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nuttywoody |
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United States of America |
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| Joined: 8/9/2008 |
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| Posted: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at
10:33:53 PM |
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| edited by: nuttywoody on
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at
11:05:00 PM
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I have not seen anything like this here, so Ill start it off and see what gives.
I decided I would like to further educate myself on the subject of course design by doing some reading I looked around for some books and picked one that has turned out to be just right for a beginner like myself.
Its Grounds for Golf - The History and Fundamentals of Golf Course Design by Geoff Shackleford.
Its well written and well organized, with nice little hand sketched illustrations of the holes discussed. This books is an interesting and easy read, and so far has made me think a bit and explained a lot about how different designers approach golf architecture. Shackleford not only talks about theory and scools of design, but also about cultural and economic influnces on golf course architecture.
I have quite a few more books on a wish list already. Anyone else have a favorite or a recommedation? |
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Bobby Bolin |
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United States of America |
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| Joined: 7/28/2003 |
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B-Day: 5/5/1988 (36) |
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Posts: 1,427 |
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| Posted: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at
11:18:03 PM |
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I like "Golf Courses of the US Open" and "Golf Courses of the PGA Tour" when designing real courses.
For good reading try John Feinstein. I've read "The Majors" and "Open." Although they don't include a lot of design theory they are still good reading.
Also, Quietly has given some very valuable information at TWC that you may want to look at. |
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Quietly |
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Canada |
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| Joined: 8/28/2004 |
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B-Day: 12/12/1800 (223) |
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| Posted: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at
2:09:59 PM |
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I did the same thing a few years back Nuttywoody... I did a lot of reading on the subject of course design (and still reading) and I too started with Shackelford's 'Grounds for Golf', by far the best book on the market to use as a primer for further study. Shackelford is one of my favourite authors because he can cover a subject thoroughly without sounding officious or pretentious.
here's a few books on my shelf that may interest you:
Routing the Golf Course
The Art & Science That Forms The Golf Journey
- Forrest L. Richardson
A wonderful text covering a range of topics pertaining to course design. Includes discussions of individual hole design, as well as overall course layout, and all the intricacies that lay within a designed golf course.
Forrest is a highly experienced golf course architect who writes in a relatively easy to understand manor. The text will provide valuable insights to the beginner and the advanced designer.
Bunkers, Pits & Other Hazards
- Forrest L. Richardson
Contains a handful of topics repeated from the above book. New material is very interesting and helpful. Wonderful profiles of classic designers and their use of hazards.
Grounds for Golf: The History and Fundamentals of Golf Course Design
- Geoff Shackelford
Geoff is a golf writer, and has one course design to his credit, with the help of course architect Gil Hanse. He writes in a very easy to understand tone. He is a student and historian of the game and it’s designers.
This book covers a great deal about course design theory. For those looking to start their collection, this is probably one of the best books to start off with. Even if you have many books, your collection is incomplete without this one. And to top it off, the price is terrific, far and away the best bang for your buck.
The Golden Age of Golf Design
- Geoff Shackelford
A wonderful text exploring many of the classic era designers, their styles and their accomplishments. Many great historical photos, many great incites into what made the classic designs so great.
Geoff does a great job of bringing the classic designs and their creators to life in the pages of this book. A must have for history buffs, or for those who enjoy the study of great courses and great course design.
Alister MacKenzie’s Cypress Point Club
- Geoff Shackelford
I have never seen a book like this. So very many archival historical photos of Cypress Point. Jaw dropping black and white photography, mostly from a round played back in the late 1920’s. Dr. MacKenzie and friends play a round and we get to follow them through this round in photographs. Each of the 18 holes that comprise Cypress Point are examined through these photos.
Geoff also includes historical background information and many little tidbits along the way, but the star of this book is the imagery.
The Future of Golf
- Geoff Shackelford
Ok, so this one isn't much about design, but more about the golf industry and it's future. It's a series of articles written by Geoff. Well worth the read, even if it's not entirely on a design topic. What can I say, I'm a sucker for his work.
The Course Beautiful
- A.W. Tillinghast
This is a collection of 53 articles written by one of golf’s greatest architects. Includes a number of black and white photographs.
Always interesting to read one of the classic designers speaking in their own words. The big question though, do you know what he means when he mentions the niblick, the mashie, or even the baffing spoon?
Classic Golf Hole Design
Using the Greatest Holes as Inspiration for Modern Courses
- Robert Graves, Geoffrey Cornish
An examination of a number of different classic hole design types.
An interesting read, with lots of little historical tidbits.
Not on the top of my list of favourites, but a good book nonetheless.
Golf Architecture
- Alister MacKenzie
A fascinating look into the mind of one of history's greatest designers. A small book with lots of little tidbits and insights into the work of MacKenzie.
The Spirit of St. Andrews
- Alister MacKenzie
A great read, this book was written 80 years ago but was lost and only published recently. Some B&W photos and lots of great insights into MacKenzie's methodology and process.
Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes
- Stephen Goodwin
An amazing 'behind-the-scenes' look at the making of what is now America's highest ranked golf resort (based on course rankings, it has three courses, all ranked inside the top 15 public courses in America by Golf Digest (#'s 2, 7 & 14). Incredible detail on how it all came together and a lot of background on all the key players. Lots of insight from the designers of each of the three courses.
The Anatomy of a Golf Course: The Art of Golf Architecture
- Tom Doak
Much like Shackelford's Grounds for Golf, this book has lots of good descriptions of golf design and good drawings. (Doak designed one of the three courses mentioned above at Bandon Dunes). Every bit as useful and interesting as Shackelford's work. If you liked Grounds for Golf, you'll like this one too!
To The Nines
- Anthony Pioppi
A great little book about some of the best existing and former 9-hole courses in America. An interesting look at a rarely consider aspect of the golf industry.
The 500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes
- George Peper, & Editors of Golf Magazine
Maybe not exactly a book related to design theory so much. Nonetheless, a great book for images. A few interesting factoids dispensed with each of the top 100 holes, and the top 18 holes get a 4 page spread each.
Perhaps a tad thick to be a coffee table book, but hey, that’s where I keep my copy. Many wonderful photographs of great golf holes. |
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Munroco |
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Scotland |
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| Joined: 10/8/2008 |
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| Posted: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at
3:45:34 PM |
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Sounds like a load of interesting reading there. How pertinant to the CA that we use? I assume any distances they talk about will be immaterial to todays golf courses nvm TW, but the other stuff is still relevant?
Cheers
Neil (stroking his baffy lovingly and gazing with adoration at his niblick) |
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Munroco Signature |
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| From Carnoustie, the REAL home of golf. |
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ZB |
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Scotland |
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| Joined: 5/15/2005 |
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B-Day: 2/7/1963 (61) |
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| Posted: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at
7:05:16 PM |
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I started subscribing to "Golf Course Architecture", back in 2005. It's a quarterly magazine and mainly aimed at real course architects and everyone else involved in the building and redesigning of golf courses.
It got me so interested that I have enrolled on next year's intake for the European Institute of Golf course Architects Professional Diploma in Golf Course Design ....a 3 year distance course which includes site visits/studies of some of Europes best designs. Mind you, it didn't come cheap!!! The magazine however, is reasonable at £20 ($35) pa. |
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longbomb |
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| Joined: 8/15/2005 |
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B-Day: 9/13/1990 (34) |
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| Posted: Thursday, May 7, 2009 at
5:03:57 PM |
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I think i good short read is the USGA Course Rating Guide
I believe it is super helpful due all the charts it has that are pretty relevent.
It also can show you just how a golf course gets it rating and what to do to make it more difficult/less difficult depending on what you would like. |
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