Nicklaus by Design: Golf Course Strategy and Architecture (Hardcover)

~ Jack Nicklaus (Author), Chris Millard (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ever since Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer in the history of the game, unveiled his first golf course design in 1970, he has been winning kudos for his visually striking layouts and challenging yet playable holes. More than 235 Nicklaus courses have sprung up around the globe, earning the Golden Bear Golf Digest's designation in 1999 as the world's leading active designer.

At least 30 Nicklaus courses have been ranked in various Top 100 lists, from Shoal Creek in Birmingham, with its sharply etched bunkers and rock-strewn creeks, to Castle Pines outside Denver, carved through a mile-high site that affords stunning views of the surrounding mountains.Here, Nicklaus reveals how he builds his courses and shares the secret of how to "read" a golf hole and play it well. With tips from the master on how to plot out strategy on the fairway, this book-with its superb course photos, plans, and diagrams-will be the season's top holiday gift for any golfer. AUTHOR BIO: Jack Nicklaus, widely recognized as the world's greatest golfer, is also one of the top golf-course designers in the world. Winner of 71 official Tour victories, including 20 majors; five-time winner of the PGA Player of the Year Award; and named Golf Magazine's "Player of the Century," Nicklaus heads the Nicklaus Design company based in North Palm Beach, Florida. Chris Millard, former Executive Editor of Senior Golfer Magazine, is an award-winning golf writer whose work has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf World, Golf Magazine, and the New York Times. He lives in Atlanta. Pete Dye was a top amateur player in the 1950s and is now one of the most revered course designers in the United States. He divides his time between Delray Beach, Florida, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

About the Author

Jack Nicklaus, widely recognized as the world's greatest golfer, is also one of the top golf-course designers in the world. Winner of 71 official Tour victories, including 20 majors; five-time winner of the PGA Player of the Year Award; and named Golf Magazine's Player of the Century; Nicklaus heads the Nicklaus Design company based in North Palm Beach, Florida. Chris Millard, former Executive Editor of Senior Golfer Magazine, is an award-winning golf writer whose work has appeard in Golf Digest, Golf World, Golf Magazine, and The New York Times. He lives in Atlanta. Pete Dye was a top amateur player in the 1950's and is now one of the most revered course designers in the United States. He divides his time between Delray Beach, Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810932490
• ISBN-13: 978-0810932494
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #217,951 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nicklaus' Entry on Golf Course Designs, March 5, 2003

By A Customer

One of what is becoming a library of works on golf course designs written by leading architects - fun thing here is that not only do you hear from Nicklaus the architect but also get more insight into Nicklaus the golfer (something not found in books by Trent Jones, Trent Jones II or Fazio in their books).
What is surprising are the sometimes very technical descriptions of drainage, irrigation and agriculture that you don't find in books of the other leading architects. As with the other books of this type on the market, lots of great pictures, lots of great stories and narratives about designing of particular courses and just generally interesting stuff about golf and golf courses.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GRAND SLAM WITH NICKLAUS, DYE, and MILLARD!, January 8, 2003

By	Jonathan E. Bradley (Woodstock, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This book is a masterpiece. It is very rich in its contents. It is not only interesting and historic but explains the creativity of design and the thought process that goes into designing a great golf course. Millard, Nicklaus, and Dye who could come up with better names in the Golf World. Millard in his beautiful wit and writing, Nicklaus in his play and design and Dye with his creativity. A must read for anyone who has played the game of golf. The photography and pictures are beautiful. Read,relax, and enjoy this wonderful book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jack, Jack, and more Jack, March 9, 2006

By	T. Enst - See all my reviews

Nicklaus has become a major name in the golf design business. Nicklaus-brand courses are becoming regular fixtures as tour events, and also play host to majors of every variety.

This book on his view of golf course and hole design offers many looks into popular design ideas (such as "challenging for the pro, fun for the hacker"). Much of this comes through clearly, complete with Nicklaus' opinions of how he has fit these ideas into his designs.

At the same time, a good amount of space seems to be devoted to saying why Nicklaus courses are good, as opposed to what sort of tendancies or drawbacks one might find in the designs. One popular criticism is that Jack designs courses for his own game, which might be particularly true on those tracks he had a direct hand in constructing. Also, little space was devoted to mention of green design, where slopes and hills are employed to feed the ball into hard-to-access parts of the green (this being one of Nicklaus' better design features).

With the many wonderful pictures included and the careful explinations, this book serves as a fair introduction to golf course architecture. Unfortunately, even as a guide to Nicklaus golf courses, it falls a bit short of great. More so than anything, this book is a product catalogue, and is probably better read as such.