Golf Course Designs [Hardcover]

Tom Fazio (Author), Cal Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000

The author's inner vision combined with a grasp of the forms and settings of nature, give his golf courses a universal appeal.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Depending on your handicap, the name Tom Fazio either strikes fear in your heart or sets your blood rising to the challenge. One of the most celebrated course designers of the past three decades, Fazio has left his imprint on such showcase tracks as Kiawah Island Club, Grayhawk, Butler National, Barton Creek, Hartefeld National, and the TPC at Myrtle Beach. His beautifully illustrated Golf Course Designs opens a window onto the thinking that went into those and other courses--and understanding a designer's intentions is as powerful a weapon as any club in the bag.

Using his own designs as his laboratory, Fazio, through text and pictures, unveils the mystery of his methods and the ways in which technology has affected changes in golf course architecture through the 20th century. As difficult as Fazio's courses can play, he emphasizes that his intention isn't to punish golfers--though he has no problem with punishing bad shots--but to inspire golfers by providing a fair test of skill, whatever a player's skill level, in the most dramatic setting possible. To that end, he explains how he routes a course, where and why he sets bunkers and hazards, how he frames a hole for aesthetic appeal, how he sets greens and tees, when he leaves the landscape as he finds it, and why he brings in bulldozers to move what nature didn't provide to his liking.

"The classic tension in golf course design as I see it," he writes, "is not between risk and reward, but between playability and difficulty.... Even if a client wanted to build the toughest course around, I would argue that it should be fair." A golfer who can learn to use each hole's inherent fairness to advantage is a golfer who can post better scores. And, in the end, that's the most important secret Fazio's attractive volume reveals. --Jeff Silverman

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1St Edition edition (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810967170
• ISBN-13: 978-0810967175
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for your coffee table, September 6, 2002

By 

JSC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Course Designs (Hardcover)

Tom Fazio is one of the best golf course designers of all time. Because I am from the Philadelphia area, I am not privileged to play as many of his courses as I would like. When you first pick up this book, you might falsely believe it is nothing more than a picture book. Don't be fooled though. Fazio provides some interesting insight into why he chose to sculpt his courses the way he did. Many golf enthusiasts might recognize Fazio's name from courses they've played, but he has also done some masterful redesigns as well including the recent improvements to Augusta National.
Yes, the pictures add another dimension to the book, but the fact that it is an easy read and one that provides great insight is what brings this book to another level.
I highly recommended this book not only for golfers but for those who enjoy the aesthetics of a golf course as well.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Join the Tour- A wonderful sojourn, November 30, 2000

By 

"gkridel" (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Course Designs (Hardcover)

Unlike most books destined for the coffee table, Fazio transends the swing arc to a beautiful look at the vision of the the ulimate playing field- the golf course. With a wonderful perspective of design, the challange of the game starts with the challange of the course. The pictures are beautiful beyond description but the story, passion and the theory are even more great. Tom Fazio has taken his agressiveness from the tour and put it to the turf. This is a wonderful book for the golf enthusiast!

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Par Excellence!, December 30, 2000

By 

Dawn Phillips (Newburgh IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Course Designs (Hardcover)

If you play golf, you must have this book. I am lucky enough to work at a Fazio course (Victoria National - Indiana) and so naturally this book was special to me.

It is enjoyable to look at as well as interesting to read.

Anyone who plays or wishes they could play will HAVE to have this book.