Customer Reviews

Where Golf Is Great: The Finest Courses of Scotland and Ireland

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This isn't the perfect coffee table, travel and reference book for golf in Scotland and Ireland, but then Tiger Woods isn't the perfect golfer either. If you've golfed in Scotland and Ireland, if you're planning to play in Scotland and Ireland, or if you're only dreaming of playing in Scotland and Ireland, this is absolutely one book that you must have. It's a steal at Amazon's $37.80. The book includes text about and photos of a selection to top flight golf courses in Scotland and Ireland. James Finegan is a long-time newspaper golf writer and one-time low handicap golfer. He gives you his perspective on the quality of each of the courses, and describes places to stay, eat and visit in the vicinity of each course. You may recognize some of the text, paraphrased a bit, from Finegan's 1996 "Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens" [Scotland], and "Emerald Fairways and Foam-Flecked Seas" [Ireland], but this large format book is in no way a duplicate of those little gems. What can I say? Finegan's prose sparkles as ever, a joy to read regardless of whether you agree with him. The "arty" golf course photography by Laurence Lambrecht is spectacular. I say "arty" because the photography is really landscape photography taken on golf courses. It is not intended to show you exactly how the golf holes would look, for example, from straight overhead or to a golfer on the tee. Any negatives? Sometimes, I think, Finegan goes a little over the top in his enthusiasm for some of the courses (e.g., Carnoustie), maybe even a lot over the top. But who cares? Caution: this is not a book you are going to curl up with -- note the size of the book in pages, dimensions and weight.

Mr. Finegan has produced another in his very successful series of books about the pleasures offered by the golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The text is of the same high quality as the photographs by Messrs. Lambrecht and Thompson. The result is an elegant book which stimulates happy memories for those that have played the courses and which should whet the appetites of those who have not.

As a Scot who has played most of the courses Jim Finegan has reviewed in this and his previous books, there's very little to dispute, and the pictures do convey the wonderful beauty of many of them, especially Machrie, Boat of Garten and others. However he seems to have toned down the criticisms of some courses he made in the prose books, and I find his Damascene conversion to Carnoustie a little strange; it hasn't changed THAT much since he was pretty scathing (unjustly, IMO) about it in the other book. Despite all that, Jim clearly knows what he is talking about, and I loved flicking through this so much I bought a copy for me and my golf-mad uncle.

In the world's "Top 100 of golf books" this is, for me, alone at #1. We are planning our fourth trip to Ireland/Scotland (3 to Ireland, the next to Scotland) and have used this book as a starting point for each. We have found Mr. Finegan to be most accurate in his assessments of the courses (along with the "Hidden Links" group), and, more importantly that he devotes the proper coverage proportionately to the proper courses. (We go for 11 or 12 days, play between 8 and 11 courses, and may not get there again, so it is important to us to put together the best group of courses possible). The photographs alone make this book a bargain. There are a ton of them. They are full-page and they are stunning. Our sincere thanks to Mr. Finegan. Extraordinary at $38.

Very good coffee table book with numerous large photographs of the great golf courses of Scotland and Ireland, many of which are unique. Instead of using existing very recognizable stock photos, the author has composed photos of well known holes from some very interesting perspectives - that give new insights. The narative is equally strong and worthy. Where Golf is Great is well worth having as part of any golf library.

Golf is truly great and this book show you how beautiful golfcources can be by the most georgeous pictures I have ever seen. The book is huge and heavy, but the best cources in Scotland/Irland are mentioned. The reason for not getting 5 stars is that such a huge book should really have covered much more. There are just too few courses discribed. The one in it though are probably the best and if you have enough cash when travelling here you are ok.

I bought this book as a Christmas present for my step-day. He loves to golf and has been wanting to explore Scotland and Ireland for as long as I can remember. The book is hefty and the pictures are glorious so you feel like it's an attainable destination. I hope it inspires him to go.

No one better at photographing golf courses or writing about them than these two contributors. Their pictures and commentary brought me to visit links courses over fifteen years ago and I return every other year at least. Volume sits on the mantle to inspire me.

If you like links-land golf, this book is a beautiful pictorial reminder of your trips to Scotland and Ireland, or your dream of your trip to Scotland or Irelenad.
Pictures and descriptions of some of the most fantastic golf courses in the World. A must for any golf-o-phile.

I bought this for my husband as a gift and he loves it. It has beautiful pictures and any golf lover will be impressed by the photos. Be warned- this book will make you start planning your next golf trip very soon.