'Wide Open Fairways' by Bradley S. Klein

By: Dr. John Wagner


This book is a refreshing look at golf course design from a non-architect who loves golf and its courses. Rather than reading like a textbook on golf course architecture or a discussion of how to design and play a hole, Klein gets into the thought processes of golf course architects.

We are also taken on his journey from a child to where he is today. His is a love story with golf courses. Klein gave up a career as a college professor in Economics and ended up as the architecture writer for Golfweek.

His journey and how it's told in the book make for interesting reading. One gets insight into how different architects arrive at their final design. But it is the process that he describes that makes for good reading.

Fun book; I recommend you give it a try.

"Wide Open Fairways," by Bradley S. Klein, University of Nebraska Press, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-8032-4037-7

Dr. John Wagner has been a Seattle dentist for 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 Western Golf Association.