‘The Northwest Golfer's Almanac’ (Edited by Jeff Shelley)

By: Dr. John Wagner


Now here is a must read for all golfers, especially those living in the Pacific Northwest. I had fun reading this and learning of the history of golf, especially in the Northwest part of the country. The editor does a great job in presenting interesting and unique articles that are informative and fun to read. Shelley and Michael Riste also wrote the history of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, which is considered by the USGA as one of the finest golf history books ever done.

If you don’t have this book in your library, do yourself a favor and get one. The almanac is just the perfect book to read as it contains many small stories that catch your interest. It was done in the early 1990s and it’s interesting to see how many of the proposed golf courses that Shelley talks about have been built.

The old pictures are great, especially ones that show how golfers used to dress. I cannot imagine wearing all those clothes, especially in areas of high humidity. Even though the book is small, get one as it is packed with information and just a great read. A must-read for all golfers who love the game and what it represents. As shown by this book, its history is rich.

‘The Northwest Golfer's Almanac’ Edited by Jeff Shelley, Fairgreens Media, 1991, $7.95, 168 pages, ISBN 0-9629329-0-6

Dr. John Wagner has been a Seattle dentist for 37 years. He’s been published in several dental journals as well as had several articles appear in the turf magazine for Pacific Northwest golf course superintendents. John has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Business School for several years and as a guest lecturer for several dental societies. Dr. Wagner is the co-designer (with Steve Shea of the Berger Partnership) of a golf course in Japan that cost over $120 million and was built by Wadsworth Golf Construction. He’s a Past President of the Washington State Golf Association and the current President of the Pacific Coast Golf Association. John is currently a Member of the USGA Green Section and a Director of the WSGA.