Let’s ring in the New Year with this selection:
Here’s the description:
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.
I’m not an architecture aficiendo by any means, but I believe this book is both enjoyable and important for all golf lovers to read. The insight into golf course design, and specifically MacKenzie’s beliefs, provides a wonderful foundation to think about and enjoy the game in a deeper manner. This is a book that countless people have reached out and told me is a must read (a good first book to begin an architectural deep-dive as well, if that’s among your goals and/or interests in the New Year).