The Spirit of St. Andrews
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Book Overview
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.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:076790169X
ISBN13:9780767901697
Release Date:March 1998
Publisher:Crown Publishing Group (NY)
Length:288 Pages
Weight:0.78 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Musings of a great golf course architect
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
MacKenzie's "Spirit of St. Andrews" shows that his philosophy of golf course architecture is as relevant today as it was when this was written in the 1930s. The good doctor's writing flows with the charm of that era.
Legendary Architect on Sundry Golf Issues
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Lost manuscript now publlished for all of us to hear the thoughts of such an influential figure in our sport's history. Bob Jones wrote of him in the preface: "all his courses that I have played have been interesting; in every instance he has placed interest and enjoyment ahead of difficulty."Oh, that more modern designers would learn the lesson! He states that even the most emphatic golfer who says he's not interested in beauty is "subconsciously influenced by his surroundings." Easily the designer of some of golf's most influential hole scenes, this guy gives definite hints, e.g. Playing down fairways bordered by straight lines of trees is not only unartistic but makes tedious and uninteresting golf. Many green committees ruin one's handiwork by planting trees like rows of soldiers along the borders of the fairways."Love the poem he quotes on the analysis of paralysis: The Centipede was happy quite until a toad in fun said "Pray which leg goes over which?" This put his mind in such a pitch he lay distracted in a ditch considering how to run."
Buy it and read it now
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
Great read and great sketches. When asked how he got such interesting, hilly, contoured greens, Dr. M once said, "Employ the biggest fool in the village and instruct him to make the greens all flat"Scary how much of the comments written in the early part of the century apply to today's game and course design. Once section about the controversy of the day re: limiting the flight of the ball is exaclt what we are hearing nearly again 70 years later
Course Architecture and Maintenance
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
MacKenzie shares his timeless, and oft forgotten, philosophy on how a course should be designed - for the golfer, but not by the golfer; shaped and, when necessary reworked, by the professional architect, not by the whims of a committee; and finally, playable by all who love the game.
A masterpiece work from one of golf's greatest legends
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 28 years ago
This book, written in 1933 and never published until 1995 is the greatest find in golf. Entertaining anecdotes, wonderful essays--all of which is incredibly interesting and relevant today. WSJ called it "another Dead Sea scroll" for golfers. The foreward was written by his co-designer at Augusta National Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones, Jr. An incredible discovery that you must read. A true timeless classic. On a scale of 1-10, it is a 12.
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