GOOD READ Golf Architecture
Now in its eighth year, the annual journal from the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects continues to attract readers from across the globe.
And it's no surprise, given the wealth of content that is packed into its 80 pages. Highlights this year include the 10-page feature essay on Tom Simpson by American writer Tom MacWood – a revealing insight into the architect and artist, with fascinating illustrations such as Simpson's plan for a reversible course, extracts from a report on Muirfield, and examples of Simpson's artwork.
The cover story is Barnbougle Dunes, Doak and Clayton's acclaimed design near Bridport, a small town on the northern Tasmanian coast. The article reveals the unique story behind this development in a relatively remote part of the world, where the owners have a vision of "a golfing version of the Field of Dreams – 'build it and they will come'" and provides the architects' insights into the landscape and routing.
Geoff Shackelford's photo essay on Coore & Crenshaw's Friar's Head, in Long Island, New York, with shots during and after construction, and Michael Wolveridge's article on the origins of the golfing estate also stand out. There's much more than we've got space to mention here – consider this essential reading.
SAGCA, A$14.95 (€9.45), www.sagca.org.au
This article first appeared in issue 1 of Golf Course Architecture, published in July 2005.