STRATFORD, CT (October 20, 2014) — Herbert Warren Wind, Dean of American Sportswriters, started the Classics of Golf in 1983 to identify and share the best golf books in the world. Wind and his associate Robert S. Macdonald assembled the very best collection of writers and golfers and their books. Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Bernard Darwin, O.B. Keeler, Ian Fleming (Goldfinger), Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen and more (plus Herb Wind himself) created the quintessential collection of books that golfers continue to cherish to this day.
Classics of Golf (www.classicsofgolf.com) is continuing to build on Wind’s and Macdonald’s legacy by adding new books to the already impressive collection which will include newly written and previously published bestsellers and classics. This growth will be led by Classics of Golf newly appointed Executive Director, Brian A. Lewis. Mr. Lewis brings forth a great deal of technical publishing experience having been the founder and former Publisher of Sleeping Bear Press, a dynamic and premier publisher of golf books.
“Herbert Warren Wind and Robert Macdonald created something unique and special that I am honored to be a part of it. Classics of Golf is the leading publisher and re-publisher of the best golf books ever written and is an important part of protecting and sharing the history of the game with golfers old and new,” said Brian Lewis, new Executive Director of Classics of Golf. “The opportunities that new media and marketing channels provide us to connect golfers with the Classics of Golf book catalog in a meaningful way are significant. The integrity and careful stewardship of the Classics of Golf brand over the past 30 years opens many doors for new titles and creative presentations of existing books.”
“The addition of Brian Lewis to the Classics of Golf team reenergizes our focus on being the industry’s number one resource for the best golf books in the world. His ability and proven track record in creating multidimensional programs surrounding golf books and securing successful agreements on new projects tremendously strengthens our team,” said Michael P. Beckerich, Publisher and owner of Classics of Golf since 2001. “It is important that we continue to bring new titles to the golfing community and, in the spirit in which Herbert Warren Wind and Robert S. Macdonald founded Classics of Golf, republish out-of-print and limited distribution golf books. The first few of these titles are already underway and will be available before the end of this year. ”
In parallel with Mr. Lewis joining the Classics of Golf team, a new marketing campaign (“The World’s Best Reading Golf Books”) has been unveiled on a new website platform (www.classicsofgolf.com) that will evolve steadily over the coming months with multimedia and enhanced content about the books. Several new marketing partnerships are in negotiation and an effort to create new channels of distribution are a priority.
Classics of Golf books are available for purchase via the web store (www.classicsofgolf.com), in select proshops and gift catalogs, and the USGA Museum in Far Hills, NJ.
The Classics of Golf book catalog has three components:
1. The Classics of Golf Library curated by the “Dean of American Sportswriters” Herbert Warren Wind and Robert S. Macdonald starting in 1983. The Library consists of 69 of the greatest golf books ever written, many republished with exclusive and insightful forewords and afterwords curated by Classics of Golf and Herbert Warren Wind.
The entire Library has been presented in a new media book carousel available at www.classicsofgolf.com and includes:
• Bernard Darwin works such as “Playing the Like”, “James Braid”, “Golf”, “A History of Golf in Britain” and “The World That Fred Made”
• Bobby Jones “Golf is My Game”, “The Basic Golf Swing” and his seminal “Down the Fairway”
• Historic classics “Scotland’s Gift Golf”, “The Links”, “Golf Architecture”, “The Life of Tom Morris” and “Golf in America”
• Herbert Warren Wind’s “The Story of American Golf”, “The Complete Golfer”, “On The Tour with Harry Sprague” and “The Greatest Game of All” (co-written with Jack Nicklaus)
• Sought after books like “The Dogged Victim of Inexorable Fate” by Dan Jenkins, “The Architectural Side of Golf” by H.N. Wethered and T. Simpson, and “Golfers’ Gold” by Tony Lema
2. New books such as the acclaimed biography on the great U.S. golf course designer A.W. Tillinghast “Tillinghast: Creator of Golf Courses” by Philip Young, firsthand accounts by U.S. Amateur champions in the 3-volume “U.S. Amateur: The History and Personal Recollections of Its Champions” by Colin Sheehan and “Golf’s Finest Hour: The Open at Bethpage Black” by Philip Young.
3. Collection of unique golf and golf club history books that often only available in limited quantities and distribution. These include “Art and Architecture of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club”, “Baltusrol 100 Years – The Centennial”, “Selected Golf Courses by Hurdzen/Fry” and a special three book collection from the Tillinghast Association.
For more information on working with the Classics of Golf or to purchase books in special quantities please send details to Brian Lewis at info@classicsofgolf.com. You can also call Classics of Golf at
1-800-483-6449.
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