Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction & Restoration (Hardcover)

by Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan (Author) "Let's begin with a question or two: ""What is a golf course, and what is golf course architecture?""..." (more)
Key Phrases: design subgrade, golf architect, golf course contractor, Devil's Pulpit, Devil's Paintbrush, Widow's Walk (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Finally, a definitive text that reveals the art and science of golf course architecture. It is also practical for it explains tee, green and bunker construction, turfgrass establishment and maturation, as well as drainage and irrigation trends and techniques—generously supplemented by hundreds of color photos, drawings, and architectural plans. Dr. Hurdzan is refreshingly frank in his discussion of golf and the environment, and golf course improvement and restoration.

From the Back Cover
Described as "the modern bible of golf architecture," this text distills Dr. Hurdzan's 30 years of knowledge and experience into one source. Beautifully illustrated with 326 color photographs, and 80 course maps and drawings, it chronicles all facets of designing, building, renovating and restoring a golf course.

This single source provides a wealth of understandable and useful information on golf architecture from its earliest beginnings with Old Tom Morris to modern architectural design. Its readable style and varied illustrations make it a perfect reference for golf enthusiasts, green committees, green chairman, builders and developers, as well as superintendents, golf professionals and course managers.

Dr. Hurdzan reveals both the art and science of golf course architecture, and takes you inside the designer's mind as he leads you through each step in designing a golf green, golf hole and golf course. Dr. Hurdzan explains the roots of ugliness and sources of beauty, how the landscape communicates, and the recreational process that inexorably links the golfer to the golf course.

Golf Course Architecture is also practical in nature. It explains tee, green and bunker construction, turfgrass establishment ad maturation, as well as drainage and irrigation trends and techniques. Dr. Hurdzan is refreshingly frank in his discussion of golf and the environment and golf course improvement and restoration.

Recognized by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America for its value to the profession, profits from this timeless text will support the GCSAA Foundation for its valuable support of research, scholarship, historical preservation and environmental awareness. If the golf course is important to you this book is must reading.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 406 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886947015
• ISBN-13: 978-1886947016
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #968,407 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

14 of 16 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

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.

5 of 6 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

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