Sand and Golf: How Terrain Shapes the Game

Now in it's second printing Sand and Golf: How Terrain Shapes the Game explores what makes golf, and golf course architecture, so special on sandy terrain.

Golf was born on sandy ground and the features of the game are a direct product of that terrain. Fairways and greens were derived from the naturally occurring areas of short grass found among the coastal dunes of Scotland. The original sand traps were areas of bare sand that can be found scattered throughout any dune landscape. As the game spread beyond the coastal dunes it took these features with it, and while they have been incorporated into a variety of landscapes they have always fit best on sandy ground. For this reason each major expansion in golf has begun with new courses on sandy ground. Even the best courses of the modern era are products of sandy terrain. The reason golf works so well on sandy ground is that it quite literally belongs there.

This book explores the unique features of sandy ground that make it so suitable for golf, studying the similarities and differences among sandy courses in a wide variety of environments. The courses of Melbourne's Sandbelt may not bear much resemblance to the fantastic sandy courses of America's Great Plains, but they actually have a great deal in common. The firm turf that is a product of free draining soils, rugged bunkers carved directly into the sandy soils, and a style of play suited to firm, often windy sites. Golf on sandy sites is a game played as much along the ground as through the air, and creative shotmaking is required to deal with the challenges of sandy terrain. The creativity required to succeed when golfing on sandy ground is a big part of the enduring popularity of these courses and the reason why people travel around the world to seek them out.

Golf on sandy terrain is something special because golf itself is a product of that terrain. Sand and Golf looks at all aspects of the relationship between sand and golf, from golf's earliest days to the spread of the sport across the globe. Golf and golf course architecture on sandy sites is explored in every detail, using examples and illustrations from the best sandy courses in the world.FEATURED GOLF COURSES: United States of America
1. Bandon Trails Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon
2. Chambers Bay University Place, Washington
3. Cypress Point GC Monterey, California
4. Friars Head GC Baiting Hollow, New York
5. Garden City GC Garden City, New York
6. The Maidstone Club East Hampton, New York
7. The National Golf Links of America Southampton, New York
8. Pacific Dunes Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon
9. Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links Pacific Grove, California
10. Pinehurst Number 2 Pinehurst, North Carolina
11. Pine Valley GC Clementon, New Jersey
12. Sand Hills GC Mullen, Nebraska
13. Sebonack GC Southampton, New York
14. Shinnecock Hills GC Southampton, New York
15. Streamsong Golf Resort Streamsong, Florida
16. Wild Horse GC Gothenburg, Nebraska
17. Yeamans Hall Club Hanahan, South Carolina

Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe
18. Ballybunion Golf Club Ballybunion, Ireland
19. Carnoustie Golf Links Carnoustie, Scotland
20. Cruden Bay GC Cruden Bay, Scotland
21. Falsterbo GC Falsterbo, Sweden
22. Ganton GC Scarborough, England
23. Lahinch GC Lahinch, Ireland
24. Machrihanish GC Campbeltown, Scotland
25. Muirfield Gullane, Scotland
26. North Berwick (West Links) North Berwick, Scotland
27. The Old Course at St. Andrews St. Andrews, Scotland
28. Pennard GC Swansea, Wales
29. Prestwick GC Prestwick, Scotland
30. The Renaissance Club at Archerfield Dirleton, Scotland
31. Rosapenna Golf Resort Downings, Ireland
32. Royal Cinque Ports (Deal) Deal, England
33. Royal County Down Newcastle, Northern Ireland
34. Royal Dornoch Dornoch, Scotland
35. Royal North Devon (Westward Ho!) Bideford, England
36. Royal Portrush Portrush, Northern Ireland
37. Royal St. George's Sandwich, England
38. Royal Troon Troon, Scotland
39. Rye GC Rye, England
40. St. George's Hill GC St George's Hill, England
41. Sunningdale GC Sunningdale, England
42. Swinley Forest GC Ascot, England

Australia
43. Barnbougle Dunes Bridport, Tasmania
44. Kingston Heath GC Melbourne, Australia
45. Royal Melbourne Melbourne, Australia