– A STUDY OF THE WORK OF AMERICA’S GREATEST GOLF COURSE DESIGNER” BY BRADFORD A. BECKEN, JR.
Bradford A. Becken,Jr., Donald Ross Society president since 2018, has authored and presented a detailed analysis of Ross’ work relying on approximately 1,500 hole and green and routing drawings that still exist and having played and extensively photographed each one. Starting with the opening of Oakley CC in 1901, Donald Ross, the most important North American architect has 420 design and redesign golf courses to his credit. 370 courses remain today in the US and Canada. The book looks at Ross’ design characteristics and also discusses the restoration movement of Ross’ courses that began in the 1980’s
The new golf architecture book entitled, “The Golf Architecture of Donald Ross – A Study of the Work of America’s Greatest Golf Course Designer” is published by Classics of Golf and is available for purchase at $395.00 at www.classicsofgolf.com. Book specifications: 9” x 12” with 384 pages and a limited-edition of 500 copies, signed and numbered by the author.
All profits otherwise due the author are to be divided equally between The Donald Ross Society Foundation and The Tufts Archives in Pinehurst, NC.
“This book is a unique definitive look at the many Donald Ross courses in the United States and Canada,” said author Brad Becken, Jr. “Over the last several years I have spent a considerable amount of time closely studying Ross hole and green drawings grid line by grid line and closely comparing each current course to the drawings I have reviewed.”
Today, the timeless appeal of Donald Ross’ golf courses is stronger than ever with each such club proudly proclaiming its Donald Ross legacy. Even though the newest Ross design is over 70 years old, major PGA and LPGA events continue to be played on his courses despite the steady and ongoing improvement in the golf ball and playing equipment which have revolutionized the modern game.
For most of his career Ross did not have the luxury of moving mountains of dirt like golf architects today. Ross’ genius was his ability to analyze and take what was available at a particular site and then seamlessly fashion a course that was both challenging to the best players, but also manageable and enjoyed by the higher handicappers. Approximately 420 courses are credited to Ross as either a design or redesign scattered through the US and Canada and created at a time when travel was by train. He even designed two courses in Cuba although they did not survive Fidel Castro while roughly 370 of Ross’ courses continue to exist.