The region of golf's birth highlights worthy golf reads in 2020
As an editor with Golf Digest in some capacity since 1984, I’ve done dozens of golf book reviews. Sadly, since the early years, the golf book market has fallen badly. The popularity and quality of golf books had already been in a slow decline when the 2008 recession hit, which, combined with the media emphasis on quick news and short reads accelerated golf books dropping out of favor.
It used to be that anyone willing to turn in a manuscript could get a publisher. To be sure, the current slowdown in quality golf books has been beneficial by stopping the flow of dreadful golf titles from getting into print. Now, publishers are much more selective, to the point where there are basically two types of golf books these days. Those that are different and unique within the genre and those that are “safe” and assuredly popular, such as an Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods biography.
This review leads off with an example of each type, beginning with the safe variety. If “Scotland: Home of Golf” ($45, 176 pages, order through scottishgolflibrary.com or amazon.com) sounds familiar, it’s because the subject has been one of the leading reads in golf literature, dating back to the 1800s. How can such a familiar subject still be fresh? It’s because the courses at the birthplace of golf are still evolving and changing with developments in golf equipment, turf care and the abilities of the players themselves.
With text and illustrations by David Joy and photography by Iain Lowe and Christopher Lowe (father and son), “Scotland” is a noteworthy addition to its predecessors on Scottish golf. (Among other talents, Joy is known for his portrayal of Old Tom Morris.)
When I study a book on Scotland I look to see how the visual element was emphasized. I want to see beautiful photos of the legendary Scottish links layouts, several of which are on the Open Championship rota. Primarily I want to see more photography and less writing. “Scotland” has it right in its focus on 14 courses and primary photography shot in low sun for the best lighting. The book could be frustrating for not being more inclusive of other Scottish courses, but that is a quibble that can be fulfilled with other sources. It’s hard to find fault with a book that is so in love with its subject. And Joy and the Lowes have added substance to their elite 14 course picks by including historical moments. I made one visit to Scotland in 1995 and I’ve been wanting to get back ever since. I’m confident this book will give readers the itch to go over for a sojourn to golf mecca, and if so, may you have more success than me in making a return trip.
A book that entered the market with a different derivation than normal is “One for the Memory Banks” ($27.50, No. 9 Publishing House/thememorybanks.com, 236 pages). Before getting to the real attraction of the book, the background of the author, Luke Reese, should be noted, which is where this book has a different origin than most. Born in Ohio, Reese had golf industry experience with Peter Millar apparel, private equity firm Winona Capital, and European operations for Wilson Sporting Goods, but he wasn’t a writer. He was, however, greatly influenced by the motherland of golf. He was taught the game by Scotsmen and likes to be over in Ireland and Great Britain as often as he can. So Reese doesn’t come to writing by profession or even as a hobby, and he needed editing help from his daughter, Madeline, who has earned praise for her writing.
When an author is not an accomplished player, it is often difficult to find tales of their golf rounds here, there and everywhere of much interest. It requires careful editing to make an unknown golfer’s exploits interesting. It helps that this book is a mix of course travelogue, biography, golf philosophy and social adventure. I found “Memory Banks” passes the Goldilocks test: it doesn’t give us too much or too little of Reese’s golf experience, but just the right amount to feel satisfied.
Golfers experience the game for a number of reasons, many unique, but the universal draws are the outdoors, the challenge, and the camaraderie. This book excels at making Reese’s experience in those areas captivating and entertaining and reinforces how it’s not just the well-known and/or proficient golfer who can provide great perspective on the game. The rest of us can speak intelligently as well in how we view the different elements of the sport.
To give credit where it’s due, the narrative wild card is Scotsman Allan Bond, or known to many by his nickname, Bondy. Reese knew him through Wilson Sporting Goods UK; Bond worked for the company for 40 years. He comes across as a guru-like figure and provides much of the book’s wisdom and wit. Eighteen years older than Reese, Bond became a mentor to Reese in their many travels around Great Britain and Ireland, often featuring competitive rounds at famous locales. It’s an experience golf fanatics will find immediately absorbing.
Reese’s book is as much a tribute as it is a memoir. When Bond died on August 12, 2019, at age 75, attendance at his service was SRO. Past Walton Heath Golf Club professional Ken Macpherson said of Bond in his tribute, “Anyone who thinks that golf is a selfish and individual game never played golf with Allan Bond. He played off a low handicap and just to be in his company was a joy. To Allan, winning was good and losing was an awful lot better than not playing at all…I did a lot of business with Allan when he was sales manager at Wilson. Although his company’s goods were of the highest quality, the secret of Allan’s success was that he was not just selling goods, he was selling himself. Modesty, honesty, integrity and loyalty – Allan had the lot.”
Also worth consideration:
The Second Life of Tiger Woods ($28, 272 pages, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster), by Michael Bamberger. The prominent author puts strong focus on Woods’ life after his arrest for DUI in 2017, culminating with a retelling of the 2019 Masters.
The Rating Game ($28, 160 pages, Post Hill Press), by Jonathan Cummings. The author, a course rater for Golfweek, has intriguing commentary on the influential, prestigious and sometimes controversial course-rating lists of Golfweek, Golf and the originator of the franchise, Golf Digest. He also writes about the process to become a rater.
Getting to 18 ($350, doakgolf.com/Renaissance Golf Design), by Tom Doak. One of the greatest minds in golf architecture describes how he routed his first 18 courses and in the process helps the rest of us less educated understand why courses are laid out the way they are. Use your hoped-for stimulus check to get this limited-edition book.
Planet Golf USA ($65, 352 pages, Harry N. Abrams), by Darius Oliver, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore. A revised edition of this standout book, weighing in at nearly 5 pounds, has updated the 2009 coffee-table worthy original.
The Murder of Marion Miley ($19.95, 272 pages, South Limestone/University Press of Kentucky), by Beverly Bell. Miley was a standout amateur back in what now seems like the Dark Ages of golf, during the Great Depression. She was murdered in September 1941. Bell retells Miley’s story in the style of a novel.