Through deft use of archival photographs, sketches, written citations by the architects themselves and a series of evocative water colours by golf pro Mike Miller, Geoff Shackelford aims for why these courses continue to beckon, challenge, impress and endure. His shot is right on target. He breaks down the designers into their various schools of thought, tracing their import, evolution and influence. Next he introduces us to the individual architects themselves through short career summaries accompanied by details about their writings, golfing skills, design theories and characteristics and, of course, a list of their legacies. Best of all are the wonderful oldphotos of great holes, many accompanied by snippets of design philosophy from the creating wizard. It adds up to a book golfers should savour--and study. Knowledge is power on the course and understanding the hows and whys of the demonic challenges that designers subtly and not-so- subtly integrate into their layouts can mean the difference between a scratch handicap and scratching your head in bewilderment. --Jeff Silverman

Product Description
The years between 1910 and 1937 will always be known as the ?golden age of golf design.? The reason is because many of the greatest course architects in the history of the game were all at work during this era, and a number of America?s most famous layouts were created. Geoff Shackelford?s The Golden Age of Golf Designis an insightful analysis of those revered courses and the talented men that designed them. The list of architects working during the Golden Age is a ?Who?s Who? of golf ? including Ross, MacKenzie, Tillinghast, Crump, Raynor and Wilson. Incredibly, the layouts they built back then ? often with only bare hands and horses to do the work ? annually make up the majority of today?s Top 100 Courses in America.

Synopsis
The years between 1910 and 1937 will always be known as the golden age of golf design. The reason is because many of the greatest course architects in the history of the game were all at work during this era, and a number of America's most famous layouts were created. Geoff Shackelford's "The Golden Age of Golf Design" is an insightful analysis of those revered courses and the talented men that designed them. The list of architects working during the Golden Age is a Who's Who of golf including Ross, MacKenzie, Tillinghast, Crump, Raynor and Wilson. Incredibly, the layouts they built back then often with only bare hands and horses to do the work annually make up the majority of today's Top 100 Courses in America.

From the Inside Flap
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.

From the Back Cover
In Geoff Shackelford?s The Golden Age of Golf Design, take and incredible photographic journey back in time and witness the mastery of golf?s greatest architects. This remarkable book contains and astonishing collection of vintage photographs that will provide you with an intimate, and in nearly all cases, never?seen look at the most famous courses from the 1920s and ?30s. Eccentric bunkering, bold strategy and extraordinary sites were just part of the early designs. And for the first time all of the legendary architects and their distinct styles have been brought together in one illustrative and captivating volume.

About the Author
Geoff Shackelford?s previous book on golf include The Rivera Country Club?A Definitive History, The Captain, Masters of the Links and The Good Doctor Returns. Geoff is a graduate of Pepperdine University where he played on the Men?s Golf Team, and he now resides in Santa Monica, California. He can be reached at GeoffShac@aol.com.