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The Spirit of St. Andrews
Alister MacKenzie was one of golf's greatest architects. He designed his courses so that players of all skill levels could enjoy the game while still creating fantastic challenges for the most experienced players. Several of MacKenzie's courses, such as Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Pasatiempo, remain in the top 100 today. In his "lost" 1933 manuscript, published for the first time in 1995 and now finally available in paperback, MacKenzie leads you through the evolution of golf--from St. Andrews to the modern-day golf course--and shares his insight on great golf holes, the swing, technology and equipment, putting tips, the USGA, the Royal & Ancient, and more. With fascinating stories about Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and many others, The Spirit of St. Andrews gives valuable lessons for all golfers as well as an intimate portrait of Alister MacKenzie, a true legend of the game.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 11, 2017
What a wonderful insight to the mind of this acknowledged genius of golf course architecture. If you're not into golf, it likely will mean nothing to you. If you've ever seen the temples of the game that are St. Andrews' Old Course or Augusta National, or if you've had the chance to play places he designed like Cypress Point (which I have not) or Pasatiempo (which I have), this will get your attention.
Written near the end of his life from his porch on one of Santa Cruz' Pasatiempo holes, Mr. Mackenzie speaks clearly, in terms devoid of political correctness, on subjects that range from how to build courses the right way to how to screw them up. His love of the basics that enhance the joy of the game, his hatred of excessive use of hazzards and rough, and his views on how private clubs and their committees mess up good golf will all put a smile on your face.
For me, it reads like sitting on the porch with an old Scottsman, listening to a man who knows about what he speaks, and who truly, honestly loves the game for all the right reasons.
That obvious love of the game appears his main motivation for leaving a career in the medical profession to build courses. He goes beyond architecture even to playing basics. There are many passages I laughed with as I realized I've had many of the same complaints about the game now as he did when he wrote it nearly 90 years ago. The best example is his rant on how manufacturers are destroying the game, and governing bodies are participating with them in the way they're allowing changes to the golf ball and equipment. Other commentary of his, as timely then as now, regards everything from golf course maintenance to how handicapping should be done.
As an aside, I learned it's possible to love a book, but hate reading it. (Huh?) Really, the "hate" part was just the combination of my old eyes and the tiny-to-me font used in the printing. My regular readers wouldn't do it, I wore comical-looking jewelers spectacles to read it. But that's another story.
If you love golf for any reason, you will love this book. Read it while you're young. Or find a large-print edition.
Written near the end of his life from his porch on one of Santa Cruz' Pasatiempo holes, Mr. Mackenzie speaks clearly, in terms devoid of political correctness, on subjects that range from how to build courses the right way to how to screw them up. His love of the basics that enhance the joy of the game, his hatred of excessive use of hazzards and rough, and his views on how private clubs and their committees mess up good golf will all put a smile on your face.
For me, it reads like sitting on the porch with an old Scottsman, listening to a man who knows about what he speaks, and who truly, honestly loves the game for all the right reasons.
That obvious love of the game appears his main motivation for leaving a career in the medical profession to build courses. He goes beyond architecture even to playing basics. There are many passages I laughed with as I realized I've had many of the same complaints about the game now as he did when he wrote it nearly 90 years ago. The best example is his rant on how manufacturers are destroying the game, and governing bodies are participating with them in the way they're allowing changes to the golf ball and equipment. Other commentary of his, as timely then as now, regards everything from golf course maintenance to how handicapping should be done.
As an aside, I learned it's possible to love a book, but hate reading it. (Huh?) Really, the "hate" part was just the combination of my old eyes and the tiny-to-me font used in the printing. My regular readers wouldn't do it, I wore comical-looking jewelers spectacles to read it. But that's another story.
If you love golf for any reason, you will love this book. Read it while you're young. Or find a large-print edition.
July 12, 2025
Great book for golf sickos
September 29, 2007
Fo gowfers wit a passion fo ye geem.
February 18, 2022
This book is nearing 100 years old. It’s a charming read, though a bit like warm milk. Sometimes I thought it was boring, sometimes it was endlessly soothing. Sort of like watching golf on the at times. What’s so refreshing is MacKenzie’s view that golf is meant to be a game. It’s for fun, even when it’s maddening. And it should be for everyone, not the wealthy. Most people in America don’t see it that way. But it would be grand if we would.
June 1, 2022
A somewhat misleading title (or I should have read the book description better). I expected the book to mainly be about St. Andrews, but it's mostly Alister Mackenzie's thoughts on course architecture and the game of golf, with a few short sections covering specific holes at St. Andrews. Recommended for golf course architecture fans and golf history fans.
August 24, 2017
The book had many interesting parts, but was a slog near the end. Most of the swing advice has been rendered pointless by the passing of time. If you are a real golf nerd, it's worth reading at least the first ⅔ of the book. Otherwise, I'd give it a pass.
September 16, 2019
Interesantísimo libro de Alister Mackenzie, para mi uno de los mejores diseñadores de golf del mundo.
Habla de diseñar un campo de golf, de lo que es un swing de golf, del mantenimiento de un campo de golf y de muchas cosas más.
Todo golfista debe de leer este libro.
Habla de diseñar un campo de golf, de lo que es un swing de golf, del mantenimiento de un campo de golf y de muchas cosas más.
Todo golfista debe de leer este libro.
December 30, 2024
Published for the first time ~60 years after it was originally written the book is an interesting look into the mind of the golf architect of some of the most famous courses in the world (Augusta National, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne).
June 5, 2024
Great insight into a great golf mind. Chapters on his thoughts about golf swings is kind of a bore but otherwise insightful.
January 20, 2025
Pretty dry, author is a grumpy lad, repeats his same complaints over and over. You have to be a golf fanatic to even attempt to read this.
February 2, 2026
I am a huge fan of Pasatiempo golf course. Fun to read his writing. There are sections that are very interesting but overall not a great read.
June 7, 2025
One of the best books I've read on golf course architecture. I wish more courses today would follow his rules for course design and maintenance. Mackenzie, who wrote this book in the 1930s, did not want economic barriers to those being able to play golf (even though two of his creations, Cypress Point and Augusta, are among the most elite, toughest-to-access private courses in the US) and included ideas such as:
Golf bags should not have more than six clubs in them.
Water should only be used a hazard, but players should still be able to retrieve their balls.
Hazards should be placed no more than 10 to 15 yards off the ideal line of flight to the hole.
Rough should not be a hazard and should be cut short so players do not spend time looking for balls.
Greens should not be small nor flat.
Other than a couple pages of Ayn Rand rants about the alleged evils of socialism toward the end, this was a solid read.
Golf bags should not have more than six clubs in them.
Water should only be used a hazard, but players should still be able to retrieve their balls.
Hazards should be placed no more than 10 to 15 yards off the ideal line of flight to the hole.
Rough should not be a hazard and should be cut short so players do not spend time looking for balls.
Greens should not be small nor flat.
Other than a couple pages of Ayn Rand rants about the alleged evils of socialism toward the end, this was a solid read.
October 20, 2007
MacKenzie is considered among the legends of golf course architecture. He designed Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Augusta National,and has advised in the construction or maintenance of most of the great seaside links courses in the UK.
The Spirit of St. Andrews is a found manuscript with MacKenzie's notes on numerous topics related to archeticture, golf and golfers.
Throughout the book he continuously returns to the idea the the world's first course remains the finest course in the world. Nowhere else is the golfer challenged by such strategic dilemnas as at St. Andrews.
His views on architecture strongly support his belief that golf is a game that should be accessible to all. Challenges found on a golf course should require stategic decisions by both the scratch and the "long handicapper." Golfers who appreciate the challenge of true seaside links will find his views reassuring, while those who long for perfectly manicured courses will find it ridiculous.
I would recommend that the reader of this book have access to photos of the courses referenced(although they have all probably made some changes since he wrote manuscript prior to WWII).This is actually quite easy now that most courses include excellent photo galleries on their websites.
The Spirit of St. Andrews is a found manuscript with MacKenzie's notes on numerous topics related to archeticture, golf and golfers.
Throughout the book he continuously returns to the idea the the world's first course remains the finest course in the world. Nowhere else is the golfer challenged by such strategic dilemnas as at St. Andrews.
His views on architecture strongly support his belief that golf is a game that should be accessible to all. Challenges found on a golf course should require stategic decisions by both the scratch and the "long handicapper." Golfers who appreciate the challenge of true seaside links will find his views reassuring, while those who long for perfectly manicured courses will find it ridiculous.
I would recommend that the reader of this book have access to photos of the courses referenced(although they have all probably made some changes since he wrote manuscript prior to WWII).This is actually quite easy now that most courses include excellent photo galleries on their websites.
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November 7, 2012loved it
November 7, 2015
An excellent book with incredible insight into one of the greatest golf course architects that ever lived.
January 17, 2016
One of the most influential golf architects in the world.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews