From the First Tee to the Last Green
Andrew Green & Lee Carr
Back Nine Press
$24.99, 288 pages
Anyone with an interest in golf, from the weekend warrior to the serious competitor, will find a lot to like about From the First Tee to the Last Green.
Architect Andrew Green, with an assist from longtime golf writer Lee Carr McGovern, takes the reader on a journey that touches on every aspect of the game. There’s something here for anyone with even a passing interest in golf, whether they’re a newcomer to the game or have been playing for a lifetime.
The book targets teenagers but will appeal to readers of all ages and demographics.
If your interest lies in the game’s history, Green offers insights into some of the greatest players of all time, from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods.
If you’re looking to learn more about some of the most renowned courses in the world, Green details why they are so highly regarded, and introduces the reader to some of the men who created them.
But From the First Tee to the Last Green is not a classroom lecture. Instead, it opens a door into the golf universe.
A newcomer to the sport may have heard of Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus, and certainly Tiger Woods, but perhaps does not grasp why they hold the status that they do.
They may watch the Masters with family and friends each year with understanding why it is The Masters.
At the same time, the lifelong golfer knows a lot about Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, et. al. Green and Carr take care of that with a narrative that finds the right balance between the passionate sportsman and the casual observer without losing the latter in the rough.
The journey begins with the reader being introduced to some of the great architects and then some of the greatest players in history, male and female.
(Since Green is a golf-course architect by profession, it stands to reason that architects should lead off).
From there, the focus is on enjoyment. Indeed, Chapter 2 is titled “Enjoying Your Round.” Each new page and each new chapter leads to a new discovery.
The range of topics includes everything from the differences between match play and medal play, to choosing appropriate golf attire, to appropriate golf etiquette and playing with strangers, to the pleasures of encountering wildlife during your round.
There’s also a section on caring for the course, replacing divots, raking bunkers, etc. that serves as a reminder to veteran golfers while letting newcomers know what’s expected.
Green truly blossoms when he delves into the hows and whys of how golf courses are designed, laid out, constructed, and maintained.
He goes into the details; everything from the preparation required before construction begins, to why certain types of grasses work best in certain climates, to the importance of a first-rate irrigation system.
Over the course of 288 pages, Green makes the point that golf is something to be enjoyed and makes his point by sharing how his passion for the game grew as he hit shots with plastic balls in his backyard.
It’s this approach that makes From the First Tee to the Last Green such an enjoyable read, and a great addition to your holiday gift list.
The above is advertorial content.
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