Golf Architecture in America: Its Strategy & Construction

by George C. Thomas, Coventry House Publishing (Editor)

Golf Architecture in America is a masterpiece of early golf literature, written by famed architect George C. Thomas. Considered by historians to be the most influential book ever written on early American golf, this guide provides rare insight into the methods and philosophies used to design, construct, and maintain the most renowned golf courses in the United States. According to Thomas, “In this book it has been aimed to aid the beginner by giving actual experiences in course building, and to place before him the practical working methods found by the writer to constitute sound practice; to illustrate strategy and construction, and to consider all the factors which must be included in the up-to-date proposition.” Written in 1927, this book features over 150 black-and-white photographs and drawings, including rare photos of Pine Valley, Pinehurst No. 2, and Pebble Beach. Also included is a foreword by the author and an appendix highlighting his design achievements.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2020

About the author

Geo C. Thomas, born 1873

Reviews

[Chris Stahlmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated, but that is part of the fun of it. As someone with very little background in golf course architecture, I thought the book does a good job of keeping most explanations simple. Photos could use an update. It can be a bit of a slog at points, but to be honest I recommend the book solely for his hot take in chapter XI (no spoilers here)

[Tyson Wetzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

One change I’d make to future editions is update the pictures of golf holes. This edition uses the original, very low-resolution black & white photos from 1927 or earlier, making seeing what he is describing neatly impossible. Virtually all the courses and holes still exist and seeing what Thomas was writing about would have added a lot

[Jason Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1927, this book is a bit dated. The author uses terms like 'mashie' and 'niblick' which have become obsolete in today's game. It's also a bit more technical than other books of similar ilk I have enjoyed.

I was nearing the finish and about to hit the three star button when I reached chapter XI, entitled 'Arbitrary Values,' in which the author makes an excellent case for making the putt worth only half a stroke--an idea so good even Ben Hogan was a strong advocate. It's not simply an emotional appeal that putts should not be worth 36 strokes on a par 72 course, but a technical discussion on golf course architecture, fairness to both the long and short player, speeding up playing time with fewer traps and larger greens, and improving the inequities in par between short and long holes of the same value today. The chapter was worth an entire star.

[J Byars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible book about the design and construction of golf courses. Featuring many historical examples with photos and detailed explanations of why things are done the way they are. Classic.