Great Donald Ross Golf Courses You Can Play

Rating:
Summary: A Must for All Donald Ross Fans!
Review: For many years, my friends and family have encouraged me in my obsession with Donald Ross courses. It all began innocuously enough, when the country club I joined to play tennis turned out to have a great course by Mr. Ross (Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Massachusetts). I learned to play golf later, and was hooked on Mr. Ross!

My friends and I have often talked about putting together a book that would be a guide to help others locate Ross courses to play on. This book was a happy surprise for me in fulfilling that long-held desire! The research is solid in this book, locating Donald Ross courses that others had erroneously ascribed to others. What happened in a few cases is that Mr. Ross did the design, but the implementation did not occur until later.

The book details over 100 courses and has over 150 color photographs plus many black-and-white images. Typically, the color images capture key perspectives of famous or top holes. The book's layout for each course is done over two pages. You get the ratings of the course, some history, several photographs, directions to the course (and on-line information), and condition. I especially liked the older photographs that showed famous players in important moments.

The course descriptions are relieved by occasional essays about Mr. Ross.

Living in the Boston area, I was pleased to see that there are 32 in New England I can enjoy, most of which I have yet to play on. I can also head south in the Winter and hit Florida (18), Georgia (5), South Carolina (4), and North Carolina (16).

If you don't know Mr. Ross, you should. He built Pinehurst No. 2, which is probably his best known effort. Mr. Ross's courses are well known for their elevated tees and greens, with tricky putting surfaces. A recent book about Mr. Ross commented that a poll by touring pros voted my home course as one of ten toughest to putt. There are almost no flat landing areas in the fairway. On the other hand, each shot is a fair test of golf for players of all levels. Many of these courses are considered today to be too short for the male pros, but many still serve as sites for important women's tournaments.

My only complaint about the book was that some of the photographs seemed wildly inappropriate. My favorite example is "Hooter Girls" at the Fort Myers Country Club. On the other hand, the photographs give the book a feeling not unlike a personal family album. Perhaps that's appropriate for all of us who are part of the large family of Ross fans.

After you have enjoyed this book (and hopefully played many of the courses), I suggest that you think about how you can leave joy for future generations as Mr. Ross has done for us.

What can your special contribution be?

Create indelible experiences!

Rating:
Summary: A Must for All Donald Ross Fans!
Review: For many years, my friends and family have encouraged me in my obsession with Donald Ross courses. It all began innocuously enough, when the country club I joined to play tennis turned out to have a great course by Mr. Ross (Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Massachusetts). I learned to play golf later, and was hooked on Mr. Ross!

My friends and I have often talked about putting together a book that would be a guide to help others locate Ross courses to play on. This book was a happy surprise for me in fulfilling that long-held desire! The research is solid in this book, locating Donald Ross courses that others had erroneously ascribed to others. What happened in a few cases is that Mr. Ross did the design, but the implementation did not occur until later.

The book details over 100 courses and has over 150 color photographs plus many black-and-white images. Typically, the color images capture key perspectives of famous or top holes. The book's layout for each course is done over two pages. You get the ratings of the course, some history, several photographs, directions to the course (and on-line information), and condition. I especially liked the older photographs that showed famous players in important moments.

The course descriptions are relieved by occasional essays about Mr. Ross.

Living in the Boston area, I was pleased to see that there are 32 in New England I can enjoy, most of which I have yet to play on. I can also head south in the Winter and hit Florida (18), Georgia (5), South Carolina (4), and North Carolina (16).

If you don't know Mr. Ross, you should. He built Pinehurst No. 2, which is probably his best known effort. Mr. Ross's courses are well known for their elevated tees and greens, with tricky putting surfaces. A recent book about Mr. Ross commented that a poll by touring pros voted my home course as one of ten toughest to putt. There are almost no flat landing areas in the fairway. On the other hand, each shot is a fair test of golf for players of all levels. Many of these courses are considered today to be too short for the male pros, but many still serve as sites for important women's tournaments.

My only complaint about the book was that some of the photographs seemed wildly inappropriate. My favorite example is "Hooter Girls" at the Fort Myers Country Club. On the other hand, the photographs give the book a feeling not unlike a personal family album. Perhaps that's appropriate for all of us who are part of the large family of Ross fans.

After you have enjoyed this book (and hopefully played many of the courses), I suggest that you think about how you can leave joy for future generations as Mr. Ross has done for us.

What can your special contribution be?

Create indelible experiences!

Rating:
Summary: Great Donald Ross Golf Courses You Can Play
Review: Great Donald Ross Golf Courses You Can Play, (GDR) is the work of two authors - Paul R. Dunn and B.J. Dunn, residents of Pinehurst, North Carolina. Both are avid, albeit not stunning golfers. GDR resulted from several years of research into hundreds of golf courses in the United States, Canada and Cuba which have been identified as possible Ross creations. The authors interviewed hundreds of golf course managers, professionals, members and players seeking to pin down just which courses, claimed to be by Ross, really are by the Scottish-American golf course architect. Some courses didn't make the cut, because they could not prove a bona fide Ross provenance. The authors reviewed his business correspondence located at the Tufts Archive in Pinehurst, and received from many courses copies of Ross letters and course layout specifications. The book describes 2 courses in Colorado, one in Connecticut, 17 in Florida, 4 in Georgia, 2 in Indiana, 7 in Maine, 15 in Massachusetts, 5 in Michigan, 7 in New Hampshire, 1 in New Jersey, 6 in New York, 14 in North Carolina, 4 in Ohio, 5 in Pennsylvania, 2 in Rhode Island, 3 in South Carolina, 2 in Tennessee, and 5 in Virginia. These are either semi-private, public, resort courses and include two military courses - no private courses are included. The book only covers those courses open to public play. GDR offers beautiful four-color and black and white pictures of the courses and also some very rare antique photos from the Tin Whistles Collection of Pinehurst, NC. GDR tells who some of the famous players and celebs were that played these Ross masterpieces, and describes the courses in contemporary terms as well as provides the history of those courses where it is available. Over 300 golf courses were carefully researched in preparation of this authoritative book. One interesting course included in the book is the VinnyLinks of Nashville, TN. The Ross plans for a 9-hole course at Shelby Golf Course in Nashville were "misplaced" for over 70 years! When accidently discovered a decision was made to built the course, but as a Junior facility. This course has just opened. It is named in honor of Vince Gill a famous country music artist, golfer and strong promoter of junior golf. Another course included is the Wm. J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park in Dorchester, MA. This course had been written off as a Ross product by sports writer Paul Harber fo the Boston Globe who wrote, "Many people erroneously believe that Donald Ross laid it out. He didn't." Our research turned up old records that ascribe the creation of the course to Donald Ross. Alan Banks of the Olmstead Site in Boston called and informed us that in an April 19, 1922 issue of Golf Illustrated, Ross is called the course superintendent. The book also gives the reader new insights into the character and golf course philosophy of Donald Ross. The book is 296 pages in length, 9 X 12 inches in size, clothbound and published by Derrydale Press of Lanham, MD.