.

I met John Strawn a couple of times in China back in 2004 (eek!) when we were trying to land some work out there. He’s a very nice chap and was very happy to sign my First Edition! It’s a decent warts-and-all read…:





Cheers,
F.

[Garland Bayley]

Just Call Me Mac the biography of Arthur Vernon Macan.

[Jeff Segol]

Thanks for the suggestions. Most of what you guys listed, I already have. The Crockford book that Tom mentioned is the one I was thinking of. Also I should look for Dickinson. Thanks for the help. Please keep the suggestions coming.


Thanks,
Jeff

[Niall C]

Jeff


Not sure what you mean by all the major volumes or indeed whether your taste is for modern or old but FWIW I can happily endorse the recommendation for the Fowler book made by Tom D, and in that vein I'd also recommend relatively recent books on Simpson (Hawtree) and of course the MacKenzie book that Tom put together with others. I suspect you can still get the Fowler and Simpson books direct from the publishers but the MacKenzie book will be a harder and more expensive purchase.


Of the older books I'd recommend anything that Simpson contributed to such as The Lonsdale Library, The Game of Golf (1931), and Design for Golf (1952) which is largely an update or re-write of his contribution to the first book. Both great reads with some superb plans and drawings by Simpson. I'm not sure where you are based but in the UK you can pick these up relatively cheaply on ebay, second book stores etc.


Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

Coincidentally, I heard this morning that Derek's Fowler biography has won the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Award for this year.

[Thomas Dai]

A different tack.
Some old day pros wrote or had books ghosted for them and chapters on architecture were included.
I’ve just finished re-reading James Braids book ‘Advanced Golf’, which is available in re-print pretty cheaply, and it contains a chapter on his approach to course design. And he laid out quite few good ‘uns and did amazing work on less than good terrain with limited funds.
Atb

[Bill Shamleffer]

Coincidentally, I heard this morning that Derek's Fowler biography has won the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Award for this year.

Does anyone know if this book is still available for purchase?
I own every book, except two, of the HWW Book Award winners, and would very interested in adding this book to my collection.

[Adam Lawrence]

Coincidentally, I heard this morning that Derek's Fowler biography has won the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Award for this year.

Does anyone know if this book is still available for purchase?
I own every book, except two, of the HWW Book Award winners, and would very interested in adding this book to my collection.

If you’re quick, yes. Co-publisher Philip Truett told me this morning that he had nine copies left.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Coincidentally, I heard this morning that Derek's Fowler biography has won the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Award for this year.

Thank you.  I just sent an email requesting to purchase a copy.  Hopefully 9 others have not beaten me to the punch (doubtful).
Does anyone know if this book is still available for purchase?
I own every book, except two, of the HWW Book Award winners, and would very interested in adding this book to my collection.

If you’re quick, yes. Co-publisher Philip Truett told me this morning that he had nine copies left.

[Peter Sayegh]

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Golf-Mystery-Game-Revisited/dp/0743242475

Gets a bit philosophical but the architectural points are there, especially as Tom Doak and Eric Iverson are the subject of a chapter about the construction of Riverfront in Virginia.

Thanks for this.