Golf Course Architecture: Evolutions in Design, Construction, and Restoration Technology [Hardcover]

Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471465313 | ISBN-13: 978-0471465317 | Publication Date: August 25, 2005 | Edition: 2

Golf Course Architecture, Second Edition is fully updated with more than fifty percent new material, including more than twenty-five recent innovations in the golf industry. Revealing both the art and science of golf course architecture, it takes readers inside the designer’s mind through each step to designing a golf green, golf hole, and golf course. Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, course maps, and drawings, this Second Edition explains the roots of ugliness and sources of beauty in courses, how the landscape communicates, and the connection between golfers and golf courses. Golf Course Architecture, Second Edition provides a wealth of accessible and helpful information on golf course architecture chronicling every facet of designing, building, renovating, and restoring a golf course.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The bestselling "bible" of golf architecture—revised and updated

Golf Course Architecture, Second Edition is fully updated with more than fifty percent new material, including more than twenty-five recent innovations in the golf industry. Revealing both the art and science of golf course architecture, it takes readers inside the designer's mind through each step to designing a golf green, golf hole, and golf course. Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, course maps, and drawings, this Second Edition explains the roots of ugliness and sources of beauty in courses, how the landscape communicates, and the connection between golfers and golf courses.

Golf Course Architecture, Second Edition provides a wealth of accessible and helpful information on golf course architecture—from its earliest beginnings with Old Tom Morris to modern architectural design—chronicling every facet of designing, building, renovating, and restoring a golf course. In a refreshingly frank style, this new edition explains:

• Tee, green, and bunker construction
• Turfgrass establishment
• Design theory
• Trends and techniques for drainage and irrigation

Golf Course Architecture, Second Edition is a perfect reference for golf enthusiasts, green committees, green chairmen, builders, and developers, as well as superintendents, golf professionals, and course managers.

About the Author

Dr. MICHAEL J. HURDZAN is one of America's most respected golf course designers. A past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, he holds a PhD in environmental plant physiology studies from the University of Vermont. He has led his Ohio-based firm to design more than 250 new golf courses in North America and internationally, as well as remodel hundreds of U.S. course layouts. He is the author of the definitive book, Golf Greens, (also from Wiley) and is acknowledged as an innovator in design techniques for lowering construction costs and improving maintainability of golf courses. His Widow's Walk Golf Course, Scituate, Massachusetts, was recognized at the first national environmental demonstration project for golf course development.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (August 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471465313
• ISBN-13: 978-0471465317
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 1.2 x 11.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #804,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating,, October 14, 1999

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction & Restoration (Hardcover)

This is a fascinating book for any golf enthusiast or historian, as well as an essential practical resource for anyone actively involved in golf course design, construction and maintenance.

The design process progresses from the green to the individual hole to the entire course. Detailed technical information is well integrated with aesthetic and theoretical concepts making the entire book interesting & readable.

The book is packed with color photos of individual holes to illustrate design concepts, sites under construction and wonderful historical documents. The technical drawings & plans are well done and very useful.

This book is a great example of making a technical manual a joy to read. Any golfer who appreciates the background of the course he or she is playing on will love it.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All does not read well that starts well and ends well, August 11, 2000

By 

GDC "GDC" (Los Angeles, CA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction & Restoration (Hardcover)

Starts off very well with the hope that it will get more technical but instead becomes more theoretical in areas such as aesthetics and fine art, areas which the author seems to not have a background in. ie, his discussion of perception, symmetry and balance etc. If you can skip the middle chapters its not bad but again I had hoped for more technical insights. Perhaps I needed a book on golf course construction. I just assumed from architecture courses that construction issues and recommendations as well as more detail of layout relative to game play would be discussed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive overview of designing and building courses, December 21, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Sterling, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction & Restoration (Hardcover)

Simply an outstanding look at the fascinating process of taking a piece of land and sculpting a chapmionship layout. A step-by-step process that details the many intricacies and disciplines involved in creating a golf course. Any golfer will more fully appreciate the not only what they see on a course, but also what they "don't" see. The photos and illustrations are plentiful and precise in leading one through each phase of construction. Must reading for an serious student of the game. Kevin Burke