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Customer Reviews (2)

Can't Play, then can Read
I have only had time to read a few of the many stories in this book, but the stories I've read have been excellent and I expect to be entertained in the future when for what ever reason I can't get out on the course.

Entertaining and a good read
A great book for enthusiasts of golf history. Instead of laying out the story of the game in a linear fashion, the book is a series of essays along themes, among them "Scotland," "America," "Equipment," "The Early Tour Years," and "Television." Sprinkled in among the main chapters are personal essays by great writers of golf -- Rick Reilly, Dan Jenkins, Curt Sampson, Lee Eisenberg -- writing about subjects such as the golf pro, playing with better players, and the ideal golf hole.

The book is breezy, entertaining, and full of great quotes about the simple joys and miseries of this wonderful game: "The hole, in essence, is a seductress that juggles a golfer's heart and sould by trading on greed and fear" and getting in touch with "another, better teacher -- the one inside you, the silent pro, who is just dying to be consulted, if only you would pay attention for a change." ... Read more

Product Description
To a majority of the millions of golfers around the world, the subject of golf course design often seems foreign and intimidating. Yet, the overwhelming reason cited for playing golf is an attraction to the beautiful and often ingeniously designed courses where the game is played. Grounds for Golf is distinct from other golf design-related books in that it covers a wide variety of topics in an informative, flowing nar-rative that will interest all golfers. Noted golf writer Geoff Shackel-ford's text is supplemented with photography, classic anec-dotes, famous quotations, and informative hole depic-tions by architect Gil Hanse. Readers finally have a course design primer that adds to their enjoyment of golf's lore while also introducing the fundamentals of golf architecture in an interactive format that will help their games. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Practical Primer for Golf Course Design
This informative and readable book helps golfers make sense of the tactics and strategies that course designers employ to make their lives difficult. For those who have never given much thought to what makes a course or a hole particularly difficult or interesting (beyond, "it's long", or "it's over water") this book is an eye-opener. Shackelford provides detailed histories and evolutions of the different design schools (from "natural" and "penal" to "heroic" and "the future"), while using classic courses and holes to illustrate his writing.

What makes the book particularly compelling, however, is that he takes all of this information and uses it to show how it informed him in creating his first real-world design at Moorpark, CA's Rustic Canyon. This leap from scholarly design theory to practical use serves to solidify these ideas in the reader's head. And, if you actually endeavor to play Rustic Canyon, the information and theories in this book come to life and become part of your larger golf knowledge.

-Bryan Fryklund, author of The Golf Fanatic's Guide to Hawaii

golf course architecture
Great classic book. Could read even more on the subject by this author. Dr. Kenneth Wehr

Good Book on Course Design
Geoff Shackelford is an excellent writer and explains golf course design in simple and yet direct terms.It is a very interesting book for those who have an interest in what makes a well designed golf course.

Why Journalists Shouldn't Design Golf Courses
After having read this book, which I thought was pretty good, I looked forward to playing Rustic Canyon.
Wrong! I thought the author "got it", but Rustic Canyon suffers from most of ills discussed in the book.
Talk about not memorable...I was really disappointed.
When the fairways are not framed by rough or trees, when the pancake traps are unseen, when the number of straight holes well out-number the doglegs, its time to go.
Good book, but if Rustic Canyon is any indication of the author's sensibilities, maybe there is better reading out there.

Terrific even for nongolfers
I bought his book as a gift and then picked it up and found myself reading the whole thing.The book is very accessible and entertaining even for the novice, and the beautiful drawings and great photos perfectly illustrate the author's text.It covers the history and evolution of course design, famous courses, greatest architects and the best holes ever built.Shackelford also details his own experience designing the Rustic Canyon Golf course, so this isn't a dry academic exercise:he knows what he's talking about, and says it with grace and a lot of humor.There are chapters on how to "read" a design, how to daydream your way through redesigning a hole while you're playing a course, and even a chapter that gives you a blank canvas to create your own design.I especially liked the history of St. Andrews Old Course and now understand why that course is so revered.I also liked the way Shackelford used movie and baseball analogies, which made things even clearer. The chapter on the language of architecture gave me a better understanding of golf overall. Now I actually have to try it. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful little book, will make you smile
A small book; it resembles an essay more than a book. This is a wonderfully rich account of one man's obsession with golf. The writing is superb, approaching Updike in the prose department. You'll smile and nod as you turn the pages. I read it happily in one sitting, then pressed it on my fellow duffer-pals, who also enjoyed it. The book's highlight is the author's engaging description of his round with Arnold Palmer. ... Read more

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As a serious player, a high handicapper, or simply a baffled onlooker to the awesome nonsense that is golf, have you ever wondered why, say, the golf balls have dimples, and the tee is both the thing you stick in the ground and the place you hit from, and the hole is so small, and the courses have all these big pits full of sand where any sane person would put grass?

Well, so did noted humor writer and avid hacker Henry Beard, who brought twenty-first-century computer search-engine technology to bear on this thousand-year-old game, tapping the internet's inherent capacity to confer a thin veneer of authenticity to far-fetched accounts of great moments in the history of golf, warped portraits of its legendary players, and fanciful conjectures about its origins and evolution.

Employing an easy-to-read and simple-to-fudge timeline format, he chronicles the amazing process through which this screwy pastime with wacky equipment and loony rules played for penny wagers by a bunch of bored-silly shepherds was gradually transformed into a screwy sport with wacky equipment and loony rules played for million-dollar purses by superstar athletes.

As he peers through the mists of time to the birthplace of the game, Beard resolves once and for all its many mysteries, like where those weird-looking pants came from, when the fi rst telling of the "Hit, drag Harry" joke was, what a Stimpmeter is, and who dreamed up the idea of those stupid blimps.

Here, then, in one convenient golf-bag-side-pocket-sized volume is a rich, wildly embroidered, ludicrously embellished tapestry of colorful fabrications and highly entertaining but thoroughly dubious speculations that tell the tall tale of golf -- the game that deranged the world. ... Read more

Product Description
A lavishly illustrated history brings to life the full, rich history of the game of golf, from its earliest forms in medieval Europe to the development of a modern, televised play. 250 full-color photos.Amazon.com Review
Exactly how and where the Royal and Ancient Game began is aslost as a tee shot drowned in the muck at the bottom of Rae'sCreek. But conversely, so much of golf's rich history has beencarefully preserved. Born as the companion volume to the PBSdocumentary, the elegantly illustrated Story of Golf begins atthe beginning, conjecturing on where the game's seed was firstplanted; then it moves briskly to golf's 1744 codification inScotland, which is where the fun really starts. From there, the gameis a stage for one colorful character and plot twist after another,and pretty much all find their way into Story's pages, from theTom Morrises (Old and Young) straight down the middle to TigerWoods. Naturally, there are stops along the way to consider theimportation of the game into the United States and its more recentglobalization; its rich amateur tradition and transition to theprofessional game; the LPGA and Senior tours; the impact of racism andsexism; the evolution of course design, equipment, and rule changes;and unforgettable moments from tee to green like Francis Ouimet'simprobable 1913 U.S. Open victory, Bobby Jones's Grand Slam, GeneSarazen's double eagle, Arnold Palmer's miraculous 1960 charge upCherry Hills, and the overall achievement of Jack Nicklaus. Thoroughlyresearched and entertainingly presented, about the only thing missingis a positive ID on the first Scotsman ever to break a brassie overhis knee out of sheer golfing frustration. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Almost the Complete History
Overall I felt the book was excellent, especially the first half which is a can't put this book down until I have finished it, it describes the development and the way golf evolved, I was riveted with many of the facts and information for example before the 14 club rule one player used 31 clubs to play a round. I really had sympathy for the poor caddy that had to carry them.

BUT the second half is more of a chronological anthology of players and their achievements, with the development of golf as we know it taking a back seat, I was also surprised by the omissions within the book as a whole, for example there was no mention of Oakhurst Golf course, also no mention of Macgregor golf, I did find this extremely surprising as Macgregor was founded in 1897 had many "firsts' and certainly was a main player in both the history and development of golf.

I did purchase the book as used at a very advantageous price which is why I felt I got bang for my buck and why I have awarded the book four stars, if I had paid full cover price then sorry the rating would have dropped a star.

What a hole-in-one!
This book is like your caddie on the history of the game.It takes you back to St. Andrews where it all started and then documents the birth and evolution of Golf in America--the game, the equipment, and the players. You get to meet all the great golf architects like C.B. Macdonald and allthe great classic players like Gene Sarazen (who just passed away). Turnsout Bobby Jones was worshipped in Scotland!The author wraps historicalanecdotes in with some gorgeous color shots of courses from Augusta toWinged Foot.A must-read for true Golf fans! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Coffe Table Book
I received this book as a gift from a friend because he knows how much I love to golf.He also knows I collect golf balls.This book has interesting information about the evolution of the golf ball from its earlier forms through the transformation to what it looks like today.

Did you know that there are rare golf balls worth $20,000?More interesting information like that is throughout the book.All your guests will open it up and flip through it!

I have more information about golf balls at:
http://www.squidoo.com/golf_balls ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive look at the history of golf in Tennessee. Containing sections for Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, the Tri-Cities, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, the book includes golfers past and present, tournament champions (both professional and amateur), and even clubs pros and course histories. Includes foreword by Arnold Palmer, over 100 photographs and index. ... Read more

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Revered as the most prestigious tournament in golf, the Masters commands international attention, even among nongolfers. The first edition of The Masters: A Hole-by-Hole History of America's Golf Classic took the unique approach of tackling Augusta National hole by hole. Each hole had its own chapter, with colorful stories on the greatest shots, biggest disasters, and amazing events that took place on each.

David Sowell returns to Augusta now with the second edition of The Masters, adding more history and updating each hole with additional stories of greatness and tales of woe. He addresses Tiger's continued dominance as well as how Phil Mickelson finally got over his majors hump in a major way. Sowell also discusses the changes that have been made to the course in an effort to make it more difficult and shows how those changes have affected play.

The legends of the Masters are in full force in this unique and lively look at America's golf classic. From Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, all the greatest Masters moments of the greatest golfers are here in one book. The Masters: A Hole-by-Hole History of America's Golf Classic, Second Edition provides a rich historical view of the course where success breeds legends and where failure can haunt even the most brilliant golfer's career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A New Perspective on an Old and Revered Tradition...The Masters, A Tradition Unlike Any Other
A fresh and innovative way to share the history and tradition of the Masters, the nation's most outstanding sporting event, helping the reader understand and appreciate the course and what the golfers, past and present, have faced on every shot and evey hole down through the years. Lots of humanity and color included, not just course information.

A very good, informative read on "The Masstes," a tradition unlike any other.

One Footnote: The third edition of this book must surely include Phil Michelson's shot at 13 in the 2010 tournament, out of the trees, out of the pine straw of the dogleg and onto the green. One heckua shot, not as meaningful and amazing perhaps as Gene Saranzen's double eagle, but a truly magnificent shot when a magnificent shot was needed.

Great gift for golfer
I gave this book to my husband for Christmas. He is really enjoying it. He is a player and a big fan of the game. We had the opportunity to attend a practice round at the Masters a couple of years ago, he is reliving seeing those holes one by one. ... Read more

Product Description
'Golf is a good walk spoiled' if you choose to believe American humorist Mark Twain. Or perhaps its popularity can be traced back to our basic instincts of loving to take long walks and hitting rocks with a stick. Whatever the reason, our fascination of hitting a little white ball into a small distant hole has endured the test of time for over five hundred years. As you read this book you will discover a collection of golf memorabilia, bizarre incidences, little known tidbits plus an array of golf folklore. While this may not dramatically improve your ball striking abilities on the golf course, it is certain to give you a unique insight to the world of golf from its earliest known origins. As you are browsing through the passages within this book you will be following in the footsteps of those who journeyed down the fairways ahead of you into the history of golf. During your sojourn you will be amazed at the answers to questions like these.Which two U.S. President's names are closely associated with the Walker Cup?What does a penny pack of garden seeds and the Ryder Cup have in common?Why did an indignant Scottish gentleman tell Sam Snead 'My God Sir! That's St. Andrews.'?How did golf balls evolve from round wooden balls to today's modern high tech missiles?Fore. Mulligan. Bogey. Caddie. 19th Hole. What is the origin of these commonly used golf terms?What two famous celebrities were caught playing golf at an exclusive private country club in their undershorts? ... Read more

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Pebble Beach - the most storied golf venue in the world. Nearly every legendary golfer of the past 100 years has played there. Great champions have been crowned there. Great Champions have lost there. Hollywood movies have been filmed there, and the stars have played there. U.S Presidents and royalty from around the world have visited and played on its legendary fairways. And yet from the beginning it has been a sports and golfing paradise open for everyone to enjoy - men and women, young and old. This new book from award-winning writer/historian Neal Hotelling brings to life countless tales of past championships as well as the underlying history of that spectacular meeting of land and sea. Deftly sifting the facts from the myths and unearthing stories long forgotten, Hotelling sheds light on the property owners from the original Mexican land grants and the original `Big Four' railroad tycoons through the long reign of S.F.B. Morse and on through the famous foursome that own it today - Peter Ueberroth, Richard Ferris, Arnold Palmer, and Clint Eastwood.

This new book also captured the history of the tournaments as never before. Pebble Beach Golf Links will host the 2010 U.S. Open for a fifth time, more than any other venue since 1970. The past champions - Nicklaus, Watson, Kite, and Woods - are household names to anyone that's replaced a divot. But Hotelling also tells the stories of the other USGA Championships played on the peninsula, including two young ladies who faced off in the 1952 Girls Jr. Championship on the Dunes course at Pebble Beach and are now in the World Hall of Fame - Mickey Wright and Judy Bell. The professionals have been coming to Pebble Beach annually since Bing Crosby kicked off his clambake there in 1947, but do you remember that the LPGA came in 1950 and 1951 with Babe Didricksen and Patty Berg taking the top prizes?

They are all in the book, as are some of the top amateur contests that have been played from the first record tournament at Del Monte through the latest visit of the pros and amateurs at the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. For instance, most golf historians can tell you that Lawson Little is the only golfer to have won the U.S. and British Amateurs in the same year twice (1934 and 1935). But did you know that just before his unprecedented string of undefeated match play victories, he also wont he 1934 Pacific Coast Intercollegiate, a match play championship at Pebble Beach? It's in the book, which includes an appendix that for the first time tries to capture the top finishers in all of the significant national and regional championships that have been played on the courses at Pebble Beach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great golf history
If you play golf you must play Pebble Beach. This book will tell you why.

An Ace for Hotelling
Wow! What a rich history of this storied land! This book is a must for anyone who has been fortunate to walk this beautiful collection of courses. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit this special place, this book may convince you to make the trek. Hotelling has compiled a book that tells the stories of the legends who have competed on the Monterey Peninsula. These stories are enough to make any golf fan want to visit. ... Read more

Product Description
Golf History of Spokane, Washington covers everythingfrom the 1st swing in Spokane to the development of the great golfcourses in the area. All the great players and championships arecovered. This is a must for the northwest golfer or anyone who lovesgolf in the west. ... Read more

Product Description
In a history spanning more than 500 years, a Scottish seaside pastime has become the passionate pursuit of 60 million players and 10 times as many fans worldwide. Along the way, golf has provided heroes, heroines and moments that live forever in the hearts of those who follow the sport. In its 296 stirring pages, THE GOLF BOOK offers a spectacular tribute to an old game that never runs short of surprises--a celebration of the grand, still-unfolding story of golf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sports Illustrated Golf Book
This is a beautiful book.Just full of golf tidbits.It was a gift for my golfing husband and he said it would take him a long time to read it all;there ws so much in it.He was very pleased.

A Golfer's Must
I gave this as a Christmas gift to a golfing buddy of mine and he can't stop talking about it.

Gorgeous golf book
I bought this as a gift for my husband who loves it. It is a great coffee table book which is primarily excellent photos and some commentary. Anyway a great price and a great gift to keep for golf fanatics.

Great Conversation Piece!
Beautiful, coffee table type book. Lovely, LARGE pictures. Definitely a conversation piece for the golfer in your life. It's a book that will be leafed through repeatedly.

A "must-have" compendium for golf fans
Sports Illustrated: The Golf Book is a coffee-table compendium of golf stories from the award-winning magazine Sports Illustrated. The absolutely stunning photography combined with insightful articles makes for an engaging chronology of the sport's highlights over the decades. From golf's finest and most challenging courses, to the golf legends of the past century (including Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, and more), to cherished artifacts and stories highlighting great moments, Sports Illustrated: The Golf Book is a "must-have" compendium for golf fans. Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Golf 365
Fanstastic book, I thought I had ordered one only, but I guess I ordered two without noticing.One came in handy for a birthday gift.I was going to return it but came in at the right time.

Golf 365 days
Great for Avid golfers. Some history. Very interesting. Something to read every day, like a calendar. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Love of the game and Old St.Andrews
I just finished PLAY AWAY PLEASE in tears...of joyous admiration. While enjoying the highly sophisticated and fascinating writing style, I thought the author, John Hagen, either had an exceptional memory,a great imagination or just a love of the game and Old St.Andrews...likely all which combined to make an incredibly wonderful book!

I loved the many special passages that were reminiscent of being there, like caddie Little Joe's response to Doc's question whether she could reach the green with a five iron, saying: "Eventually." The caddies were a most important part of my experiences playing Old St. Andrews and Mr. Hagen's authentic story telling brought back the unique flavor of those experiences.

Hagen's pursuit of the Box is truly one of passion which is clear from his detailed accounting and wit. I was deeply touched by his epilogue and how he went on: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams...." and by the character Angus' offering: "Aye, ye only live once, laddie; but if you work it right, once is enough." I hope that Hagen will finish what appears to be an ongoing story about the lore of Golff, Scottish golf, Old St. Andrews, the iconic Starter's Box and branding in this new era of golf.

PLAY AWAY PLEASE gets my high recommendation, especially for anyone who has ever played the Old Course or planning to in the future. Thank you, Mr. Hagen for a wonderful read.

It's a fun and informative ride,
Not only does John capture the magic of St. Andrews and the spirit of the game, he weaves a special tapestry that draws the reader into his personal journey. Uplifting, tragic and ultimately fulfilling it is a poignant and clever tale. Would like to know the rest of the story. A worthy first effort for this writer.

Worth Reading
I wish I had read this book before playing St. Andrews. The book is not only about golf and the history
of St Andrews but also about the town and its terrific characters that live there. I highly recommend
this book. John Hagen captured the magic of the history of golf and the people that made this course and
this town very special.

A Passion for Golf
If you love golf, adventure, romance and intrigue, you will LOVE this book! This is a true story about a true romantic who took his love of the game and of the history of golf, and found away to take one of golf's most significant icons and bring it to a further and very meaningful use. Nothing short of total passion and perseverance could make this happen, and along the way are many interesting tidbits about golf and St. Andrews. Any true devotee of golf and golf history will love this book!The perfect gift for an avid golfer! ... Read more

Product Description
"It's difficult to beat a good golf book, be it a good yarn or a picture book . . . The golf is spectacular, the course more so, the descriptions luminous."
--USA Today

"The untold story of golf's greatest money match, featuring Hogan and Nelson at Cypress Point, comes to life in . . . Mark Frost's gripping new book, The Match."
--Golf magazine

"Frost weaves an exceptional narrative . . . It's a gripping tale--as good as James Patterson, John Grisham, or any other contemporary novelist could create. And all true. The match comes down to the 18th hole, and you'll be the winner once you turn the last page."
--Met Golfer

"Frost masterfully puts the reader not just on the scene, but in the time, too, with terrific storytelling."
--The State (South Carolina)

"Frost captures an elusive magic in this improbable matchup and what it meant for those who played and witnessed it."
--Publishers Weekly

"The Match was a dream I never thought would come true. If I hadn't been there I wouldn't believe it myself, and if you know anything about sports or the game of golf, once you pick up this book you won't put it down. No one will ever see an event like this again. Fiction can't touch it."
--Ken Venturi

The year: 1956.Four decades have passed since Eddie Lowery came to fame as the ten-year-old caddie to U.S. Open Champion Francis Ouimet.Now a wealthy car dealer and avid supporter of amateur golf, Lowery has just made a bet with fellow millionaire George Coleman. Lowery claims that two of his employees, amateur golfers Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, cannot be beaten in a best-ball match. Lowery challenges Coleman to bring any two golfers of his choice to the course at 10 a.m. the next day to settle the issue.

Coleman accepts the challenge and shows up with his own power team: Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, the game's greatest living professionals, with fourteen major championships between them.

In Mark Frost's peerless hands, complete with the recollections of all the participants, the story of this immortal foursome and the game they played that day--legendarily known in golf circles as the greatest private match ever played--comes to life with powerful, emotional impact and edge-of-your-seat suspense. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (111)

The Match
Unbelievable that I am an avid golfer and had never heard about this Match.And it was my first introduction to Harvie Ward - of course I knew the others.

One of the best golf stories ever
If you like golf you must read this book, it's written in a superb manner!

Compelling
I adored this book.Managed to take a single practice round played six decades ago and turn it into a compelling story. I learned so much about the origins of golf and finished the book feeling the need to read a biography on Bing Crosby.

No match for his earlier books
I loved Frost's "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "Grand Slam," so I picked up "The Match" with anticipation.It was, though, quite disappointing.When I got to the end, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why this match marked the "day the game of golf changed forever."I thought the hole-by-hole reporting of the match was less than captivating.The histories of the four golfers were quite interesting, but the book makes almost no case for why this match really did change the game of golf.

Good Overview of Historical Event
As the author notes, this match could never take place today.Two of the greatest golfers of all time in a "practice round" with the two top amateurs of the day. Beyond giving solid histories on each player, and even the two business men who concocted this event, Frost really excells at painting descriptions of the match -- hole by hole, shot by shot.Not only does he place the reader at the match with his portrayal of how it unfolded, but one can feel some level of the tension that must have engulfed the players and the building gallery at Cyprus that day. If you are a golf or sports fan of any type, you'll enjoy this one immensely. ... Read more

Product Description
The tests a golfer faces on the course arethe direct result of the challenges originallyfaced by the golf course architect, whether they be complicated terrain, forces of nature, budgetlimitations, demanding developers, or thedifficult task of balancing the practicalscientific needs of a golf course with thearchitect’s creative instincts.

Secrets of theGreat Golf Course Architects offersreaders behind-the-scenes tales from America’smaster architects themselves in their own words. Elite designers such as Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones Jr.,Arthur Hills, Arnold Palmer, and others sharetheir personal anecdotes related to the creation of some of the world’s most famous courses: fromrun-ins with snakes to bulldozers sinking inquicksand, to holes created by accident, such asthe famed island green 17th at the TPC at Sawgrass.

Published incollaboration with the prestigious AmericanSociety of Golf Course Architects, Secrets of theGreat Golf CourseArchitects includes more than 150beautiful full-color photographs and dozens ofdrawings and course blueprints, making this afirst of its kind insider’s look at golf course architecture sure to become a keyaddition to the libraries of all golfers with an appreciation for the courses theyplay.

Customer Reviews (3)

Misleading Title for the Book
This book is not a "treasury of the world's greatest golf courses."It is one to two page stories interspersed with glossy pictures.While the majority of the stories are entertaining to read, they provide little insight into golf course architecture or design.This is not a "how-to" book at all.There are no great secrets divulged.Most of the stories recount the various, now supposedly "history's greatest designers," brushes with disaster, great golf heroes, or circumstances encountered while much lower down the architect totem pole working in different design firms.

A decent read, but I wouldn't include it in a must have list for aspiring golf course architects.

Nice to Have, makes a great gift for golf architecture enthusiasts
What the book actually contains is a large collection of short anecdotes from and a few interviews with ASGCA members. While a few of them are plain boring the vast majority offer interesting insights into the actual work of golf architects, the problems encountered by them in their work and some of their more unusual assignments (e.g. building a course within a few weeks for Ferdinand Marcos' birthday). The "problem stories" mostly rank around "unconventional" travel (quite interesting), dangerous creatures (not so interesting) and ignorant non-golfing clients (fascinating that some people commission golf courses without having any clue about the game). A few of the architects also offer interesting views on their design philosophy.

The illustrations include many nice sketches and drawings as an example for many a contributor's work, however they are left without much explanation and don't have to do anything with the text.

If you want to learn about architecture there are better books out there and the contents of this one cannot really be considered "secrets" (rarely told stories would be a more accurate take). All in all this still makes an eclectic and very nice read, however it's certainly not mandatory reading for architecture enthusiast, which probably makes it a great gift for this kind of people - chances are that thus they don't have it already.

Great book, but disappointed in condition!
I recieved the book in a timely manner, which I appreciated, however 99% of the time that I order from Amazon and the condition is described as "Used, good as new" the merchandise is in very good condition. This book's binder was in flimsy condition and began to fall apart the day it got here! It was a gift for my husband and he showed me how he had to tape up the binder to hold the book together! I was very surprised and unhappy about that and would like to exchange the book for another of the same kind, or get credit to put towards another book of equal or greater value! I'm now leary about ordering things that have been used, whereas before I trusted the description completely and had never been disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
This book chronicles the story of golf in the Lone Star State decade-by-decade, focusing on highlighted events, players, pros, teachers, courses, and tournaments. It includes little-known facts, the story of the decades for each period, human-interest anecdotes, behind-the-scenes details, and suspenseful narrative of Texas golf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Read
This is a wonderful book about golfers in the Lone Star State.Highly recommend it to all lovers of the great game and for the fans of Hogan, Trevino, Nelson, Crenshaw and others.But you also gain a great appreciation for such great Texans like January, Marr, Burke, Demaret, Thompson and Haynie. The author tells the backstory on so many pros, tournaments, courses and assorted characters that you can't help but feel that the game's roots are deep in the heart of Texas. ... Read more

Product Description
Was there ever a year in golf like 1960?
        It was the year that the sport and its vivid personalities exploded on the consciousness of the nation, when the past, present, and future of the sport collided. Here was Arnold Palmer, the workingman's hero, "sweating, chain-smoking, shirt-tail flying"; Ben Hogan, the greatest player of the fifties, a perfectionist battling twin demons of age and nerves; and, making his big-time debut, a crew-cut college kid who seemed to have the makings of a champion: twenty-year-old Jack Nicklaus.
        And of course, the rest: Ken Venturi, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Doug Sanders, Gary Player, and the many other colorful characters who chased around a little white ball--and a dream.
        Would Palmer win the mythical Grand Slam of golf? Could Hogan win one more major tournament? Was Nicklaus the real thing? Even more than an intimate portrait of these men and their exciting times, The Eternal Summer is also an entertaining, perceptive, and hypnotically readable exploration of professional golf in America.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The Inside of The Eternal Summer
Curt and I worked togehter back in the days when he was selling "widgets".He was always a great guy to work with, and it was a pleasure to finally read one of his many well written books.I had heard from the guys that his books were good, but just never took the time to experience it myself.What a joy it was to be able to look back and know all of the goings on behind the scenes, and to gain a better understanding of the larger than life personalities of the time.It was an easy read, and a very thorough and comprehensive piece of work.I can't wait to start reading "Hogan".Well done Curt !!!

Sampson's Best Book
THE ETERNAL SUMMER, the story of the hard-fought 1960 season. I was lucky to read MASTERS and SUMMER in that order. MASTERS is a slanted but colorful and enjoyable piece of work. I was pumped for more Sampson and got my wish. SUMMER is one of the best golf history books ever written, and I have read most of them; period. Leap at any opportunity to read SUMMER. It is a top-drawer treatment of 1960's events.

This One's for the Ages---Like Gene Sarazen's Double Eagle at Augusta.
This is the story of events that happened 40 years ago to golfers retired or departed from this earth.Yet, with Curt Sampson's writing and story telling ability, it is as fresh and real as if it was last summer.

A good, good book.

In the age of Tiger, Phil, Sergio, Adam Scott and others, this is a book worth reading or re-reading in this or any other age.

Palmer, Nicklaus, Hogan, Snead, Demeret, Venturi, Souchak, singer/golfer Don Cherry and all the others of that place and time, here again, living, breathing, laughing, joking, competing as if it was yesterday.

An outstanding piece of work about an outstanding time in the sport of golf.

Interesting book on Golf
Very written book. I found this one of the best books on golf history that I have read.Very interesting for golfers and perhaps the non golfer.

GREAT GOLF STORY
If you love golf and its history, this is the book.
Curt Sampson is once again great and meticulous with the details.
He loves the games and its immortal characters.
This is a great golf history book.
The coming about of the greatest rivalry in golf between Palmer and Nicklaus is well detailed here. Ben Hogan, already the greatest golfer of his generation, seemed to be reaching out for his last glory.
It seems that the sport is no longer as elegant as it once was because the characters are no longer as heroic as they once were.
Highly recommended and a very good book to read over and over.
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Product Description
This is an account of the way that the game of golf has developed from its origins as a simple diversion for soldiers and common folk, to its present status as an international professional sport. The first list of 13 articles constituting the official rules of golf was produced by a group of Scottish gentlemen in 1774. Since then the rules have seen many changes, although the game is still largely based on the same 13 articles. In this book the author examines how these changes came about and takes the reader step-by-step through the history and rules of the game.Amazon.com Review
Sometimes draconian, regularly exasperating, often infuriating, but always--somehow--fair, the rules of golf are so clearly codified that even Hammurabi might have turned the colorof an Augusta fairway in their presence. If bad golfers swear the rules punish them, their morecircumspect counterparts understand that what the rules really do is carve order from chaos andlend a helping hand. How the rules of play exploded from 13 basic principles set down in 1744by a group of Scottish gentlemen into the hundreds of maddening permutations and combinationsteed up today actually makes for surprisingly fun and fascinating reading. A combination of history, anthropology, and psychology, with doses of mystery and gossip thrown in, Kenneth G. Chapman'sbreezy exploration turns what could have been arcane territory into an agreeable stroll on thelinks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Rules of the Green:A History of the Rules of Golf
I was very pleased that I was able to find a Bookseller who still had this book in stock as I was told that it was out of print.All of the golfers who visited over the Christmas Holidays were intrigued with the book.The Bookseller option on Amazon is such a good idea.

The more you know, the better off you are!
A couple great things you learn in this book: 1) If all golf were played at match play, there wouldn't be a need for all the rules we have today; 2) The rulebook as it stands today is as efficient and concisely written as possible, culled from centuries of input. Read this book and you will enjoy the game more than you do already. ... Read more