The Golden Era of Golf chronicles the rise of the sport in America from 1950 to the present by one of the most prolific and respected golf writers today. Until now, no one has made the point directly and unequivocally that the game "invented" by ancient Scots would not have reached its present stature in the world of sports if Americans had never gotten hold of it. Is this to say that Al Barkow is, in The Golden Era of Golf, being a narrow-minded, American-flag-waving jingoist? Not at all. In detailing how America expanded on the old Scots game, Barkow does not deny that the United States more or less fell into certain advantages that led to its dominion over the game - there is the geography, the luck of not having to endure the physical devastation of two world wars, and a naturally broader economic strength. Still, Barkow also makes it clear that there were, and there remains, certain especially American characteristics - a singular energy and enthusiasm for participation in and observation of games, for melding sports with business, for technological and industrial innovation, and by all means democratic traditions - that turned what had been (and would probably have remained) an insular, parochial past time into a game played by millions around the world. America has been golf's great nurturing force, and Barkow details why and how it happened. The history of American golf is not exactly a varnished treatment, a mindless glorification full of nationalist ardor, which is in keeping with the author's well-established reputation, developed over the past 37 years as a golf journalist, magazine editor, historian, and television commentator, as someone who looks with a sharp and candid eye at the game. Barkow has points of view and takes positions on affairs and personalities that impact on every aspect of golf. Is the United States Golf Association, in its restrictions on equipment, playing ostrich to inevitable technological innovation? Hasn't it always? And, hasn't the association always been hypocritical in its definition of amateurism? Was the Ryder Cup ever really a demonstration of pure hands-across-the-sea good fellowship? Why did it take so long for the members of the Augusta National Golf Club to invite a black to play in its vaunted Masters tournament? Barkow was one of the first journalists to research in depth and write about how blacks were excluded from mainstream American golf for most of this century. Here, he expands on an element of history which is intrinsic to the larger American experience and which led to the coming of Tiger Woods. How good has television been for golf, and when and by whom did this most powerful of mediums get involved in the game? Is Greg Norman's celebrity (and personal wealth) an example or the result of modern-day image making that gives greater value to impressions of greatness than the reality of actual performance? Although some curmudgeon emerges in this chronicle of golf, what also comes through, and on a larger note, is the author's passion for the game itself. Its demands on each player's will, determination, and both inherent and developed physical skills are so penetrating, and the satisfaction that comes from just coming close to fulfillment so great, that the manipulations of the golf "operators" - administrators, agents, some of its players, et al. - become mere sidebars. This is golf history with a certain perspective that arises from someone who has lived intimately with the game as a player and writer for at least half the century that is covered, and in particular the last half, on which there is the greater emphasis. It runs the gamut - from feisty, albeit well-considered, criticism to an evocation of the human drama that is finally the most vivid expression of any activity man takes on.

Complemented by dozens of vintage and archival photographs, an entertaining look at golf during its golden era celebrates the seventy-fifth anniversary of Bobby Jones's 1930 Grand Slam win and offers biographical sketches of such golfing greats as Walter Hagan, Chick Evans, Tommy Armour, and Walter Travis, among others.

In Golfweek's recently unveiled ranking of the Top 100 American courses "opened before 1960," a staggering total of 84 were constructed between 1910 and 1937. There was never a more creative, daring, or fruitful period in the history of golf course architecture, and in The Golden Age of Golf Design the classic courses are revisited and celebrated. Using never before seen old photographs and little known anecdotes, Geoff Shackelford shows us how some of America's most famous courses looked in their early years. The finest architects the world has ever known were practicing during this era and each is well-represented in this landmark book. C.B. Macdonald, Alister MacKenzie, Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, George Thomas, William Flynn, and so many others are honored in these pages. Every important early American course built or redesigned during the "Golden Age" is included: Oakmont, the National Golf Links, Pine Valley, Merion, Baltusrol, Winged Foot, Riviera, Shinnecock Hills, Pinehurst, Oakland Hills, Cypress Point, Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Prairie Dunes, the Country Club and more. In the Golden Age of Golf Design, the original work of these "master" architects is remembered and their work analyzed. And even though the emphasis is on the newly uncovered photographs of these famous courses as their architects left them, biographical profiles and timeless quotes are included from the famous architects and their prominent counterparts to remind us of the true genius of these artists. On top of the remarkable old photography, original golf landscape paintings by Mike Miller introduce each chapter and serve as a colorful reminder of how stunning many of these classic layouts must have looked. The Golden Age of Golf Design brings to life many forgotten holes courses and great architects and is sure to become a classic in golf literature circles.

Literally hundreds of classic courses from golf’s pre-World War II Golden Age have vanished over the years, including nearly 200 designed by legendary architects like Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast and Dr. Alister MacKenzie. In this sister volume to his award-winning book, The Missing Links, historian Daniel Wexler profiles more than 70 of the ver y best courses and holes in America, bringing them back to life with detailed histories, color maps and period photographs. Within Lost Links, the reader can walk William Flynn’s sand-strewn North course at Boca Raton, skirt towering Pacific cliffs at Billy Bell’s mysterious Royal Palms, retrace Seth Raynor’s footsteps at the Greenbrier and revisit George Thomas’s legendary lost holes at La Cumbre.

While it’s hard to imagine that famed Pebble Beach Golf Links would ever be dug up and turned into a residential community, similar fates have happened to other great courses in the past. Thankfully, due to the exhaustive research of Daniel Wexler, the full details on 27 of these exceptional layouts can be found in The Missing Links: America’s Greatest Lost Golf Courses & Holes. Through the use of period photographs and detailed maps, Wexler takes the reader on a hole-by-hole guided tour of some of the most famous courses—designed by some of America’s most famous architects—that no longer exist. Alister MacKenzie’s Sharp Park GC in California (washed away in a Pacific storm), William Langford’s Key West GC in Florida (destroyed by a hurricane), and Charles Blair Macdonald’s Lido Club (sold to developers during the Depression) are but three of the classic courses that can be “played” once more.

Alister MacKenzie was one of golf's greatest architects. He designed his courses so that players of all skill levels could enjoy the game while still creating fantastic challenges for the most experienced players. Several of MacKenzie's courses, such as Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Pasatiempo, remain in the top 100 today. In his "lost" 1933 manuscript, published for the first time in 1995 and now finally available in paperback, MacKenzie leads you through the evolution of golf--from St. Andrews to the modern-day golf course--and shares his insight on great golf holes, the swing, technology and equipment, putting tips, the USGA, the Royal & Ancient, and more. With fascinating stories about Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and many others, The Spirit of St. Andrews gives valuable lessons for all golfers as well as an intimate portrait of Alister MacKenzie, a true legend of the game.

The host and coproducer of the megahit reality show The Apprentice presents a unique collection of golf advice. From Palmer and Player, Mickelson and Vijay to Pat Boone, Stone Phillips, and even Yogi Berra, these players, teachers, businesspeople, and celebrities will help you play better and score lower. Everyone who plays golf has that little nugget of information they turn to on the course. But never before has such an array of golfing advice been pulled together in one place. Donald Trump, himself an avid—and very good—golfer, asked his friends, colleagues, and playing companions to offer thoughts on everything from the mental game to the swing to putting to playing golf the right way. And golfers being what they are, none could resist sharing words of wisdom. So here we find Vijay Singh telling us about playing simply: “You don’t need to get your golf swing by going through video cameras and stuff like that. Just kind of go out there and find yourself.” Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith talks about not overswinging: “Just learn to allow the club to do what it’s supposed to do . . . because the ball is sitting still.” Actor Michael Douglas has a specific routine to slow his tempo—he says his wife’s name, and doesn’t even think of starting to bring the club down until he gets to “Jones.” Taken together, these more than two hundred entries create a unique handbook, covering every aspect of the game—and ranging from the lighthearted to the deadly serious. Donald Trump’s book of advice is certain to take its place next to Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book as the ultimate in golf instruction.

Florida has depended on tourism since the earliest days of American ownership. Entrepreneurs, scoundrels, and visionaries flocked to the Sunshine State to take advantage of the natural resources--land, water, climate, natural beauty, flora, and fauna--to implement their schemes and dreams. The majority of these schemes depended on convincing individuals from northern states to invest in their projects or to vacation in the state. One of the attractions was golf. Every Florida resort of note included a golf course, and golf became the major attraction for winter visitors and part-time residents. This book provides a brief history of golf in Florida, focuses on the men who designed the courses, and provides a guide to the resorts that catered to the game.