Golf Books

Love this book for its classic shots as the title depicts. There are wonderful pictures of golfers through the decades, makes a great coffee table book or a wonderful gift for the golfer in your life.

This volume gives us a very unusual and refreshing glimpse of virtually every aspect of the game. The patience and thoughtfulness given to analyzing and selecting from among the half-million images in the USGA photo archives is amazing enough in itself, but what Marty Parkes and his collaborators at Golf House have put together here will stir the imagination and thrill the soul of anyone who has ever held a golf club. Whether it's Tiger with his Dad or Old Tom Morris and Harry Vardon at St. Andrews, Ouimet blasting out of a bunker at the '23 Walker Cup or, perhaps one of the most poignant photos, a group of uniformed servicemen on a practice green at Camp Gordon, Georgia during World War II, this volume has it all ... and all of us will be the better for spending time with it!

I am fortunate and I am forever grateful to be the proud holder of this beautiful book.

I purchased this book as a Father's Day gift for my golfer husband. He loved it! Our golfer son came to visit and he loved it! National Geographic has produced an excellent product with this beautifully photographed and extremely well written volume. My husband placed it on our bookcase...face forward...it's that beautiful!

Once I began reading "Clearview:America's Course" I simply could not put it down. It is a personal historical account of the transition of our country from a place where only some enjoy freedom to a country where finally we can boast that all people are free. We see the past 7 decades through one man's vision, uncluttered by resentment and bitterness at the unjust treatment he endured simply because he was black. Dr. Powell is an inspiration to all. Ms. Nosner writes in a manner that is easy and enjoyable to read.

An excellent work to understand the cultural and historical issues facing blacks in pre civil rights history and beyond. It is a penetrating and inspirational look at overcoming obstacles in pursuit of a dream. It is not contexted solely in racial struggles of minorites but goes beyond this to the courage and deliberation required for any of us that have dreams and aspirations to accomplish something to make this a better world.

this book is one of the most inspirational and motivational books I have read in a long time. It teaches many lessons for people of all ages, especially to never give up.

This is a story of triumph over discrimination based upon the color of one's skin.

Imagine serving your country to win a war, and then returning to your homeland, and not having available to you the resources available to others who worked by your side.

Be amazed that there is only one golf coure in the United States in the year 2001 that is designed, built, and maintained by an African-American family.

Consider that the Professional Golf Association of America eliminated its white-only policy in the early 1960s.

Become inspired by imagining or playing this golf course that is available to any person, regardless of level of skill; for the love of the game.

Ellen Nossner's writing of this man's story is focused, fluid, and revealing.

America has come a long way, in part, due to triumphs of spirit like that of Mr. Powell. We must not lose sight that we still have a ways to go.

I haven't seen a better book! The auther clearly spent a lot of time on this work of art. It is a must have for all collecters, and all golf fanatics. If you are looking for a father's day gift, this is perfect! If you have any doubts, I advise you to buy it anyway. It will definitly be worth your while!

Without doubt this is the most beautiful and fascinating compendium of antique golf clubs you will ever come across. It is well worth every penny. The illustrations are superb and the content flawless. You will be amazed at the splendour of the Clubmakers Art.

I recently recieved this book as a gift for my birthday from my wife. I was highly impressed with the fine quality and craftmanship of this work of art. I plan to give this book to my friends that are as interested in golf as I am, and even to the ones who don't like golf! No one could ever be displeased with this book! My compiments to Jeff Ellis on his accomplishment.

The Clubmaker's Art is a magnificent example of hard work and dedication to the golf industry. I received the book recently, and I couldn't be happier with what I got. The pictures are so life like, and they pop out at you. This is the best example of quality in the writing industy, and I think that every golf collecter, lover, and player must get this book!

This is an attractive and informative book that appeals to young readers. My grandson loved it, and we quizzed him on the rules of the gentleman's game after he read it and he didn't miss a one. There is nothing more annoying that being at a golf course with one who doesn't mind his golf manners, so it is good to start them off right. I highly recommend this book.

Count on Golf, The ABC's of Golf, Swing Into Opposites with Golf , Junior Golf Journal, Consider It Golf: Golf Etiquette and Safety Tips for Children! Susan Greene's children golf books are a wonderful collection to own. Years ago, I was looking for a book about golf for my niece and came across ABC's of Golf. She loved the bears and the rhythms and I loved that she was learning the game of golf. So, I bought Count on Golf, Opposites of Golf and Consider It Golf. I have since bought the collection for each of my great nieces and nephew. My niece (now 10) loves to read the books to them and beams when she tells them she has the same books....then I beam!!

I'm waiting for them to get a little older before I give them the Junior Golf Journal but ordered one for myself. It's a keepsake!

Not only is this a well written informative book about basic safety and etiquette put in a rhythmic verse, it has a True or False test at the end of the book to test your skills when your done reading. My kids Love being quized to see what they have learned. Some of the questions really get them giggling one of my kids favorites is: True or False- you always yell FORE before a Putt. I found this to be the best book on golf for the 2-6 age range by far!! It gives a great basic knowledge on how to be considerate and not get yourself killed on a golf course and for me with kids that age- it's pretty much all I'm shooting for :) I'm looking forward to getting more of her books on this sport that my children are so over the moon about!

My children are already fascinated with game of golf because their father is a golf nut. This book puts many of the golf rules and safety concerns into easy to understand kid language. It's a great place to start when introducing your child to golf. A word of caution...the quiz at the end is a great review, but some of the questions are worded in a tricky way for young children to answer correctly (and for anyone else who isn't "test-savvy"). The illustrations are charming, too.

Every year before the British Open I haul out my copy of Dogged Victims and read once again Dan Jenkins' non-fiction account of playing on a links course. Before long, I'm reading out loud to my wife, who -- so far as I know -- has never set foot on a fairway. We have our best laugh of the year, tuck our tattered copy away on the sports book shelf, and look forward to the following summer.

OK, I'll confess. Before the tucking, I sneak out in the backyard with a pint of Junior and read Jenkins' remembrance of Goat Hills. I grew up caddying and loading clubs on carts at a course about a faded persimmon three wood from my house, and this premium example of the sportswriter's art takes me right back to those twilight caddy tournaments -- a ball, a mallet head putter, a flashlight and a pocketful of tees. Listen this July -- you'll hear me howling in the woods.

If you love golf and you haven't read this book, don't die yet.

This is my absolute favorite book, of any kind, on any topic, by any writer. (And I've written books of my own!) It's simply great, and repays rereading again and again.

Before Tiger, before Jack, before Big Bertha, there was Arnold Palmer and a 40-week season where golf's greatest players paid cost for their wardrobes and counted themselves lucky being able to spend a weekend at the Holiday Inn.

Dan Jenkins followed the sport closely as a columnist with Sports Illustrated, and his work is still regarded as definitive examples of sports journalism. At its best, "The Dogged Victims Of Inexorable Fate" documents what made golf special in the 1960s before it became the superstar circuit it is today.

On Palmer, the King of the sport during that decade, though he never won a major after 1964, Jenkins writes movingly in one essay: "He is the most immeasurable of golf champions. But this is not entirely true because of all that he has won, or because of the mysterious fury with which he has managed to rally himself. It is partly because of the nobility he has brought to losing. And more than anything, it is true because of the pure, unmixed joy he has brought to trying."

Most of the time, Jenkins foregoes the heartstrings and settles for the funny bone. Take his lead on the PGA Tour's most august tournament: "It is commonly known among a select group of Masters goers that many of the best shots of the tournament are served in tall paper cups on the upstairs porch of the Augusta National Golf Club." About a freespending golfer of an earlier era: "If Jimmy Demaret had won the money he would have been 8 to 5 to leave it in a bar or blow it on a handmade pair of orange and purple saddle oxfords."

Funny stuff. Jenkins also scores points in summing up the histories of tournaments and eras in ways that are definitive and deceptively breezy. Reading him is to get a sense of how golf writing moved from the stodgy versifying of Herbert Warren Wind to the snarky cool of Rick Reilly and Alan Shipnuck, not to mention the gang in the 18th hole tower at CBS. For that, and other things, he may well have been the most revolutionary golf writer, and this book offers some prize examples why.

But there's something to be said for stodgy, too. Wind was not a snappy writer, but he was a measured and thorough one, and reading his account of golf's beginnings in America feels more like the real deal. Jenkins too often uses situations and characters as backboards for his zings and one-liners, then moves on, whereas Wind or another writer might linger and find something of value. Jenkins doesn't quote the players so much as channel them through his narrative, and though it is readable, it's suspect, too. He's also an impossibly snobby overdog, focusing on the favorites and ignoring the field. He seems to watch every tournament from the most exclusive part of the clubhouse, in the company of CEOs and Ben Hogan. He doesn't fawn, but he doesn't find a seat closer to the crowd, either.

At least two of his essays, a faux-Runyanesque tale of a freeloader living off Tour luminaries and an account of a round with several Hollywood stars, seem like excuses for hobnobbing and overstay their welcome. But the rest vary in quality from illuminating to awe-inspiring.

The second-to-last piece, "The Glory Game," is considered one of sports writing's all-time best. It's a really great first-person account about a group of compulsive gamblers who play on a Fort Worth muni course that whips through its longer-than-average length. Also terrific is "The Big Window," which details how CBS covered the 1966 Masters by putting the reader in the control room with blustery producer Frank Chirkinian.

Jenkins' book isn't up there on the top shelf of my golf library with Wind's "The Story Of American Golf," Shipnuck's "Blood, Sweat & Tees," or John Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled," but if you like your sportswriting salty and dry, this is a good jar of peanuts to dig into.

I first read this book in 1977 as a requirement for my high scool golf team.I was actually sent to the principal`s office because my laughter was disrupting other student`s in the library! The antics of the gang at Goat Hills is a absolute scream. It`s Jenkin`s at his best. I `m buying extra copies for my foresome to read at the 19th hole!!

This book not only is an outstanding piece of tennis history, but also contains great U.S. history of the late 1800's and first half of the 1900's. By tracing Davis and his family through those years,
the author gives riveting stories about the early days in burgeoning St. Louis, World War I,
the Philippines, the Department of War in those years, even
World War II. This book is a gem that integrates the early history of "lawn tennis," with the broader events of the day. Dwight Davis not only was a "tennis man" but a highly placed civil servant and a philanthropist. al campbell, cincinnat

The author does a nice job of seamlessly integrating an interesting life and the cup's history. Davis exhibited many admirable American characteristics including courage, patriotism and determination. The vivid description of Malmo captured the cup's legacy wonderfully. The prose is graceful and sails along.

I truly enjoyed this inspirational story of one of the great tennis leaders of the 20th century

The history of the Davis Cup is fascinating and excitingly written. However, the life of donor Dwight Davis took me completely by surprise: A terrific biography of an outstanding human being.

Kriplen's research and delightful usage of the written word is thoroughly complete and very rewarding to the reader. I hope that more will come from this author in the future. This book will be a joy for those who love tennis and good biographies.

The word `golf' first appeared in a 1457 Scottish Edict banning the Scots from playing in order to turn their focus to archery and defend their realm from the English. And so The Edict is a fanciful tale by Bob Cupp about how such a law could have found its way out of the parliament.

In the community of Fife a structure was built to honor St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, brother to Peter and an apostle to Jesus. This would become the ecclesiastic cornerstone to pilgrims and golf tournaments, increasing the community population exponentially. It is in this backdrop that Cupp writes about a famed tournament that caused the King to outlaw golf on March 6, 1457.

The Edict is the story about a shepherd with a natural talent, who could win the event and be the next celebrated hero of the games. However there are two evil ruffians who go out of their way to cause him to fall short of his dream. A nobleman with a major betting problem realizes he has seriously placed himself in jeopardy by making an ill-advised bet, and an evil lender who plays innocent people against each other, creating a community of distrust, who use skullduggery to prevent the dark horse from winning.

In a Foreword written by Jack Nicklaus, he describes Bob Cupp as one of the most talented golf course designers who has the ability to turn red clay into brilliant fairways. In addition to his vivid imagination, Bob has a healthy sense of humor and the gift of gab. Hence, Jack believes The Edict is important to golf in that it brings to life the possibilities of golf's rudiment beginnings.

Whether you are a casual or serious golfer, The Edict will inspire greater passion and a reverence for the game. I don't believe any reader can honestly read this book and not want to pick up a set a clubs. As a casual golfer that is exactly what I did and I felt a new understanding for the nuances of golf. Thanks Bob!

Armchair Interviews says: You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy.

In the fifteenth century, golf has become the national pastime of Scotland with only raiding matching it with intensity. So popular is the sport, raiding is halted during the annual tournament at St. Andrews while betting on the players is hot.

The favorite to win the St. Andrews tourney in 1457 is shepherd Caeril Patersone. However, a noble panics when he realizes he made a stupid bet. To insure that Caeril fails to win the event, he writes off a debt in exchange for beautiful Eta to distract the favorite. If that fails, he still has his ace in the hole of appealing to King James II to ban the sport and consequently the tournament because he has proof too many soldiers hit the links instead of the archery range.

THE EDICT is a delightful sports historical thriller based on a real event that occurred in Scotland when the King outlawed golf on March 4, 1457. Readers will root for Caeril, who in spite of being the best golfer in the tournament, is a decided underdog because the fix is in. Historical readers and golf aficionados will believe that Bob Cupp is a masterful author as he makes birdies and eagles with this ace of a fifteenth century sports saga.

Harriet Klausner

What a marvelous read Cupp has given us! From his prose (whom he graciously acknowledges he had help with) to his research into Scotland and the line drawings, the total product is to be fully inhaled, exhaled, re-inhaled and given away as presents. This book is soooo good!

The romp through history and shepherds boredom to the course designer and the final edict is truly captivating and delightful reading. Golfers will adore it, and even the non-golfer would likely enjoy this read through time.

Aficionados will find the likes of Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus in here as well as USGA, etc.

By all means, buy this book and read it. Anybody else wonder if this could be made into movie?

Edicts are meant to be broken, and a novel about how golf might have began, got stopped, and begun again, was meant to be written by a real live golf course maker, writer, artist, social observer, and bon vivant.

Bob Cupp, who's designed fair ways and fair greens all over the earth, has published a novel so deep in historical fact and useable information that it's enjoyable on loads of levels. In other words, do you know why we play golf with a hole? Really? You know, sausages are linked ... some crimes are linked ... but finally we get the explanation from a man who knows: Cupp's narrator tells us, in golf, what "links" really means. Cupp's narrator gives us a review of grasses ... and a review of ancient equipment. In The Edict, you get the best golf lessons. All you have to do is crack this handsome book open and start ... grinning.

The story is about a young shepherd, Caeril Patersone, who's a natural golfer and plays in matches here and there, governed by the United Golf Honours Society, against golfers who make cameo appearances under ancient names and descriptions. Cupp pays quirky tributes to memorable characters very much like Nicklaus, Hagen, Hogan, Palmer, Snead, and Jones. Caeril's handsomely crafted, too, but there's always got to be jealous character lurking around to make the story even more interesting ... and violent ... and it's the local money lender and outright grumpy fart, Mordiac Domni. In Caeril's quest to win the championship, goons get ventilated with arrows and gutted with knives ... a local bonny gal, Eta, bares it all in hopes of distracting our hero and it damn well works ... and the most unlikely creeps turn into real gentlemen. All because of this pesky sport called golf.

Look closely in The Edict ... literally: look closely ... and also enjoy something unique to any modern golf novel: Cupp's own drawings accentuate the entire book. Who is that modern golfer in ancient leggings on page vii? Could that be the great golfer from Latrobe on page 63 ... sporting a bushy beard? Could be ... sure is. And that's part of the fun of this book. The author's clever hand and mind is all over ... and in ... the pages.

The Edict is a novel ... it's fictional entertainment ... but it's a truthful book. You can feel the affection the author has for the sport and the towns and topography on which we play it ... and you can feel the affection for how he thinks golf might have started six hundred or so years ago. I say let's make a new edict up: let's make this special book the official golfer's Bible. In the King James version we're supposed to believe a dead man ... can come alive? Then let's believe a simple man ... a humble shepherd ... can play golf, a lot, and that his woman will still love him, too.

And who's to say their children became the famous ancient club makers and golf professionals we learn about in coffee table books ... those old Grey Beards whose old photographs we gaze at and wonder if they really knew what golf would become. I say let's seriously propose that idea of Cupp's, too.

I won't cryit downe.


Reviewer Todd Sentell is the author of the hilarious golf and social satire, TOONAMINT OF CHAMPIONS: How LaJuanita Mumps Got to Join Augusta National Golf Club Real Easy

I recommend this book highly. It gives you answers and fixes to any question or problem you might be having. I refer to it constantly.

This book is a must for golfers. I refer to it as the golf bible. If a part of your game breaks down look to this book for the answers.

This book provides golfers at all levels of playing ability the opportunity to improve their game and also better understand "how and why" certain shots are made.

It is simply the "Bible" of golf.

Every golfer should own a copy and use it often.

This is the most far reaching analysis and treatment of the mechanics of the game that I have seen. It has value for the experienced golfer who understands enough to look for specific fixes for his/her own game, while having the same very basics that discuss the mysteries (nuances) of the game for those at the beginning of this utterly exasperating and pleasurable game.

Half the enjoyment of Golf just seems to be about being outdoors in beautiful settings.

If you are in the mood to travel, these are some of the places you can travel to in your mind.

The Northeast: Regal Retreats
The South: Grand Tradition
The Midwest: Lakeside Links
the Northwest: Rugged Resorts
The Southwest: Sunwashed Escapes
Hawaii: Ancient Pleasures

Personally, I think playing golf might just be a good excuse to go to one of the resorts in this gorgeous book. Page after Page of beautiful scenery is sure to make you want to start packing your bags, whether you play golf or not.

I think my husband is dreaming of The Phoenician in Arizona.

"Those who visit the Phoenician year after year describe its ambiance in a single word: freedom. The spacious lobbies, tranquil guest rooms, and even the Arizona sky liberate visitors from their usual day-to-day concerns."

Frankly, I thought the resorts in Hawaii looked rather tempting. My husband can just drop me off at the Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai on the way to the course.

~The Rebecca Review

I bought this book for my father in law and he loves it!! it is a great book for anyone who loves golf! the pictures are awesome, they catch some good shots and it's got details on everything. I don't know much about golf, but I even liked the book! It is truly a great gift, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Golf!!!

One of my favorite vacations is to go to a top golf resort. Once I am there, my only discomfort is to wonder if I am missing a better one somewhere else out of habit. With this guide, I was able to check out many resorts that I had heard of but had never visited. I can see that I can skip many famous resorts that I had been considering, but should consider some others that I had never heard of. This book will add enormously to my planning of future golfing vacations!

The resort ratings are compiled by travel writers, and the ratings reflect all the aspects of the resort . . . not just the golf. The categories include golf challenge, beauty, lodging, food and amenities. Amenities aren't very important for me, so I can ignore that category. Food is fairly unimportant unless it is inedible, and local restaurants can usually solve that problem . . . so I discount that category as well. I am very sensitive to the golf, the beauty, and the lodging, so I can select on that basis. You can do a similar weighting of what's important for you.

I thought that the golf challenge rankings were much too similar. For example, Indian Wells in California was ranked much like La Quinta and for me there is no comparison. But you can read the slope and index, and look at sample holes and make your own judgments.

I suspect that resorts that are well known got a little overrated. I like Spanish Bay, but I wouldn't rate the course number two for golf challenge ahead of 98 other resorts, including nearby Pebble Beach.

But the best part of the book can be found in the spectacular two-page color spreads of views of the courses and natural beauty of the surroundings. It felt like a vacation just to see these lush scenes! I was impressed to see that many midwestern courses offer interesting challenges, which I would never have realized had I not seen this book. The overall top rated resort from the perspective of this book is The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. It definitely looks like a resort I would like to try, and I would never have considered it otherwise.

The main drawback of this book is that it only rates the golf resorts in the United States. Since golf resorts are expensive compared to air fare, it would have been better to rate the worldwide golf resorts. Many of the top resorts in Europe would easily nose out all but the top 20 or so on this list. A secondary drawback is that the rating is done as though the resort is always attractive to visit. Some of these places are only worth playing on for a few months of the year (such as Mount Washington in New Hampshire), while others are terrific for 12 months a year (such as the Hawaiian courses). So be careful when you plan to go!

After you finish examining these beautifully interesting choices, I suggest that you also consider what else can be done in the area. After all, you usually won't be playing 36 holes a day.

Have a well rounded vacation!

This book is unreal! The pictures are captivating . . . as if I was looking down the 18th fairway at Harbour Town! A must have for the avid golfer.

Another cute book for the younger children. Children love books in which insects are given human likenesses. In a childs mind this book could very well be true. Foursom is like any child of a young age.

This book had my two children (ages 6 and 8) bouncing up and down and giggling as I read it to them. They loved the story of Foursome's golfing adventures and crowded to see the colorful artwork, especially the spider's whimsical argyle pattern! After the book was over, we had a good discussion on getting along with people, making new friends, and trying new things.

This book had my two children (ages 6 and 8) bouncing up and down and giggling as I read it to them. They loved the story of Foursome's golfing adventures and crowded to see the colorful artwork, especially the spider's whimsical argyle pattern! After the book was over, we had a good discussion on getting along with people, making new friends, and trying new things.

Foursome the Spider shows Children & Adults in Colorful & Creative Simplicity that "We all benefit by getting along together" (a knowledgeable trait we adults like to teach our children but not always follow).
Also highlighted in this book is a non-violent sport that is challenging as well as rewarding.
For no matter how bad your game or day is, the game of golf is played in a relaxing, picturesque & tranquil environment.
Hopefully one day my children will generate interest in the game of golf from this book and who knows, maybe become the next Tiger Woods? TJN