Golf Books

i have a lot of books on golf courses & golf course design, and i think this one may be my favorite. it is well written, in a friendly, informal style that provides plenty of information and insight into the work of one of the world's most famous course designers. the pictures are beautiful and mostly large enough to show sufficient detail to make them interesting. i'd definitely recommend it.

Tom Fazio is one of the best golf course designers of all time. Because I am from the Philadelphia area, I am not privileged to play as many of his courses as I would like. When you first pick up this book, you might falsely believe it is nothing more than a picture book. Don't be fooled though. Fazio provides some interesting insight into why he chose to sculpt his courses the way he did. Many golf enthusiasts might recognize Fazio's name from courses they've played, but he has also done some masterful redesigns as well including the recent improvements to Augusta National.
Yes, the pictures add another dimension to the book, but the fact that it is an easy read and one that provides great insight is what brings this book to another level.
I highly recommended this book not only for golfers but for those who enjoy the aesthetics of a golf course as well.

If you play golf, you must have this book. I am lucky enough to work at a Fazio course (Victoria National - Indiana) and so naturally this book was special to me.

It is enjoyable to look at as well as interesting to read.

Anyone who plays or wishes they could play will HAVE to have this book.

Unlike most books destined for the coffee table, Fazio transends the swing arc to a beautiful look at the vision of the the ulimate playing field- the golf course. With a wonderful perspective of design, the challange of the game starts with the challange of the course. The pictures are beautiful beyond description but the story, passion and the theory are even more great. Tom Fazio has taken his agressiveness from the tour and put it to the turf. This is a wonderful book for the golf enthusiast!

This is a top class book with the most stunning photos from the worlds most famous golf courses. We use this as presentation book in our business class together with 15 other books and this is with out and doubt the most popular one. Even I who don't know much about golf -- love look in it.
Outstanding book for golfers and none golfers.

Probably one of the best golf books ever. The pictures of the some of the courses are just amazing. Flicking through the pages makes you want to go and play golf straight away. A superb book!

The first book I received was damaged so they sent me a new one that was perfect. I got a really nice book for a good price.

I wasn't aware it was a signed copy. Great book. Awesome photography.

Mr. Stachura has once again proved to have impeccable command over the English Language. I was particularly touched by his dedication and acknowledgement section (in the back of the book). I don't know how this one has remained #69,497 on the best seller list.

Mr. Stachura has once again proved to have impeccable command over the English Language. I was particularly touched by his dedication and acknowledgement section (in the back of the book). I don't know how this one has remained #69,497 on the best seller list.

This is the greatest read I have come across with respect to America's storied golf courses. Mr. Stachura has a wonderful command over the English language, and does a superb job of describing the rich history of these wonderful designs.

I would recommend this book for anyone serious about the game, in addition to all business travelers who get the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to any of these wonderful creations.

Mr. Stachura, I have two words for you: Gor geous. You are the most handsome author of golf courses that I have ever laid my eyes on. If you ever lose that wife of yours, please be sure to call me.

The Golf Guide for Parents and Players is a wonderful resource for any Jr. Golfer wanting to accelerate their development as a golfer and have fun along the way. It is also a tremendous guide to parents as they create the road map for their children to get the most out of their Jr. and College golf experience. Both Jacqui and Johnny provide a great perspective that is a must read for any Jr. Golfer and their parents.

This book is chock-full of useful information at any stage of the golf timeline a parent or player might be in. It's nice to have one book that you can continually reference to and not have to buy two or three books. The Golf Guide has skills and drills for the player but also gives parents and players a big picture for a career in golf as a player and/or at a golf course. I bought it for my son and I look forward to having both of us use this book as a reference tool.

Professional golfers Jacqui Nicoletti McSorley and Johnny Gonzales combine their wisdom in the field to present Golf Guide for Parents and Players: Secrets of Success for Junior & College Golf, Professional Tour and Beyond, an excellent introduction to golf for children, young adults, college-aged adults, and parents with children interested in the sport. Chapters discuss how to motivate one's kids to keep practicing, save on lessons, find scholarships and sponsors, golf organizations and agents, how to pursue college golf or a career in professional golf, and much more. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, and featuring an index for quick and easy reference, Golf Guide for Parents and Players lives up to its title with gusto.

I am a PGA member. I can not recommend this book highly enough for parents and juniors. It is extremely well written and has very valuable information for juniors at all stages of the game. I particularly like how the authors used real life examples to make their points clearer. It is the only book written of its kind. I feel that this book will help juniors make better choices for themselves. It will also help them enjoy and appreciate the game of golf for their lifetime.

Golf Happens is one of two books I have read written by Rick. This book is hysterical! I am not much of a reader but when I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I have read the book twice and each time I have found something useful, from driving to putting to long irons to wedges. If you want to take a few strokes off the card, I highly suggest you read this book.
A very well written book!

Don't be fooled by the title! In Rick Graves book "Golf Happens", golf doesn't just happen, it comes alive with antedotes, insight and instruction. While I found the author's insights on the trials and tribulations of running a private golf club facinating reading, I was equally impressed by the golf instruction. Since reading Rick Graves' book I dropped my handicap from a 14 to a 9 following a couple of his tips. This alone makes it a great buy. I'd like to see him do a guest spot on the Golf Channel. It would be a great show. Get the book. It's worth the time.

I'm Rick's son, and I just wanted to make a few comments about Golf Happens. The book is a very witty look at my father's life as a pro golfer. The book even offers a few cutting-edge tips on lowering your score. Rick has worked for Nicklaus, taught at PGA academies, and played on the Asian tour. The man is a walking Golf Encyclopedia. So, if you want a few laughs and enjoy humorous tales of golf antics, get this book!

I really enjoyed this book. I am a new golfer and I found this book very informative. It provides the reader the history of the game. It also provides information and ideas to help your game. It has drills and techniques the reader can use to better their individual enjoyment and skill of the game. Much of the ideas are presented in a humorous way which helps in the readers retention. The author also shares some individual stories about when he was a golf club pro which are very entertaining as well as informative. I highly recommend this book. It is quick and worthwhile read!

Although the only real written work Ross has left us, it is a wellspring of information regarding his thinking on good (and bad) course design. There are also comments regrading how the game was played in his day and a number of other informative and enlightening segments.

The overall style of the book is a collection of short comments on concepts, courses, and techinques of course building. As such, it lacks the flair that we see in other books written by the same generation of architects to illustrait a greater story (as with, for example, Macdonald's Scotland's Gift). Even so, Ross' character comes out.

In addition to the rare look we get at the thinking of a master course architect, there are also numerous photos and design sketches that bring into clear view what is being discussed.

Lastly, for those hoping to hunt down a Ross course near you, there is an index of Donald Ross designed courses and clubs included.

It should be kept in mind that this is a book for the architecture crowd. People looking to "shave off a few strokes" will need to look elsewhere. It is hoped, though, that this book will be available before the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst, as there will no doubt be an increased interest in Ross and his courses.

In the introduction to this book, Donald Ross's daughter says, ". . .he approached every new course with the idea that the golf player, champion or duffer, should complete his round challenged by the layout and enriched by the beauty of nature."

In his career, Donald Ross designed more than 400 courses in the United States. His most famous is Pinehurst No. 2, considered one of the ultimate tests of tournament golf.

This book was created from an old manuscript Mr. Ross wrote in 1914 that was never published, intended as a guide to future golf architects, supplemented with other published commentaries by and about Ross.

Mr. Ross had an unusual background for a golf course architect. In a time when engineers usually designed and built the courses, he had served as the pro and greenskeeper at Dornoch in Scotland, after training at St. Andrews with Old Tom Morris and at Carnoustie. The lure of much higher income and the opportunity to build lots of golf courses drew him to the United States with his first job of rebuilding Oakley in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Here are some of the ideas he shares in the book:

"These are my standards to laying out a golf course.

Make each hole a different problem.

So arrange it that each stroke must be made with full concentration and attention necessary to good golf. Build each hole in such a manner that it wastes none of the ground at my disposal, and takes advantage of every possibility I see."

A sandy loamy soal is best, with very little humus. This gives you better playing conditions and a longer season. Long Island and Cape Cod are best.

Avoid clay soils because they are hard to drain. Unfortunately, most land around major cities is clay soiled. Favor fan-shaped and oblong tracts of land so that the clubhouse can be returned to with little wasted land after 9 holes.

Start out with two or more easy holes.

Favor par 4s unless people insist on par 5s. Par 4s make a better test, especially 425-450 yard ones.

On par 5s, provide two paths to the green -- one for reaching in 2 and one for reaching in 3.

"Select your putting green locations, if possible, to give desirable undulating surfaces."

"Make all the short holes difficult."

"The holes should be trapped so that par golf depends on skill rather than physical strength."

"Bunkers should so be placed as to be clearly in view, and in such locations as to make all classes of golfers think."

He recommends designing from the land, rather than on paper. He also suggests building the best few holes the land will allow, because golfers are attracted and retained by memories of great and challenging holes. He ends humbly with "I am not much of a writer. I find my thoughts run far ahead of my hand and figures when I sit down to write."

There are about 60 pages in the book that will be valuable to architects and greenskeepers, but will not do much for golfers. You may choose to skip those.

The book lists the known Donald Ross courses, and has many beautiful black and white photographs and illustrations.

One of the pleasures of reading this book for me relates to having played on many Donald Ross courses, and belonging to a country club (Brae Burn in West Newton, Massachusetts) that has a Donald Ross course. The book features 3 photographs from our course (the 1st, 2nd, and 17th holes). I will certainly have many new thoughts whenever I play this course after reading this interesting book. To golf's pleasures, I can now add thinking about what the architect was trying to accomplish.

I also came away with a greater appreciation for Donald Ross, because he was trying to make golf more challenging and less frustrating for the average club golfer like me. This made me want to play many more Donald Ross courses in the future. I hope you have that reaction, too.

Use this book to help you pick courses that will improve your enjoyment of golf!

What else do you enjoy doing where the designer or architect makes a difference to you?

If you like this book, there is a new book out with color photographs of 18 of Mr. Ross's finest holes that you should see entitled: Golf as It Was Meant to Be Played which I also reviewed.

This book is timeless. Written over fifty years ago the text and accompanying photos and sketches are well done. If you want to understand a Donald Ross Golf Course then you need to read this book.The photographs are from a time gone by - you can picture yourself there.

Donald Ross was the pivotal figure in the establishment of golf as a recreational sport in the U.S. His courses remain as challenging today as they were during his times.

This book gives the reader insights into how to view a course with a critical eye. And after reading it, one can quickly identify the trademark features of a Ross design and perhaps score a little better on it.

The book also provides a comprehensive listing of courses.

--The man who is going to play every Donald Ross course.

I met Nobby on the Big Island of Hawai'i over Thanksgiving 2004. We played Hualalai early one morning. What a cool guy. I read the book that afternoon and enjoyed it very much. If you are a golfer, this book is for you.

What Great Stuff!! This man is truly a Golf Nut!! His stories and antics will keep you laughing! I just can't believe some of the things he's done! How has his wife ever put up with him through all of this! This is a must read for any golfer!!

What Great Stuff!! This man is truly a Golf Nut!! His stories and antics will keep you laughing! I just can't believe some of the things he's done! How has his wife ever put up with him through all of this! This is a must read for any golfer!!

'Golf is a Funny Disease' is one of the funniest book's I've ever read. What makes me identify with Nobby is that I can see myself doing some of the crazy stuff he's done. Imagine, playing golf in London, New York and Los Angeles on the same day. Besides the jokes, some of the things that have actually happened to him on the golf course are absolutely hilarious!

being a non golfing lawyer who is under pressure to play the game i thought the book a great read.to all none golfing lawyers go get and surprise your partners!

Golf Made Difficult is epic poetry which, in parts tragic and parts comic, speaks to the non-sensical, unreasonable, and wonderfully passionate golfer inside each of us. Tom Trowbridge deftly rhymes his way through the world of golf clubs, golf lessons, and golf games with the inside knowledge of a man who has spent long hours of unspeakable agony on a golf course for those brief seconds of delicious ecstasy. In this Iliad, we have found the Trojan horse in our golf bag but are having much too much fun to toss it out. This beautifully written and illustrated book will probably not drop your handicap but will surely make you stop crying about it. I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves golfing, and for anyone who loves someone who loves golfing.

I found this book to be very witty and entertaining! It should be available at every pro shop in the nation!

Every now and then one comes across a book that evades description, let alone classification. This is just such a book and so writing a review that does it justice is a considerable task. Trowbridge has written a book which golfers will love and which us "golf outsiders" can certainly relate to. But this book is no mere Tiger Wood's tale, rather it is an epic poem--a modern Beowulf, only instead of the mead hall, this tale takes place on the putting greens. Wonderfully illustrated and devilishly clever this is one of those rare books that is both humorous and poetic. A real treasure.

Taking care of your body will ensure many more years of good golf. This book is a great start, with a simple 15 minute program to keep you (and your game) in good shape!

Unlike many such books, this one is excellent and serious. Follow Dr. Vad's strictures and you may yet live to shoot your age!

I wish I'd read this book 45 years ago, when I started playing golf. If you're a serious golfer -- one who wants to play your best, and works toward that goal -- you have a choice: get into a good flexibility and strengthening program, or be prepared to spend some really painful time in bed, not playing golf in beautiful weather.
This book provides what you need to lower the likelihood of encountering the pain and misery of golf-related back problems. There are no guarantees in life, but it has transformed golf for this 67-year old.

It was a very easy read. Very little golf stuff but lots of easy exercises to do and could be done in under 20 minutes for better fitness. It has three levels of difficulties. Yes, to golf better, improve on strength and flexibility as the explosive force in a golf swing could result in injury if we are not properly conditioned, especially weekend warriors.

The author of this book hust happens to be my uncle, or else I would have never heard of it. But when he presented it to me and I saw a quote by Arnold Palmer endorsing the book, I knew that it would be worth my time and boy was I right. It was one of those books that keep you laughing the whole time. Keep up the good work Uncle John!

An entertaining story for those who are interested in learning more about the factors that influence a golfer's game. I truly enjoyed the adventures of the golfers and the golflyns. After reading this story, I think I will be able to improve my golf game!

This book finally explains the ups and downs of playing golf with the real story of who is controlling your game. Your game will definitely improve when you read what is the correct approach to playing this age old sport. This mystical story with its colorful characters (who really control the game of golf) will inspire you to enjoy the game like you never did before. Fun reading and a great adult book for those young at heart!

When I first saw the cover I thought this was a kids book. The Arnold Palmer quote said it was for golfers of all ages, so I bought it for a golfer buddy of mine. I read it before I gave it to him and I loved it. It's very well written, funny and the illustrations are beautiful. It is a fantasy but it has a moral to the story that applies to real life. Kids will enjoy reading it but it really is for golfers of all ages.