NYACK, NY – Ran Morrissett, co-founder of Golf Club Atlas recently took to Instagram to praise “The Golf Architecture of Donald Ross: A Study of America’s Golf Course Architect” by Bradford A. Becken, Jr.
Here is what Ran had to say in his January 23, 2023 commentary:
“By virtue of having worked on over 400 courses across America, in both urban and rural environments, from New England to the Sandhills of North Carolina and the heavier soils of the Midwest, Donald Ross has touched the lives of X million American golfers. To me, no single person has had a greater impact on what constitutes good golf in this country than Ross. +
To understand how he accomplished so much, read Brad Becken’s The Golf Architecture of Donald Ross. Brad, who has been the President of the Donald Ross Society since 2018, lives 70 miles from me and the time I have spent with him (pic 2) has revealed a man who chooses his words with precision and avoids hyperbole. As such, he makes a most amicable guide as he shares his journey whereby he has played every significant Ross course in America (some that are defunct too). His voice is the unifying factor, so the book enjoys consistency of message.
As the title suggests, this is a comprehensive look at Ross’s architecture from routings to bunker schemes to greens to breakdowns of his best one, two and three shotters. If you are an architecture geek, you will get lost in the book for days. The handsome layout includes copious hole diagrams (pic 3, Franklin Hills) and striking photographs and pays appropriate homage to Ross’s five-decade career – no mean feat!
Importantly, it is current and as such, it provides excellent insight into which Ross courses you should target next. It pointed me to Belleair (which I just played), and for 2023, Hyannisport, Allegheny (pic 4), Barton Hills (pic 5) and Misquamicut (pic 6) are now on my short list. The Ross Society has done immense good over its 33-year history of unwinding damage to Ross courses while simultaneously helping courses restore Ross features. This book continues that noble cause, and in fact, may well be its crowning achievement. After perusing it, you will be left with no doubt of Ross’s meaning to the game – and how fortunate we as a country were that the right Scot came along at the right time and shepherded this sport forward in the most meaningful way possible – by building courses that make you itch to play.
Another must-have book from the Classics of Golf.”
About the Author:
BRADFORD A. BECKEN, JR., joined the Donald Ross Society in 2012, was elected to the board in 2016 and since 2018 continues to serve as its President. “The Mission of the Donald Ross Society is to promote the recognition of Donald Ross, the excellence of his golf architecture and the preservation and/or restoration of his courses.”
About the Publisher:
Classics of Golf is an exclusive collection of the world’s best reading golf books that was created by the legendary Herbert Warren Wind and has grown and been managed by Michael P. Beckerich since 2003. The Classics of Golf continues to honor Mr. Wind’s mission to keep in print the literature and history of golf. The collection includes titles by Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Bernard Darwin and many other of the most revered names in golf.
In addition to the Library, Classics of Golf publishes select new books.
For further information about how to order this book or other Classics of Golf selections visit www.classicsofgolf.com, email mpb@classicsofgolf.com, or call 914-588-5454.
A free preview of the first 40 pages of the book is available at Classics of Golf (click here).
An in-depth interview (from January 2020) with the author is available on Golf Club Atlas (click here).
For more on the Donald Ross Society, please visit www.rosssociety.org.
The Publisher can be contacted at:
Michael P. Beckerich 914-588-5454 Michael@classicsofgolf.com
