A masterful celebration--in words and vintage photos--of the famous St. Andrews golf course in Scotland, A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole takes an evocative look at the role that caddies have played in shaping this centuries-old game.

The 19th Hole examines the design of many of the world's great golf clubhouses. It's part of the IMAGES series of titles that looks exclusively at world-best practice in architecture. The book is a photographic feast of the often-sumptuous clubhouse fit-outs that accompanies golfing at these illustrious courses. This book is endorsed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who names author Richard Diedrich in his foreword as possibly the only person he has ever met who truly understands the synergy that must coexist between golf courses and their clubhouses. Nicklaus and Diedrich paired up more than 25 years ago to design many of the world's newest and most prestigious clubs. Many of the world's most established and legendary courses are featured, including the Augusta National Golf Club, the Winged Foot Golf Club and the Congressional Country Club, to name a few. What makes this book outstanding, however, is its presentation of many new clubs that are destined to rank among the world's legendary clubs. These include 40 recently designed and built clubs in the United States that set the standard for designing clubs around the world, which is appropriate when it is considered that more than half of the world's 32,000 golf courses can be found within the United States.

Edited collection of golf columns and golf book reviews

Plant microbe interaction is a complex relationship that can have various beneficial impacts on both the communities. An urgent need of today’s world is to get high crop yields in an ecofriendly manner. Utilization of beneficial and multifaceted plant growth promoting (PGP) microorganisms can solve the problem of getting enhanced yields without disturbing the ecosystem thus leading to sustainability. For this to achieve understanding of the intricate details of how the beneficial microbes form associations with the host plant and sustain that for millions of years must be known. A holistic approach is required wherein the diversity of microbes associated with plant and the network of mechanisms by which they benefit the host must be studied and utilized. ‘Plant Microbe Symbiosis – Fundamentals and Advances’ provides a comprehensive understanding of positive interactions that occur between plant and microorganisms and their utilization in the fields. The book reviews the enormous diversity of plant associated microbes, the dialog between plant-microbes-microbes and mechanisms of action of PGP microbes. Utilization of PGPRs as nutrient providers, in combating phytopathogens and ameliorating the stressed and polluted soils is also explained. Importantly, the book also throws light on the unanswered questions and future direction of research in the field. It illustrates how the basic knowledge can be amalgamated with advanced technology to design the future bioformulations.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Globe-trotting golfer Tom Coyne has finally come home. And he’s ready to play all of it. After playing hundreds of courses overseas in the birthplace of golf,​ Coyne, the bestselling author of A Course Called Ireland and A Course Called Scotland, returns to his own birthplace and delivers a “heartfelt, rollicking ode to golf…[as he] describes playing golf in every state of the union, including Alaska: 295 courses, 5,182 holes, 1.7 million total yards” (The Wall Street Journal). In the span of one unforgettable year, Coyne crisscrosses the country in search of its greatest golf experience, playing every course to ever host a US Open, along with more than two hundred hidden gems and heavyweights, visiting all fifty states to find a better understanding of his home country and countrymen. Coyne’s journey begins where the US Open and US Amateur got their start, historic Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. As he travels from the oldest and most elite of links to the newest and most democratic, Coyne finagles his way onto coveted first tees (Shinnecock, Oakmont, Chicago GC) between rounds at off-the-map revelations, like ranch golf in Eastern Oregon and homemade golf in the Navajo Nation. He marvels at the golf miracle hidden in the sand hills of Nebraska and plays an unforgettable midnight game under bright sunshine on the summer solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. More than just a tour of the best golf the United States has to offer, Coyne’s quest connects him with hundreds of American golfers, each from a different background but all with one thing in common: pride in welcoming Coyne to their course. Trading stories and swing tips with caddies, pros, and golf buddies for the day, Coyne adopts the wisdom of one of his hosts in Minnesota: the best courses are the ones you play with the best people. But, in the end, only one stop on Coyne’s journey can be ranked the Great American Golf Course. Throughout his travels, he invites golfers to debate and help shape his criteria for judging the quintessential American course. Should it be charmingly traditional or daringly experimental? An architectural showpiece or a natural wonder? Countless conversations and gut instinct lead him to seek out a course that feels bold and idealistic, welcoming yet imperfect, with a little revolutionary spirit and a damn good hot dog at the turn. He discovers his long-awaited answer in the most unlikely of places. Packed with fascinating tales from American golf history, comic road misadventures, illuminating insights into course design, and many a memorable round with local golfers and celebrity guests alike, A Course Called America is “a delightful, entertaining book even nongolfers can enjoy” (Kirkus Reviews).

There are few sportmen as charismatic as Severiano Ballesteros. This R&A-supported book, launched to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the golfing legend's passing, is a lavish photographic celebration of his life. Award-winning photographer, David Cannon (the man who took the picture on the cover of the book - probably the most famous image of Seve), has curated the best pictures from Seve's life and career. From unseen childhood pics to commissioned shoots on the beaches of Spain, Seve's story is told with wonderful imagery that is interspersed by thoughtful and reflective essays by golf writer Robert Green.

When Mohamed Noorani writes, he uses the nom de plume of Sandy Parr. Sandy Parr writes mostly on golf. He loves golf, but he is not the typical, ardent, or fanatic golfer who habitually watches the World Golf Ranking. Instead, Sandy spends his time writhing and agonising just to understand why the incorrigible weekend golfers (including him) find it so hard to shave off their handicap. He never pretends that he has the answer, or is even near to it. Nonetheless, he knows from observation that the touring pros are way ahead of the weekend golf nuts, simply because of their prowess in reaching the greens in regulation, their superiority in the delicate chipping and pitching shots, and their confidence in putting. In other words, the pros are superior in everything. This book is a compilation of what Sandy Parr had noted about golf as seen from the eyes of a weekend golfer. Sandy would advise that the easiest shots to shave off your score are found in the short game. Chipping, pitching, and putting don't require tremendous swing speed or physical ability. Plus, they can be practiced in your backyard or living room. Having a reliable tee shot that land in the fairway is important as well. Finding the short grass off the tee is much more important than distance, especially for high handicappers.

Supported by state-of-the-art motion analysis research, "short game guru to the pros" James Sieckmann unveils his "finesse wedge" swing -- a proven and pragmatic way to learn, practice, and perform with each wedge in the bag in every situation -- and shows players that upgrading their short game is possible. Since James Sieckmann first revealed his short-game methods two decades ago, he has amassed a cultlike following of more than seventy PGA and LPGA Tour disciples and has been dubbed the “short-game guru to the pros” (GOLF Magazine). Using his system, sev­eral of Sieckmann’s students have become some of the best short-game players of the modern era. A two-time winner on the PGA Tour jumped 117 spots in the Sand Save rankings in one season; another client quickly jumped 81 spots in Scrambling percentage. The benefits of a good short game are undisputed. Unfortunately, players at all levels fail to develop effective short-game skills because instructors teach the exact opposite of the correct technique. Sieckmann studied the greatest short-game players in recent memory—including Seve Ballesteros, Corey Pavin, and Raymond Floyd—to develop a proven and pragmatic way to learn, practice, and perform with each wedge in every situation. His unique observations, which were later verified by motion capture technology, work equally well for amateurs and pros. In his long-awaited first book, Sieckmann opens up his vault of secrets for all golfers. After breaking down the basics, he presents a session-by-session training and practice guide—the same one he creates for his tour clients—to help the reader develop and sustain correct habits, avoid common flaws, and master essential skills. Next, Sieckmann explains how to optimize a player’s wedge swing for every scenario. An easy-to-learn and easy-to-use system, Your Short Game Solution will be the go-to guide anywhere golf is played.

Sam Torrance is British golf's greatest personality and in Out of Bounds he has drawn together his favourite golfing stories. Well known and loved for his insights and anecdotes in his commentary, he divulges tall tales from the great, the good and the not-so-good in the world of golf, from Ryder Cup-clinching moments to what really goes on in the clubhouse bar. Torrance's book will have golf fans reminiscing and guffawing from one moment to the next. Packed with some of the best and funniest stories Torrance has heard over the past 40 years in the game, featuring contributions from stars such as Arnold Palmer, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, this book is the perfect gift for all golf fans.