regional golf histories

[Bill Shamleffer]

I own a few books with some good local golf histories.
Looking to see if anyone can recommend some good city or regional golf history books.
Not just golf guides with listing of area courses, but with with some local histories.


Some of the ones I already own include:

GOLFING THROUGH THE ARCH - A History of St. Louis Golf, by James Healy
GOLF REACHES THE SEVEN HILLS, by Gerry Lanham  (Cincinnati golf history)
CHICAGO GOLF - The First 100 Years, by Tom Govedarica
GOLFING NEW ENGLAND, by The Boston Globe
THE GREEN & GOLD COAST - The History of Golf on Boston's North Shore 1893-2001, by Gary Larrabe
CLEVELAND ARE GOLF, by Kenneth Hopkins.

[David Amarnek]

A magnificent book detailing the history of the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) was written by Jim Finegan.
“A Centennial Tribute to Golf in Philadelphia” is a must read for anyone interested in the region.

[Mike_Trenham]

My father Pete Trenham is the historian and life member of the Philadelphia PGA.  He has website where he chronicles the history of The Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America. 


Dad continually updates his site with new finds, that is why he prefers to have a website rather than publish a book.  Pete was one of Jim Finegan’s researchers for the GAP History mentioned above.


Hogan, Sneed and Nelson all had stops as members of the Philadelphia PGA.



Trenhhamgolfhistory.org


In his “Other History” menu item “Tournament Program Books” may be of most interest to the architecture fans on this site.

[Tim Martin]

My father Pete Trenham is the historian and life member of the Philadelphia PGA.  He has website where he chronicles the history of The Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America. 


Dad continually updates his site with new finds, that is why he prefers to have a website rather than publish a book.  Pete was one of Jim Finegan’s researchers for the GAP History mentioned above.


Hogan, Sneed and Nelson all had stops as members of the Philadelphia PGA.



Trenhhamgolfhistory.org


In his “Other History” menu item “Tournament Program Books” may be of most interest to the architecture fans on this site.

I feel genuinely lucky to have met and played golf with Pete Trenham. He is a terrific researcher and straight up class individual. I don’t know that I have met anyone more gracious with his background in the game of golf.

[MCirba]

I greatly enjoy the Finegan book on GAP but whoever advised him on the Cobb's Creek history and course evolution was way off.

Of course, that book was written B.B.*



*Before Bausch

[Michael Wolf]

A few of the genre not mentioned yet:


Golf Clubs of the MGA by Bill Quirin
Texas Golf by Kevin Newberry
Southern Golf Association first 100 years by Gene Pearce
America's Linksland - A Century Of Long Island Golf by Bill Quirin
Golf in the Nebraska Sand Hills by Dean Kratz


Also a reminder that you can explore the USGA collection on their website or call the Golf House library directly and they'll be happy to help with your search.


Happy reading,
Michael

[Joe Bausch]

I know this fellow that put together the Bausch Archives at MyPhillyGolf dot com:

http://myphillygolf.com/archives.asp

 

[Tim Martin]

I know this fellow that put together the Bausch Archives at MyPhillyGolf dot com:

http://myphillygolf.com/archives.asp

 

Joe-That catalog of course photo shoots has grown over the years-WOW!!!! How many are you up to?

[Joe Bausch]

I know this fellow that put together the Bausch Archives at MyPhillyGolf dot com:

http://myphillygolf.com/archives.asp

 

Joe-That catalog of course photo shoots has grown over the years-WOW!!!! How many are you up to?

I think 623 now.

[Tim Martin]

I know this fellow that put together the Bausch Archives at MyPhillyGolf dot com:

http://myphillygolf.com/archives.asp

 

Joe-That catalog of course photo shoots has grown over the years-WOW!!!! How many are you up to?

I think 623 now.

Well played

[JohnVDB]

The history of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association is a very large and comprehensive one:


Championships and Friendships, the first 100 years of the PNGA by Jeff Shelley and Michael Riste


A smaller one on the Western PA Golf Associtation titled: A Century of Golf inWestern Pennsylvania.

[Mike Hendren]

The History of Tennessee Golf by Gene Pearce is outstanding.   Almost 500 pages with foreword by Arnold Palmer.


Mike

[Pete_Pittock]

Harry Foster - Links along the Line


 Blackpool to Liverpool

[Greg Hohman]

100 Years of Golf in San Diego County (1997) by Norrie West.

[Wayne_Kozun]

https://barlowbooks.com/our-books/torontos-lost-golf-courses/

  Toronto’s Lost Golf Courses: How the Game of Golf Shaped the City of Toronto, Volume 1: 1869–1919 by Scott Burk (with Joanne Doucette) This richly illustrated coffee-table book is the perfect gift for the Toronto golfer and history buff. It’s a pictorial history of golf in Toronto, with over 150 maps, illustrations, and pictures of both the long-lost golf clubs and the prominent people who were the pioneers of golf in the region. It describes the nearly 30 golf courses established in the Toronto area from 1869 to 1919 that literally shaped the city. In fact, if you live in Toronto today, there is a very real possibility that your home is on a former golf course — or is a par five away from one.

 

[Tim_Cronin]

I have many of the above, and concur that Bill Quirin's Golf Courses of the MGA is an absolute gem. An interesting if short history of the group itself, then profiles, from several pages to summaries, of every MGA club, illustrated. Oversized and stylish.


You can find it online (eBay and AbeBooks) for $5 and up. There was only one printing, so everything is a first edition. If you don't have it, grab it.


Of all the others, Jim Finegan's Philly book is the largest. Not sure if the Philly phone book is as big. It has everything.

[Tim_Cronin]

Oops. Duplicate post.

[Kyle Harris]

I greatly enjoy the Finegan book on GAP but whoever advised him on the Cobb's Creek history and course evolution was way off.

Of course, that book was written B.B.*



*Before Bausch

The Finegan book seems more an archive of the mythos of mid-century GAP golf moreso than actual history these days.


An historical footnote in its own right.

[PCCraig]

By far the best "regional" history I've read/own:


https://www.amazon.com/Fields-Fairways-Classic-Clubs-Minnesota/dp/0816677328


A steal at $35.


A wonderful book which looks at the intertwined histories of the various classic golf clubs around the Twin Cities/Minnesota. Minnesota has a surprisingly interesting golf history and (with the significant money here 100 years ago thanks to Ag, Mining, rail, etc), nearly every ODG GCA makes an appearance as well as Vardons, Jones, Johnston, etc.


PLUS! It's written by one of our own....

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Harry Foster - Links along the Line


 Blackpool to Liverpool

Totally agree. This is a well written book with many nice old photographs.

[Tom Bagley]

A Commonwealth of Golfers published by the Massachusetts Golf Association is one of the best I've ever seen.  (I admit to being slightly biased as a past president of the organization.)  Very good history of the game's arrival in Massachusetts, some of its storied clubs as well as other unique and memorable people, places and events.  It was published in 2003 concurrent with the centennial of the organization.  More importantly, the contributors include John English, John Updike, Brad Klein, Francis Ouimet and Herbert Warren Wind.  One of my favorite golf books and one that I refer back to often.

[Dean DiBerardino]

Golf Retold: The Story of Golf in Cleveland, was written by Alice D. Seagrave and published by the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association in 1940. It’s a wonderful book detailing the early history of golf in Cleveland, OH.

[Joe Bausch]

Dean's informative post that I've made readable!

Golf Retold: The Story of Golf in Cleveland, was written by Alice D. Seagrave and published by the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association in 1940. It’s a wonderful book detailing the early history of golf in Cleveland, OH.

[Dean DiBerardino]

Dean's informative post that I've made readable!

Golf Retold: The Story of Golf in Cleveland, was written by Alice D. Seagrave and published by the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association in 1940. It’s a wonderful book detailing the early history of golf in Cleveland, OH.

Thanks Joe!