'The War by the Shore' by Curt Sampson

By: Dr. John Wagner


I waited two months after reading this book to write a review to see if my initial feelings had changed. They hadn't. It never quite connected with me, even after a waiting period.

But if you're looking for a very factual story of the 1991 Ryder Cup, one that even gets into the color of the hair in the players' noses, then this is the book for you.

It contains a lot of trivia I could not remember a mere 10 minutes after I read it. These are the golfers who I grew up with, but this book has way too much information for me to consider it an enjoyable read.

Ultimately, the "War by the Shore" at Kiawah Island was just another Ryder Cup, and the media blew it way out of focus. Though well-written, this book does the same.

"The War by the Shore" by Curt Sampson, Penguin Group, $20, 2012, 272 pages, ISBN978-1-59240798-5

Dr. John Wagner has been a Seattle dentist for nearly 40 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 a Trustee of the Pacific Coast Golf Association. A 7 handicap, John is currently a member of the USGA Green Section and a Director of the WSGA.